verbal abuse while parking in BB zone

saidan

i hold a BB that i need for an invisable disability - with my clothes on people cannot see that i have a hidden disability.

i was at the local leisure with my child - parked in a disabled bay displaying clearly my BB

as i walked into the building a man called over to me

him: scuse me love you are parked in a disabled bay

me: yes i have and i have displayed my blue badge (smile)

him: well can i see it?

me: it is clearly displayed if you want to go and have a look

him: well i am proper disabled so don't want to get back into my wheelchair to have a look

me: well i have clearly displayed my BB and don't want to walk back to the car to show you. not all disabilities are visable and i am in pain now so i will not walk back. if you are concerned you could go inside and speak to the staff. >walked to the building

him: shouting at me - you should leave the spaces for the proper disabled like me....i need a wheelchair, you should park round the corner with your kids.......

am so frustrated - never had BB abuse before.....what should i do if he is there again - or if someone else like that asks to see my BB or makes remarks?

saidan

moose1982

Don't forget that only police officers and traffic wardens can ask to inspect Blue Badges fully. I normally get abuse because I'm younger than 30, apparently the disabled bays are reserved for old people only.

NAR

saidan wrote: »

i am so frustrated - never had BB abuse before.....what should i do if he is there again - or if someone else like that asks to see my BB or makes remarks?
saidan

In his case "Aren't you lucky to have a wheelchair to get about in!"
For anyone else "My BB is displayed" smile sweetly and walk on.

Bennifred

These self-appointed BB wardens are a nuisance, aren't they? I used to get embarrassed and quite upset by (mainly old, I'm afraid) people making comments about me parking in BB bays, because I too "don't look disabled". I have PPMS. Someone on MSE once said that their reply to that one is "well, you don't look stupid" which made me laugh!
You just have to have the courage of your convictions - YOU know you are entitled to the BB, so ignore any rudeness. I think you handled it beautifully, but if the person persists I would just tell them to take it up with the police and carry on.

Idiophreak

saidan wrote: »

am so frustrated - never had BB abuse before.....what should i do if he is there again - or if someone else like that asks to see my BB or makes remarks?

Slash the tyres on his wheelchair?


Seriously, though...as with all nutters you meet in life, you've just got to shrug it off and carry on....

mazza111

Had this a few times. While I've dropped mum at the door of the shop while I park or vice versa. It's easier to drop her at the store entrance where she's under cover than try and get the wheelchair out and her into it in the peeing rain. So of course all the see is me parking in the BB space. I usually then point to my mother and ask them if they would like to take her shopping and I can park elsewhere.

I know I shouldn't strictly do it that way, as in reality the badge holder should be in the car when parking, but some people take things to extremes.

Then on the other hand I can get rather angry when I go to one local shop who have 7 disabled spaces and 5 are taken up with cars who are not displaying a BB. Grrrrr.

So while I can understand the man's frustration, he definitely aimed it at the wrong person. You were in the right to park there, I would think no more about it. If you see him again, display your badge and go in and don't give it another thought.

Horace

I have a disabled friend who rides a motorbike and he once parked his bike in a disabled bay and he left his BB displayed on his windscreen (it was chained to his bike). The guy who shouted at him said that he couldnt be disabled because he rode a motorbike and that he was obviously stealing a space..needless to say my chum rolled up the leg of his jeans and removed his lower leg..the guy kept his gob shut..friend replaced his leg and got on his bike. Yes it is possible for an amputee to ride a motorbike with adaptions - just like a person in a wheelchair can.

C_Mababejive

Its a shame when disabled people squabble amongst themselves.

formaldehyde_perfume

We all know the BB system has its flaws, but just because it does doesn't mean we can be judge jury and executioner for possible abusers of the system.

I have had the stares and whispers when using my BB even though I am 'visibly' disabled (wheelchair, stick, crutches, scooter etc), but you can't let it get to you otherwise you'd never get out. I think you dealt with it very well, and I applaud you for not getting in to a confrontation with the man or going tit-for-tat 'my disability is worse than yours' rubbish.

Has anyone seen that blood pressure check advert? I wonder, if our pain score was visible like that for all to see, whether people would really begrudge you the BB space.

For me, if a person is parked in a disabled bay without a BB then that is the only time a moral judgement of the person can be made. Even then I probably wouldn't confront the person, it's a waste of valuable energy.


... Also, don't feel like just because you have a child with you means you have to park elsewhere. The person made an assumption that because you had children with you that you were parking there for convenience rather than disability. In actual fact the offspring of disabled people are often their carers (whether recognised or not) and are completely under valued.

C_Mababejive

But you could be disabled but not have a blue badge. Surely such a person is just as entitled to park in disabled spaces which are not designated blue badge spaces on public roads but are designated disabled parking bays at for example,private car parks,shops etc..

formaldehyde_perfume

Legally any one can park in a disabled space on private land.

Most disabled spaces have the symbol of a person in a wheelchair and any written information generally says 'blue badge holders only' , in public car parks and roads this is enforceable even if the person is disabled but does not hold a blue badge. It is also enforceable if the person is a registered holder of a blue badge but does not display it whilst using the space.

Disability can mean a whole variety of conditions; the blue badge system is a way of regulating who is in most need and therefore would benefit most from the disabled parking spaces.