Why do the disabled get free passage on the Severn Bridges?

antrobus

SHIPSHAPE wrote: »

Why do the disabled get free passage on the Severn Bridges? I can't seem to find the answer anywhere.:huh:

Because it says so in Section 8 of the Severn Bridges Act 1992. And which presumably merely repeated a stipulation contained in the Severn Bridge Tolls Act 1965.

Why there should be an exemption I have no idea. Although presumably a study of Hansard covering the debates that took place when the bills were before Parliament might provide a clue.

This document here - http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/statutorytolled/tolledundertakings/pdf/report20100322.pdf - says that:

There is no general legislation governing the discounts/exemptions that should be made available for disabled people using tolled bridges, tunnels and roads. Where a discount/exemption is provided, it is either included within the specific legislation governing charging at a particular tolled undertaking or, where there is no legislative provision, provided voluntarily by the toll operator.

(Can I charge for this sort of thing?)

designergraphics

!!!!!! wrote: »

That is trying to invent reasons where none exist! In that situation there is no reason why a blue badge holder's needs/wishes are any different to an able bodied person. Why will a disabled person (and that is such a wide category as to be meaningless in this context) NEED to get from A to B as quickly as possible when an able bodied person wouldn't?

Everybody needs/wants to get from A to B as quickly as possible, it's not the sole preserve of the disabled person.

As a paraplegic who uses a wheelchair I can assure you that you're quite wrong in your impressions of a disabled persons needs in this situation. If someone has a spinal injury, depending on the level of injury, they are probably incontinent. This is usually controlled with various devices, but I can assure you that timing is critical as, if I have to go then I have to go - and I can't nip out of the car and hide behind a bush!

As for the original posters question, I have no idea why disabled people don't have to pay to cross the Severn Bridge, but I should imagine it would do with the fact that public transport isn't an option to avoid the toll as it would be to the able-bodied. Although some public transport has been made accessible to wheelchair users, most has not. I appreciate that the vast majority of Blue Badge holders don't seem to need the benefits the badge gives them, but I'd like him to be aware that there are others that do. Maybe your time would be better spent compiling a report on why so many Blue Badges are issued rather than worrying about badge users get free bridge crossing. Not only might that result in badges being issued only to those who genuinely need them, thereby increasing the revenue of the Severn Bridge owners, but you'd be doing a positive service to the genuinely disabled. However, from the tone of your posts I get the impression that you want reasons to remove the concession, period.

Wider parking bays have been mentioned and I'm sure some people don't see the need for these either, but I can assure you they're vital for a wheelchair user. For most wheelchair users these would be better placed at the back of a car park so they'd be less likely to be abused. As for free parking, that only applies in SOME council owned car parks, not privately owned. Again I'm not sure why that should be, but I imagine the concession is there for those who have difficulty walking. It saves them the extra effort of having to walk to a ticket machine and back to the car to display a ticket.

designergraphics

Coupon-mad wrote: »

I agree with esmerobbo and others who say that disabled roadusers should pay tolls.
I also worked as a Disability Advice Manager and later as a driver for disabled people.

I still do not see why disabled drivers/passengers should get free parking or crossing when able-bodied people don't. They are all in a car, travelling on the same basis as the next person and a free toll does not 'enable' them in any way that seems to fall within the Equality Act (previously DDA). Access and parking provision is different of course, but free motoring concessions - why?

Please read my post above about public transport not being an option for some disabled people as it is for the able-bodied and free parking (again, only in SOME council owned car parks) is convenient for those with limited walking ability.
For someone who was a Disability Advice Manager you seem to have a very generalized view of disabled people's needs.

To those who begrudge free parking and Severn crossing to the disabled, I must say your views have been a surprise to me. I suppose you also begrudge cold weather payments to pensioners. I would gladly swop my disability with you and would be more than happy to pay tolls and parking charges. Believe me, in the general struggle of living a 'normal' life, such charges are the least of my problems and I'm sure you have better things to worry about.

giraffe69

Maybe it is just me but although people can be ludicrously politically correct the bottom line is that being disabled is pretty 5h1t and makes so much of life so much more difficult so having free parking spaces near the supermarket entrance or getting across a bridge free seems a small token to help redress the pretty awful imbalance.
Now, of course, there are those that abuse any scheme and get it into disrepute. If they are caught then throw the book at them, remove their passes, fine them, cut a limb off, whatever you fancy.

clever_username

giraffe69 wrote: »

Maybe it is just me but although people can be ludicrously politically correct the bottom line is that being disabled is pretty 5h1t and makes so much of life so much more difficult so having free parking spaces near the supermarket entrance or getting across a bridge free seems a small token to help redress the pretty awful imbalance.

What a f**king fantastic post.

That's the most downright, common-sense answer I've read on MSE so far. Genuinely.

System

Well, post #38 is now starting to come true for this thread.

designergraphics

!!!!!! wrote: »

Well, post #38 is now starting to come true for this thread.

Where exactly is the 'anger' you stated in post 38 starting to come true?

peter_the_piper

giraffe69 wrote: »

Now, of course, there are those that abuse any scheme and get it into disrepute. If they are caught then throw the book at them, remove their passes, fine them, cut a limb off, whatever you fancy.

Don't cut a limb off because they would then really be entitled to a blue badge.;)

taffy056

Why do the disabled get free passage on the Severn Bridges?
==
Probably because most people who hold a blue badge suffer not only a disability but financial problems also due to the disability, the saving of £5.80 to them is probably a help in the pocket, and why not?

mgn83uk

cajef wrote: »

...but have often wondered why some people with obviously big new expensive cars should have free parking because they have disabled badges, while others who have probably far less income have to pay.

What has their car got to do with anything?

I'm a wheelchair-using disabled person (albeit without a car at the moment - soon to be remedied) and a blue badge holder, and I cannot see the relevance of bringing up the issue of what car they drive.

Should I at some point be fortunate enough to be able to afford the particular BMW I would like, I shall damn well get one (with appropriate adaptions) and park it in a disabled bay, using my blue badge, as I am entitled to do so.

I appreciate this may not of been your critical point, but when I see statements concerning the quality of goods someone has in the context of their disability, I 'see red'. I have a top-of-the-range smartphone and a recently purchased laptop computer too, am I not allowed either of these?

In any case, as has been correctly summised by another poster - free parking for blue badge holders is dying quickly. But perhaps you should consider why this exists at all? Wheelchair travel often equals slow, time consuming and difficult, and you may well have to park for longer and in more locations than able-bodied persons.

Particuarly if you propel yourself. I don't have the "luxury" of someone to save me of that effort (although, being vehemently independent I wouldn't want it either).