Disabled Parking

mrsrobertson

Had an interesting conversation at work today & just wondered what everyone's opinions are

I work in an office at the end of a busy high street and there are 2 disabled parking spaces right outside. Two ladies who also work in the office, who have disabled badges, come in early to park in those spaces all day from 8am-5pm.

Just wondering what everyone thinks of this? Is this what disabled spaces are for or do these people parking in them all day deprive others of coming in for shopping?

I'm not being discriminatory in anyway, these ladies are lovely and obviously have good reason to have these badges, i was just curious as to what others thought

elsien

Interesting one, as it is what they're for, but it does also stop other people from using them. I suppose it depends to a degree as to what other disabled parking there is in the vicinity. Is there not a time limit on how long they can stay there for?

mrsrobertson

The parking isn't the best in my city to be honest, there are a few disabled spaces dotted about but i would say the two spaces in question are the 'prime' ones for accessing the high street. There are other spaces around them with a limit of 1 hour i think, but I assumed this didn't apply if the vehicle had a disabled badge on display.

sweaty_betty

Hmm, a tricky one. I know that in some areas there's a limit on how long you can park for on a disabled badge (which is why part of the badge is a "clock" so you record when you arrive) - I think it's 3 hours, but could be wrong.

I guess if there's no limit, why not?

ohreally

They may hold entitlement to use the bays however I would ponder, do they both need to use both bays every day? Couldn't they park near-by now and again? How would they feel if someone did this to them everyday?

meritaten

It isn't tricky to me - these ladies work and are disabled. Would they find that if they had to park further away they could no longer work? they are disabled and entitled to use the spaces - it isn't a question of whether they are depriving a 'shopper' of a space.

After all, everyone seems to think that just because you are disabled is no reason not to work, or do Olympic sports or be like 'able' people ............why shouldn't these people use those spaces for the day to enable them to work? perhaps you would like them to run marathons to work each day?

Prawny

Don't see anything wrong with it. As long as they are allowed to stay there all day, then not a problem to me.

Netwizard

If you park on double yellows the limit is 3 hours but if your in a council run car park, there is no time limit.

mrsrobertson

meritaten wrote: »

After all, everyone seems to think that just because you are disabled is no reason not to work, or do Olympic sports or be like 'able' people ............why shouldn't these people use those spaces for the day to enable them to work? perhaps you would like them to run marathons to work each day?

Obviously that's not what is being implied And i don't think disabled people shouldn't work so clearly not everyone thinks this.

I was just curious really, some co-workers had differing opinions on it, but i don't really have any feelings about it to be honest. If the spaces are there to be used and can enable someone to get to work easily then fab :T

susannicola

our council has a 3 hour limit for disabled drivers in a disabled parking bay.

meritaten

I wasn't being nasty or sarky - its a genuine feeling - that people expect the disabled to work - yet fail to realise that special measures have to be in place to allow that to happen. like putting in wheelchair ramps - or even realising stairs are a problem! putting disabled parking spaces near the entrance - not at the back of the car park! a little thought could make working life possible for disabled people.