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

Jeff_Bridges_hair

designergraphics wrote: »

I agree with you about the difficulty of abusing the system because each badge bears a photo of the holder so when the badge is given to the toll attendant all they have to do is check the photograph against the driver. Maybe the original poster could enlighten us as to how this happens seeing as he has "strong evidence that certain courier/delivery firms are widespread in this abuse."

The OP's original post asked why the disabled get free passage passage over the bridge. He only mentioned abuse of the system in one of his five posts, and then only when prompted. Although he said abuse of the badge was his main concern he seemed more concerned with:

"However, specifically, how does not paying a bridge toll ease a disabled persons life other than financially?"

I supposed that's what opened the thread up to what it's become. It's interesting to note that whilst quite a few seem to object to the disabled getting free passage, no-one's commented on PasturesNew's observation that motorcyclists get free passage. Surely, that's just as much of a 'perk'?

I never knew they did as i don't drive though there.. Thats not fair either..

I think what the reference to couriers using it is that they have one anyway and then go out and do their work crossing the bridge and using the badge to get a free crossing rather then pay. They probably claim it back from their company too.. so getting double.

Again though this is hard to prove

designergraphics

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

And all those things you have mentioned are, i believe, what the government are trying to sort out before they implement it.

As far as I'm aware the government isn't planning any changes to the winter fuel allowance allowance. As for changes to the new regulations regarding Child Benefit, the government made it plain that they consider the new cap to be fair. If any changes are made I'm sure it will be because of objections from the very people that voted for them, not out of any consideration to fairness. They're politicians.

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

And as the post above me has pointed out that there is a lot of abuse from people on the blue badge scheme. who dont really need one.. I know KCC used to hand them out willynilly without a doctors note to get one.

I agree with you entirely. As a holder of a blue badge I'm more aware than many of how it's abused. If you look back to my first post you'll see I mentioned it:

Post#43"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."

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

What does get people though is the financial gain when other people who may not be disabled but are on low wages still have to pay - would you not say thats unfair to them too as maybe they cant afford it and thus never actually leave Wales...

I've already covered this in my previous response where I mentioned the disparity between claimants of Child Benefit and the winter fuel allowance. I'm sure that for every wealthy pensioner that gets the winter fuel allowance there is a poor, younger person who could do with it more. I don't see what's more unfair about free passage over the Severn Bridge than those examples. In fact, free passage over the bridge costs a lot less and is given to far fewer people.
Does the fact that motorcyclists get to cross the bridge FOC 'get' people as much I wonder?

As for someone never being able to leave Wales because they can't afford the £5 toll - isn't that a little OTP? if the reason for the journey is that important I'm sure £5 can be found from somewhere. If they were so destitute as to never be able to leave Wales I doubt they'd be in a position to run a car in the first place, although I suppose the same could be said for disabled motorists. The difference between the two is that some disabled people need a car because it's essential to them, and will do without many things in order to run a car. Like with my other examples, it's a case of "shall we take it off those who need it to prevent those who don't from getting it".

When I refer to Blue Badge holders please note that I refer to genuinely disabled users not to those who park outside the supermarket entrance and run into the shop. I could be wrong, but I think a lot of the backlash disabled people seem to getting these days is because of how easy it seems to be able to get a Blue Badge. It would be interesting to hear peoples views on this.

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

Unfortunately they never all will be.. The cost is too horrific for some stations to even get lifts in at the moment and as I said before you cannot put raised sections of platforms at some stations that are on a curve as the loading guage will not allow it.
you need to remember our tube system is over 150 years old now with many things built on top of them since then including the leccy gas and water mains.

I am well aware of the age of the underground system and of the difficulties of making it fully accessible and of the huge costs involved, and fully accept that it's not a practical proposition and honestly don't expect that it ever will be. It's for those very reasons that it will only ever be partially accessible. I might be an advocate of accessibility but I'm not unreasonable enough to say at whatever cost. However, as I said earlier, it's no good being able to get on at one station if I can't get off at the destination I need.

designergraphics

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

I never knew they did as i don't drive though there.. Thats not fair either..

I think what the reference to couriers using it is that they have one anyway and then go out and do their work crossing the bridge and using the badge to get a free crossing rather then pay. They probably claim it back from their company too.. so getting double.

Again though this is hard to prove

That's something I hadn't thought of but, as you said, it's hard to prove. From my past experience where I was able to claim work related expenses I had to produce receipts for all expenditure. I should imagine this is fairly standard practice.

I wish the OP would come back to share his evidence of notorious and widespread abuse. Maybe he was just a troll.

whitewing

I doubt the OP was a troll and I expect their is some merit in his belief, not necessarily that he has seen it with his own eyes but that he is being told it is the case possibly by some genuinely-paying couriers.

I image that he has wisely decided to keep out of the thread now it is getting more contentious as he did originally say that he wanted to know the answer to the title question for a work report. Whoever he works for wouldn't be too impressed if misleading perceptions are coming across. imo it would be difficult for the OP to contribute too much more to thread without potentially having an impact on his job.

designergraphics

True. Shame if that's the case though.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

designergraphics wrote: »

As for someone never being able to leave Wales because they can't afford the £5 toll - isn't that a little OTP?

I would love to be able to comment fully on your whole post(and i will when i can not so late at night) but this stood out.

If you knew the rules then you would obviously know that you only pay the Toll on ENTERING into Wales not leaving... So its possible for you to leave Wales as many times as you like without having to even use your blue badge. Its the coming back in that counts.

but you knew that didnt you. You just forgot to say that... :T

Jeff_Bridges_hair

designergraphics wrote: »

That's something I hadn't thought of but, as you said, it's hard to prove. From my past experience where I was able to claim work related expenses I had to produce receipts for all expenditure. I should imagine this is fairly standard practice.

I wish the OP would come back to share his evidence of notorious and widespread abuse. Maybe he was just a troll.

OPs on here wil never come back in the majority.. they come out , post and then retreat. It could end up that this thread was a wind up but it has been a good thread

designergraphics

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

I would love to be able to comment fully on your whole post(and i will when i can not so late at night) but this stood out.

If you knew the rules then you would obviously know that you only pay the Toll on ENTERING into Wales not leaving... So its possible for you to leave Wales as many times as you like without having to even use your blue badge. Its the coming back in that counts.

but you knew that didnt you. You just forgot to say that... :T

Of course I knew - and I didn't forget. I just didn't think it was worth picking you up on it after you'd said some people might not be able to afford to leave Wales. I'm not that pedantic. :beer:

designergraphics

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

OPs on here wil never come back in the majority.. they come out , post and then retreat. It could end up that this thread was a wind up but it has been a good thread

Yes, I've particularly enjoyed our banter. :beer:

Jeff_Bridges_hair

designergraphics wrote: »

Yes, I've particularly enjoyed our banter. :beer:

Not really banter like, but people need to see it from both sides.. :beer: