not looking disabled?!

Brassedoff

berniesmaster wrote: »

OOOhhh, im really upset,
I was again challenged by some passers by after i parked in a disabled bay, clearly displaying my badge, but because im young (ish) mid 30s, and have a young baby, (i assume this is the reason people scowl and pass comment) people seam to get upset.

so, i intend to put a little note to display next to my badge, just need help with wording.
anyone else do this to hopefully stop a public arguement?

But why do a note? I don't agree with the amount of badges given out, but they are, so there is nothing I can do to change it. I know it's a selfish attitude, but I cannot walk far or fast, compared to some users. Someone decides they fit the criteria so they get the badge. Why should anyone you is legally using it worry?

stefos

The sooner they change 'Disabled Parking Bays' to 'Mobility Parking Bays' the better. Sort out the wheat from the chaffe..

jetta_wales

stefos wrote: »

The sooner they change 'Disabled Parking Bays' to 'Mobility Parking Bays' the better. Sort out the wheat from the chaffe..

Who do you think houldn't be allowed them? What disabilities shouldn't warrant them in your opinion?

intranicity

stefos wrote: »

The sooner they change 'Disabled Parking Bays' to 'Mobility Parking Bays' the better. Sort out the wheat from the chaffe..

I hope that includes War Pensioners Mobility Supplement holders too?

And as a point to think about, I got a parking ticket in Swindon for parking in a disabled parking space, as between certain hours it is not a disabled parking space, but one that is assigned to the Shop Mobility Scheme during shop hours...... So despite getting WPMS, having a free tax disc etc, in Swindon I have to pay to join shop mobility to use a disabled parking space in some car parks, anyone though is entitled to join that scheme if they are too fat to walk (I know there are lots of other people that use shop mobility for genuine reasons)

"Anyone with limited mobility can use the scheme, whether through permanent or temporary disability, illness, accident or age."

But only if they pay, and to be honest, I don't want to travel round in a buggy.... Needless to say I appealed, and my ticket was cancelled 'On this occasion, but I need to take more notice of where I park'

There are many problems with the Blue Badge, and it does get abused, and not just by the public in my opinion, as I have shown above, also, you can use your badge through out europe, but try using it as a non resident in London, forget it.

Hopefully the system will be tightened up, to some extent on eligability, but it really needs tightening up on enforcement, I think if we have the privalige of having a badge, we should except being asked if it is our badge (Not by rude people that are jealous) by traffic wardens, the police and supermarkets, it will benefit us all in the end as there would be far less abuse and then possibly more spaces for us to park in!

samasina

berniesmaster wrote: »

OOOhhh, im really upset,
I was again challenged by some passers by after i parked in a disabled bay, clearly displaying my badge, but because im young (ish) mid 30s, and have a young baby, (i assume this is the reason people scowl and pass comment) people seam to get upset.

so, i intend to put a little note to display next to my badge, just need help with wording.
anyone else do this to hopefully stop a public arguement?

A similar thing used to happen to me very regularly but with my free travel pass rather than a blue badge.
It wasn't members of the public -they had no reason to see it, it was with bus drivers.
The first few times it was just comments about it being fake etc... I just shrugged it off because it had my full name, and my picture printed on it and a hologram. I used it once in a different city after coming out of hospital to travel 1 stop but the driver said I was looking for a free ride and ended up switching off the engine and having a real go in front of a packed bus. Other passengers also had a go as they thought I was using trying to board using an expired pass. It went on until a relative came and told him what I'd been trying to explain but in a more assertive way. Eventually he continued the journey. The next day, I returned the pass to my LA. While giving me the freedom to work while not being able to drive, the hassle just wasn't worth it.

I'm grateful that I'm in receipt of DLA (for now) as I now use a large chunk of that to take taxis instead. I can't get to as many places as need to/ would like but avoiding hassle like that above is better for my overall health on balance.

deeplyblue

There is another mis-conception which needs tackling. There are still lots of people who think that the blue badge only applies to the driver of a car. Sometimes even a driver who is getting a wheelchair out of the car for someone else can get hassled for "not being disabled".

As for invisible disabilities, I think that a previous poster has it right. We should assume that anyone who uses a blue badge is entitled to it. I'm sure there are some people who abuse it, or use stolen ones, but there are people out there who are driving stolen cars, or who aren't insured - you can't tell by looking.

intranicity

samasina wrote: »

A similar thing used to happen to me very regularly but with my free travel pass rather than a blue badge.
It wasn't members of the public -they had no reason to see it, it was with bus drivers.
The first few times it was just comments about it being fake etc... I just shrugged it off because it had my full name, and my picture printed on it and a hologram. I used it once in a different city after coming out of hospital to travel 1 stop but the driver said I was looking for a free ride and ended up switching off the engine and having a real go in front of a packed bus. Other passengers also had a go as they thought I was using trying to board using an expired pass. It went on until a relative came and told him what I'd been trying to explain but in a more assertive way. Eventually he continued the journey. The next day, I returned the pass to my LA. While giving me the freedom to work while not being able to drive, the hassle just wasn't worth it.

I'm grateful that I'm in receipt of DLA (for now) as I now use a large chunk of that to take taxis instead. I can't get to as many places as need to/ would like but avoiding hassle like that above is better for my overall health on balance.

That really is a disgusting way to be treated. I know we all have to decide if it's worth the stress, but I wouldn't have let that drop, I would have created a real stink with the Council and the Bus Company to make sure drivers are aware what the bus passes are for. Sorry that you got such awful treatment.

samasina

intranicity wrote: »

That really is a disgusting way to be treated. I know we all have to decide if it's worth the stress, but I wouldn't have let that drop, I would have created a real stink with the Council and the Bus Company to make sure drivers are aware what the bus passes are for. Sorry that you got such awful treatment.

No point really in kicking up a fuss. Naturally some people are curious when they see someone who doesn't look stereotypically disabled but to loudly suggest I was simply a sponger was what annoyed me most. Obviously, he didn't know the efforts I'd made to continue working at the time and that I couldn't drive my car sitting yards away but shouldn't have judged me so harshly.

I told the supervisor at the last stop but things like that are dealt with internally by companies. It was only when I got rid of it just over a year ago I realised how much I used it -I went from never going anywhere for pleasure to having something that could pass as for a social life. Never happened when I used my stick but for other reasons, I can't use that all the time. Just means I have to be much better at budgeting and planning ahead for the month -a p/t job in itself for me!

From these experiences, I wouldn't even contemplate applying for a blue badge.

Savvy_Sue

On a positive note, the ONLY comment I've ever had on my Disabled Rail Card was to once be asked if I needed any assistance. Which I didn't, but it was nice to be asked!

(I don't normally look at all disabled, but I am losing my hearing which is why I have one. I sometimes look a bit disabled atm because my shoulder is crocked, but not to the extent I'd get DLA or anything like that.)

stefos

jetta_wales wrote: »

Who do you think houldn't be allowed them? What disabilities shouldn't warrant them in your opinion?

Unequivocably, if you're in a wheelchair then you should be allowed to park as near to the supermarket entrance as possible. If you have two legs and can manage to walk around the supermarket then you can manage the extra 20 yards from where you parked the car. Too many people seem to qualify at the moment in my opinion. Unless it's raining of course, when everybody becomes disabled, obviously suffering from Ombrophobia!