fallen foul of the new BB system

Parva

One only has to watch the latest BBC1 programme on parking issues and the amount of people that openly use the blue badge (or use stolen / counterfeit versions) for their own ends to see how lucrative a blue badge can be, particularly in the capital of the UK.

Rarely use mine due to being pretty much housebound but I would never allow any family member to use it for their own needs and it really disgusts me that some will use it as an excuse that they were picking up medication or something, as was the case in the last episode of the BBC programme where she was clearly using the badge to obtain free parking to go to work.

Kudos to the inspector that found her out and got her car lifted and impounded!

Frankly, I'd be happy to pay the average parking rates for whatever area I was in if I could have a spot that allowed me easy access to where I was going in my wheelchair.

Ok, it's a bit of an oxymoron I suppose. I genuinely do need to be close to whatever venue I visit as my son has to push a 13 stone 'baby' in a wheelchair which is far harder than the 1 stone son I had to push. Therefore I'd like to be close to the venue but I'm not averse to paying for that, only I'd like to be closer than those that can actually walk.

sunnyone

Parva wrote: »

One only has to watch the latest BBC1 programme on parking issues and the amount of people that openly use the blue badge (or use stolen / counterfeit versions) for their own ends to see how lucrative a blue badge can be, particularly in the capital of the UK.

Rarely use mine due to being pretty much housebound but I would never allow any family member to use it for their own needs and it really disgusts me that some will use it as an excuse that they were picking up medication or something, as was the case in the last episode of the BBC programme where she was clearly using the badge to obtain free parking to go to work.

Kudos to the inspector that found her out and got her car lifted and impounded!

Frankly, I'd be happy to pay the average parking rates for whatever area I was in if I could have a spot that allowed me easy access to where I was going in my wheelchair.

Ok, it's a bit of an oxymoron I suppose. I genuinely do need to be close to whatever venue I visit as my son has to push a 13 stone 'baby' in a wheelchair which is far harder than the 1 stone son I had to push. Therefore I'd like to be close to the venue but I'm not averse to paying for that, only I'd like to be closer than those that can actually walk.

In the more than two decades of having a BB I can honestly say that my badge has never been abused, I know the value of being able to get a disabled space because without them I cant go anywhere.

The people who allow this abuse cant be that disabled, if they desperatly needed disabled bays to go anywhere they would look after their badges and understand the problems real disabled people have with the lack of disabled bays and how not being able to park affects us, its not an irritation not being able to park at the hospital, it could be life threatening.

I dont mind paying if there is a suitable place to park, what gets me is having to pay when there isnt, its adding insult to injury when you have to wait for the owner of the car next to you to return so that you can get into your car.

I have loved parking mad, we need inspectors like that in every town and then maybe our lives would be a bit easier. If you allow your badge to be abused you should be fined, the car impounded as it was in the program and if the badge is abused again it should be taken away, no ifs or buts.

Did you see the first program, the man who parked next to a adisabled bay and got a fine? At the appeal he said "my badge" etc. three times (he was corrected by the judge), the badge wasnt his but an aunt yet from his speach he believed he had disabled parking rights and I am not a betting person but from his demeaner he truely believed the badge was his and I would put money on his using when his aunt wasnt with him. Ive come across people like him before and they believe that because they have a BB in hand they MUST use disabled bays even when they are not entitled too.

Have you ever noticed that the people who are the most aggressive about disabled bays are people who can walk unaided? They are prepared to wait the longest, they first ask if you are going, then they try to hurry you up while aggressivly defending the bay.

sizzler1893

sunnyone wrote: »

Have you ever noticed that the people who are the most aggressive about disabled bays are people who can walk unaided? They are prepared to wait the longest, they first ask if you are going, then they try to hurry you up while aggressivly defending the bay.

To which my Mother turns around my wheelchair and we go back into the shop. Or we sit in the car fiddling about for a few minutes

Meri

I always apply for my BB renewal twelve weeks in advance, I got quick turn around this year so have new badge waiting for when old one runs out.


It is harder now for some people to get the badge due to fraudsters so always best to renew well in advance.