Finally Snapped Today - Disabled Bay Parking!

Horseunderwater

woosh0 wrote: »

What I say if any one approaches me is 'since when have you been my consultant and know my medical history?' It always works;)

Shall remember that one too. So far not had a problem, but you never know, do you.

nannytone_2

turn it on its head...
when someone doesnt 'look disabled' ( as i son't) then for all other people knew, i could be perfectly able and just parking in the disabled bay.
so if no one challenged me, i could be taking that bay from someone who needed it.

there are better ways of asking .... but when you dont have a visible disability, it does nothing to further the cause of the disabled if you reply with sarcasm.

Miss_No-one

I remember some years ago, chatting to a friend, he had his trike (3 wheel motorcycle) parked in a disability bay. A woman screamed at him about his motorcycle being parked in the bay. She hadn't observed he had a Blue Badge and as he was sitting on the floor - he used two crutches to get up and move his motorcycle - he had lost part of his legs -just below the knees. The look on the woman's face - shock horror. All she saw was the motorcycle not the Blue Badge prominently fixed permanently to the vehicle.

I received my Blue Badge Friday - haven't used it yet. It will be a blessing for the GP and hospital appointments.

spiritwings

i sympathise totally with the OP.

I'm 42 and disabled, i have a new car through the motability scheme as without it i would be housebound. I walk with sticks as my disability is mainly in my hips and legs (various different health conditions) some days i can't actually walk so don't go out when i am like this.

I went shopping with my eldest daughter a few weeks ago and as i parked up a car with an older couple parked in the disabled bay next to the one i was parked in. My daughter got out and as she normally does came round to my side with my walking stick to help me out the car.
As i got out the old woman started making comments to her husband then walked over to me and started shouting and screaming at me that i had no right to park in a disabled bay and it was people like me who made it impossible for her and her husband to park in a disabled bay,
I calmy called her around to the front of my car where my blue badge is prominantly displayed and asked her what part of havign a blue badge meant i couldn't park in a disabled bay. She looked at me and said you cannot possibly be disabled (i am leaning on the car and my stick at this point) you're not old enough, then she walked off NO apology.

This happens on a regular basis!!
I am fed up with busybodies yelling at me and the next time someone does i will yell right back. I wouldn't dream of confronting someone who had a blue badge displayed, and can't understand why these old people think they have a right to yell at anyone they please and think they can get away with it!!

Errata

Why pay any attention at all to the ranters? They're looking for a reaction - don't give them one. Spoil their day, not yours.

Mojisola

Errata wrote: »

Why pay any attention at all to the ranters? They're looking for a reaction - don't give them one. Spoil their day, not yours.

I've never had someone confront me in that way - it must feel horrible - but every group of people in life has some nasty people in it - the young, the elderly, the disabled. It's not nice to come into contact with them but "don't feed the trolls" is a good mantra.

If she was really concerned about the misuse of disabled bays, she would have looked to see if there was a BB on the dashboard. If she thought you were misusing someone else's badge, she could have reported it to the shop.

Shouting and screaming at a stranger tells you a lot about her - be glad you don't live next door to someone like that!

I do sometimes talk to people parking without a badge but the most I've ever said is "You've forgotten to put your blue badge out." The ones with badges thank me and put the badge on display - the others bluster and stalk off.

tiamai_d

We have had muttering a few times but only one direct confrontation.

As I was putting my son, who at this point was dressed in PJ's and a robe, into his wheelchair at the bays outside A&E. I was asked if I was disabled, I gave them a harassed look and snidely said "No, I'm just parking there for kicks, you idiot." Then my son vomited on their shoes, I secretly congratulated him before taking him into A&E.

Had I had time, I think I would have vented all my frustration at the unfairness of him being born with CP and then getting kidney disease. But I feel rather sorry for the pathetic idiots who can't spot the obvious.

ab.da54

Errata wrote: »

Why pay any attention at all to the ranters? They're looking for a reaction - don't give them one. Spoil their day, not yours.

I don't understand why someone has to shout at a blue badge user, so yes, I agree here.

GlasweJen

Last night in Asda someone challenged my OH using my blue badge (we left the dog in the car and he nicked out to check on her) so he faked the most ridiculous limp ever back into the shop.

The accuser followed him into the store only to shout at him some more and didn't shut up, actually walking around the freezer department with OH and me in my wheelchair ranting on and on about blue badge abuse until security kicked him out. Now given that he was also parked in a blue badge space it makes me wonder who was really abusing the badge?

We found it funny anyway.

Mojisola

GlasweJen wrote: »

Last night in Asda someone challenged my OH using my blue badge (we left the dog in the car and he nicked out to check on her) so he faked the most ridiculous limp ever back into the shop.

The accuser followed him into the store only to shout at him some more and didn't shut up, actually walking around the freezer department with OH and me in my wheelchair ranting on and on about blue badge abuse until security kicked him out. Now given that he was also parked in a blue badge space it makes me wonder who was really abusing the badge?

We found it funny anyway.

That made me laugh, too!

Following on some of other discussions about BB - My Dad's new BB has just come through. In his new book it says - "It is a criminal offence to misuse a badge. This includes people other than the badge holder taking advantage of the parking concessions provided under the scheme" - I assume this applies to parking on the road or not paying in council-run car parks rather than parking on private land like shops' car parks.

Also - "You should not use the badge to allow non-disabled people to take advantage of the benefits while you sit in the car."

The "should" in that sentence suggests it's illegal but then it adds - "Although it is not illegal for a badge holder, or a non-disabled person waiting for the badge holder to return, to remain in the vehicle while the BB is displayed, consideration should be given to using a car park whenever possible."