Blue Badge 'police'

ailuro2

OK I hold my hands up, I have in the past questioned people parking in disabled bays before, I ask them nicely if they realise it's a disabled bay they've parked in when they hop out the car by themselves and scurry off to the cash machine at my local Asda...

I only do it to people who don't have a blue badge on display though...:o

and I do ask nicely, just in case it's someone who has forgotten to get theirs out.:p

I do it because I know how many people seem to think it's OK to use a blue bay if they're only in it for a minute or two while they nip to the shop or the bank... if a few can be embarassed into not doing it they might leave room for those who need it.:cool:

KittyLady

I'm early thirties and generally my hair is pink or some other bright colour, it cheers me up to have fun hair when my body is failing, of course as a result I spend my days justifying my blue badge.

The best one was seeing a gentleman reversing from a blue badge so hubby stopped and indicated, the guy then waved us past, we gestured back to show we wanted the space. He then had a spasm in his front seat flailing and waving at the signs saying it was a blue badge. At that point I slammed my badge up to the windscreen. The change in his face was hilarious as suddenly he became Mr Nice, smiling and waving, allowing us to get in the space and blocking the road so another driver didn't manage to snipe the spot.

My other joy are disabled toilets, Local Asda staff I loathe you as you believe you are so rushed you must go and use the disabled loo. I need to use the rails to support myself getting up or down but 2/3 times I'm rushed with some impatient person outside rattling the handle, I'll get out and get a tirade about it being a disabled toilet. I then end up pulling up my clothing to show the support belts I have to wear to enable me to walk.

While I get idiots of all ages. I do get hacked off to be told that I should move for an elderly person, your age doesn't make you any more disabled than me and sometimes it'd be nice if people realised that I'm young and my illness is incurable, I can't walk properly and I haven't been able to lift or carry my little boy since he was born. I still have years of this hell ahead of me and believe me I'd trade my badge for my health anyday.

Indie_Kid

SingleSue wrote: »

Mind you, if someone knows where I can get a sticker which says "Driver uses crutches, please do not park too close to drivers door", I would be eternally grateful!

The closest I can think of, would be the ones generally aimed at wheelchair users. Something about "please leave enough room [generally behind their car] for me to get my wheelchair out".

steve_sona

HippyGran,
top marks to you, you have got my total respect.
Kittylady
what you said about asda sounds something like i face at morrisons.
i had'nt been out of the house for a couple of weeks as i couldnt walk.
when i did manage to go out,my wife drove me to our local morrisons.we waited for a disabled bay & the people(elderly) gave us some really dirty looks,the "lady" got out of their car,marched over & started to have a right go,my wife showed her my BB & said argue with that,to which the "lady scowled,got in their car & drove away.

when we went in to morrisons my wife asked if i could use a mobility scooter they have there,when we had done our shopping & at the till paying,i noticed the woman serving us nod in my direction & smirk,her supervisor was also smirking,i felt so bad & embarrassed that i drove the scooter to the customer service area & managed to get to the car.my wife came & asked what was wrong,i didnt tell her,but she had also noticed but wanted to see how this had affected me.
when we got home she had calmed down a lot,but phoned morrisons head office & complained,followed by a written complaint.the 2 staff members were threatened with the sack.
i still cannot use one of these scooters, i am so worried that as i am 48 (not old) that people are judging me & will do even more if i use a scooter.so as a result of these peoples actions, i dont want to go shopping any more at all.

Indie_Kid

KittyLady wrote: »

My other joy are disabled toilets, Local Asda staff I loathe you as you believe you are so rushed you must go and use the disabled loo. I need to use the rails to support myself getting up or down but 2/3 times I'm rushed with some impatient person outside rattling the handle, I'll get out and get a tirade about it being a disabled toilet. I then end up pulling up my clothing to show the support belts I have to wear to enable me to walk.

Thankfully, I've never had this happen to me. I do tend to use normal toilets because there is less room for me to fall over in.:o

hippygran

Steve,
Dont let idiots like this affect you, and more importantly your quality of life.
The only person who can decide if you need to use the scooter in YOU.
I really respect you for taking the decision to use it in the first place. My husband simply wont use anything apart from his stick, and his crutches if he really has to be somewhere, and his walking is really bad (as it is mostly). He would rather stay in the car, and often we have to cut outings short! Its because he feels vulnerable I think, and it took 3 years of nagging off me and the specialist to even get him to try built up shoes! (and hes 56 - not exactly young!)
Your wife sounds a little like me in attitude, so next time give her a nudge, and maybe she could face the bullies (coz thats what they are) down?
I just look these type in the eye, and ask them firmly (but politely), what their problem is. Usually thats enough. If they persist asking them if they really want a doctors certificate usually suffices! The point is that THEY are the ones who should be embarrassed (not to mention ashamed of themselves) NOT YOU!
God help these sort of people if I ever find myself in the situation that you and my husband are in, because I would wipe the floor with them (and probably whack them with any disability aid I have to end.
When I get old (am only 50) god help the word anyway because I will be the foulest and most bad tempered OAP of all time, just because I'm old and I can!
But I can promise you this - I will never think that Ive got the right to treat people in this manner - I will only be foul and awful to people like this pair of clowns, and when they complain about me I will look mortified and like butter wouldn't melt in my mouth, at the very idea that I could be rude back!

dave030445

If you are the owner of the blue badge you can stay in the car as long as the person who leaves the car is getting / doing something for you.

hippygran

Thanks for that info Dave coz although I do this frequently, I do feel like Im going to get a tap on the shoulder sometimes!

lyniced

slightly off the subject, sort of.......my blue badge timer is falling to pieces. The dial part is dog-earred and hard to turn. Does anyone know where I can get another one?

NickyBat

Can you go back to where you got the original one from?