Parking in a Disabled Bay

rmurph17

Firstly I am looking to open a reasoned argument into how the forum feels about people who park in a disabled bay.

Personally I do not do it except under the following two circumstances:

1. It is peak shopping time and all the normal spaces are taken,
2. It is very late at night and there are loads of unused spaces (like 11:00pm at a Tesco with 30+ disabled spaces).

My rationale is that whilst I want people who are not as able bodied as myself to benefit from parking closer to the store and in wider spaces to allow movement, at the same time I do not want to be disadvantaged myself from going into a supermarket. Why should I have to park over half a mile away in the next car park to have spaces, or, go away and come back later? Sorry but it's a dog eat dog world in this instance.

Am I wrong in this instance or is this normal/ rational thinking? Only reason I ask is that I hate the odd time when an irate person flashes their blue badge at me in point 1.

Stephen_Leak

The Blue Badge scheme doesn’t apply to private car parks. Blue Badge holders don't need to display it. Anyone, who’s disabled with a long-term condition under the terms of The Equality Act 2010 can use a disabled parking bay in a private car park.

However, the terms & conditions for private car parks usually state that you shouldn't park in a disabled parking bay without displaying a Blue Badge. This, in itself, contravenes The Equality Act.

The Equality Act doesn't say that able-bodied drivers can't also use disabled parking bays.

We do not condone inconsiderate parking and strongly recommend that able-bodied drivers don't use disabled parking bays, if there is any possibility that all of the disabled bays might be in use at any time during their stay.

Unfortunately, the private ticketing companies don't give disabled drivers the same consideration. To them, they're just an easily identifiable and soft target.

Coupon-mad

rmurph17 wrote: »

Firstly I am looking to open a reasoned argument into how the forum feels about people who park in a disabled bay.

Personally I do not do it except under the following two circumstances:

1. It is peak shopping time and all the normal spaces are taken,
2. It is very late at night and there are loads of unused spaces (like 11:00pm at a Tesco with 30+ disabled spaces).

Well I totally disagree with your reasons, both of them.

Clearly if it's peak shopping time then the disabled bays are already at a premium and those who need them should be allowed them. Do you also not offer pregnant ladies or the elderly your seat on a bus or train, on the basis it's dog-eat-dog and you got there first?

Your second point makes zero sense. If it is very late at night and there are loads of unused spaces (like 11:00pm at a Tesco with 30+ disabled spaces) then you can indeed park near to the store in pretty much any other space. Can't you?

rmurph17 wrote: »

My rationale is that whilst I want people who are not as able bodied as myself to benefit from parking closer to the store and in wider spaces to allow movement, at the same time I do not want to be disadvantaged myself from going into a supermarket. Why should I have to park over half a mile away in the next car park to have spaces, or, go away and come back later? Sorry but it's a dog eat dog world in this instance.

Am I wrong in this instance or is this normal/ rational thinking? Only reason I ask is that I hate the odd time when an irate person flashes their blue badge at me in point 1.

Yep you are wrong. Think you know that though...strange post...

The point here is that at least you CAN park at the other end of the car park and walk. Many disabled people can't.

The only point you've made that I agree about is the 'Blue Badge warriors' who mostly have no clue that a disabled bay is for any disabled person whose condition means they have a need for it.

The BB scheme doesn't apply on private land but the Equality Act and morality & common courtesy does.

pogofish

rmurph17 wrote: »

Firstly I am looking to open a reasoned argument into how the forum feels about people who park in a disabled bay.

How on earth can you have a reasoned argument about an entirely unreasonable and widely misunderstood situation.

The answers above lay it out excellently.

So the next time some idiot waves a badge at you, do remember to remind them to read the handbook that comes with their badge or to check the rules of the website on every issuing authority in the UK as they are very much in the wrong.

But more generally, I don't have a problem with any disabled person getting access to the spaces that are most suitable for their particular condition and I also appreciate there can be considerable advantages in parking well away from the doors. I still tend to do so on good days when I am able to move a little better and more freely than my disabillity normally allows.

rmurph17

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Well I totally disagree with your reasons, both of them.

Clearly if it's peak shopping time then the disabled bays are already at a premium and those who need them should be allowed them. Do you also not offer pregnant ladies or the elderly your seat on a bus or train, on the basis it's dog-eat-dog and you got there first?

Your second point makes zero sense. If it is very late at night and there are loads of unused spaces (like 11:00pm at a Tesco with 30+ disabled spaces) then you can indeed park near to the store in pretty much any other space. Can't you?

Yep you are wrong. Think you know that though...strange post...

The point here is that at least you CAN park at the other end of the car park and walk. Many disabled people can't.

The only point you've made that I agree about is the 'Blue Badge warriors' who mostly have no clue that a disabled bay is for any disabled person whose condition means they have a need for it.

The BB scheme doesn't apply on private land but the Equality Act and morality & common courtesy does.

Thank you for your comments, which are noted, however you make reference at the end that the Equality Act 2010 does, by this virtue I would say that I have just as much right to park in a disabled space as anyone else.

At the end of the day the Equality Act is to promote Equality. Allowing one person to park where another can't is not equality.

Also I do believe my points to be valid. As human beings, being equal in every way; we are all entitled to our own opinions.

With the greatest of respect to disabled persons (to whom I hold no ill feelings), I did not make them disabled, and as a human, I am equal to them.

So in close, why should I be disadvantaged from a space? Please argue me that point as you so eagerly point to equality

pogofish

rmurph17 wrote: »

Thank you for your comments, which are noted, however you make reference at the end that the Equality Act 2010 does, by this virtue I would say that I have just as much right to park in a disabled space as anyone else.

At the end of the day the Equality Act is to promote Equality. Allowing one person to park where another can't is not equality.

It would help an awful lot if you actually read the applicable sections!

rmurph17

pogofish wrote: »

It would help an awful lot if you actually read the applicable sections!

Which sections are they? I admit I am not well versed with the Act. More than happy to read up on it though.

Orford

Yes, I agree as a human you are equal to them. But as an able-bodied human, you are not.

grant_uk

rmurph17 wrote: »

Thank you for your comments, which are noted, however you make reference at the end that the Equality Act 2010 does, by this virtue I would say that I have just as much right to park in a disabled space as anyone else.

At the end of the day the Equality Act is to promote Equality. Allowing one person to park where another can't is not equality.

Also I do believe my points to be valid. As human beings, being equal in every way; we are all entitled to our own opinions.

With the greatest of respect to disabled persons (to whom I hold no ill feelings), I did not make them disabled, and as a human, I am equal to them.

So in close, why should I be disadvantaged from a space? Please argue me that point as you so eagerly point to equality

Quite simply, because a disabled person's disability places them at a disadvantage with regards to their ability to use public services and facilities that the abled take for granted. The provision of disabled access and parking spaces is society's way of trying to redress that balance and be more inclusive to those who find it difficult to get out and about.

I get the impression that you feel that this unfairly imposes on your intrinsic human right to park nearer to the shops.

Can't say you've particularly won me over to your point of view. For a first post, it's almost as if you were deliberately trying to stir up a bit of outrage with a bit of carefully worded unreasonable ignorance.

Sorry if I've got you all wrong

rmurph17

grant_uk wrote: »

Can't say you've particularly won me over to your point of view. For a first post, it's almost as if you were deliberately trying to stir up a bit of outrage with a bit of carefully worded unreasonable ignorance.

Sorry if I've got you all wrong

I'm not trying to be a troll, and I must say for the record that I do avoid parking in disabled spaces except for the odd instance as per my first post.

I was merely seeking reasoned opinions on the matter to see if I alone was the sole person who does this. I don't just turn up to the shops and drive right into one, I look around for an alternative; but I am not prepared to park over 600m away to go shopping, for one thing the trolley can't go out the supermarket car park because of the magnetic strips, so why should I try to carry a full weeks shopping that distance simply because I am not disabled?

I take the argument my point number 2 though, I really have no come back against that.

marleyboy

rmurph17 wrote: »

Personally I do not do it except under the following two circumstances:

1. It is peak shopping time and all the normal spaces are taken,
2. It is very late at night and there are loads of unused spaces (like 11:00pm at a Tesco with 30+ disabled spaces).

OP, by your own admission, you park in them when;
1, the carpark is too full,
2. the carpark is too empty. Both Peak and Off Peak.
Generally you just do it regardless.

I cannot say I have EVER parked in a disabled bay, choosing to allow those less abled than myself to use the bays as they are meant. This is regardless to how full a car park is. I dont know many car parks that stretch half a Mile and certainly would not park half a Mile away from the Store.

I am not so bone idle that I cannot manage to walk the length of a Supermarket Carpark to get to the store, I dread to think how I would manage walking around the aisles if that was the case.

I would much prefer those with a disability were allowed to park in the spot designated for them, rather than be so selfish as to have them struggle the length of the carpark.