Free blue badge hospital parking in doubt

Barny1979

Spoonie_Turtle said:

A Blue Badge is NOT license to park just anywhere. All the info online and in the booklet that comes with it explicitly states that one must park considerately and not cause issues for other road users - and they can take the Blue Badge away if you do so. I'm not doubting you've seen irresponsible parking, because we all know rules are not always enforced, but it's definitely not a BB perk to park irresponsibly.

By allowing BB holders to park on DYL, this in it's nature will cause delay for other drivers, however the same could be said for vehicles being loaded or unloaded on DYL, which is also permitted.

Spoonie_Turtle

Barny1979 said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

A Blue Badge is NOT license to park just anywhere. All the info online and in the booklet that comes with it explicitly states that one must park considerately and not cause issues for other road users - and they can take the Blue Badge away if you do so. I'm not doubting you've seen irresponsible parking, because we all know rules are not always enforced, but it's definitely not a BB perk to park irresponsibly.

By allowing BB holders to park on DYL, this in it's nature will cause delay for other drivers, however the same could be said for vehicles being loaded or unloaded on DYL, which is also permitted.

True, it depends on what kind of issues parking there causes. E.g. needing to wait for a gap in oncoming traffic to be able to pass the parked car is very different from having your view obstructed at a junction.

born_again

Spoonie_Turtle said:

A Blue Badge is NOT license to park just anywhere. All the info online and in the booklet that comes with it explicitly states that one must park considerately and not cause issues for other road users - and they can take the Blue Badge away if you do so. I'm not doubting you've seen irresponsible parking, because we all know rules are not always enforced, but it's definitely not a BB perk to park irresponsibly.

By their very nature DYL are there for a reason. Yes fine to drop someone off and move on, but to be able to park and leave a car is plain daft.
Round here many BB's simply park on the DYL when disabled spaces are full by tagging onto the end of the bays, problem is it is a narrow high street and by doing so traffic is then restricted to single file. Which given traffic lights within 50 yards often means one way does not move at all as the other way have blocked the road due to getting caught out by the lights changing.
But that is the very nature of many drivers (not just BB users) they simply do not care about anyone but themselves.

Pok3mon

born_again said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

A Blue Badge is NOT license to park just anywhere. All the info online and in the booklet that comes with it explicitly states that one must park considerately and not cause issues for other road users - and they can take the Blue Badge away if you do so. I'm not doubting you've seen irresponsible parking, because we all know rules are not always enforced, but it's definitely not a BB perk to park irresponsibly.

By their very nature DYL are there for a reason. Yes fine to drop someone off and move on, but to be able to park and leave a car is plain daft.
Round here many BB's simply park on the DYL when disabled spaces are full by tagging onto the end of the bays, problem is it is a narrow high street and by doing so traffic is then restricted to single file. Which given traffic lights within 50 yards often means one way does not move at all as the other way have blocked the road due to getting caught out by the lights changing.
But that is the very nature of many drivers (not just BB users) they simply do not care about anyone but themselves.

I am actually a lorry driver and blue badge holders are the biggest problem for us. Especially when it comes to loading bays. (YOU CAN'T PARK IN THEM BTW!) This is never or rarely enforced as told to me by a traffic warden I was getting a ticket from at the time, the council had told them not to enforce loading bays as the appeal process was costing a fortune. I think the double yellow rules need to change as most just park anywhere and it is double yellow for a reason. I have done this job for many years and you used to get the occasional problem BB parked car but now it is a daily occurrence the last ten years it has got very bad. 
By nature we deliver to town centres and that is where people want to park. Try negotiating a 16m 44 ton truck through a zigzag of BB parked cars on opposite sides  while looking out for bikes and people walking out in front of you, TBF there needs to be a huge cull of badges, change of the rules and better enforcement.

Just found this!
https://www.edp24.co.uk/motoring/beccles-gridlocked-after-inconsiderate-parking-1-6422020

Barny1979

BB in Loading Bays are a massive "grey" area unfortunately

50Twuncle

Pok3mon said:

born_again said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

A Blue Badge is NOT license to park just anywhere. All the info online and in the booklet that comes with it explicitly states that one must park considerately and not cause issues for other road users - and they can take the Blue Badge away if you do so. I'm not doubting you've seen irresponsible parking, because we all know rules are not always enforced, but it's definitely not a BB perk to park irresponsibly.

By their very nature DYL are there for a reason. Yes fine to drop someone off and move on, but to be able to park and leave a car is plain daft.
Round here many BB's simply park on the DYL when disabled spaces are full by tagging onto the end of the bays, problem is it is a narrow high street and by doing so traffic is then restricted to single file. Which given traffic lights within 50 yards often means one way does not move at all as the other way have blocked the road due to getting caught out by the lights changing.
But that is the very nature of many drivers (not just BB users) they simply do not care about anyone but themselves.

I am actually a lorry driver and blue badge holders are the biggest problem for us. Especially when it comes to loading bays. (YOU CAN'T PARK IN THEM BTW!) This is never or rarely enforced as told to me by a traffic warden I was getting a ticket from at the time, the council had told them not to enforce loading bays as the appeal process was costing a fortune. I think the double yellow rules need to change as most just park anywhere and it is double yellow for a reason. I have done this job for many years and you used to get the occasional problem BB parked car but now it is a daily occurrence the last ten years it has got very bad. 
By nature we deliver to town centres and that is where people want to park. Try negotiating a 16m 44 ton truck through a zigzag of BB parked cars on opposite sides  while looking out for bikes and people walking out in front of you, TBF there needs to be a huge cull of badges, change of the rules and better enforcement.

Just found this!
https://www.edp24.co.uk/motoring/beccles-gridlocked-after-inconsiderate-parking-1-6422020

I agree about DYL's but I was talking about hospital car parks !

MalMonroe

unforeseen said:

MalMonroe said:

Nannytone said:

I've never understood why people expect disabled parking to be free

Maybe because a lot of disabled people can't work and earn large salaries? Also, what a harsh comment. 

And there are a hell of a lot more people who cannot work for reasons that don't class them as disabled as well. They have to pay. 

Oh don't I know it, my daughter is one of them!! But I don't think it's nice to make such comments. Some disabled people are also struggling financially. 

MalMonroe

born_again said:

MalMonroe said:

Nannytone said:

I've never understood why people expect disabled parking to be free

Maybe because a lot of disabled people can't work and earn large salaries? Also, what a harsh comment. 

Well I took early retirement and we survive on PIP & Carers. OK we have a bit of savings to play with. But I'm more than happy to pay for parking even with a blue badge.
Do not think the post was harsh either, many do seem to think BB = Free parking (seen people driving expensive and not available via motorbility cars moaning about having to pay. Clearly if you can afford a £50k+ car you can afford a couple of quid for parking) as well as the ability to park anywhere they like even if it causes issues for other road users.

Wow, who pays £50k+ for a car?!  
The post WAS harsh because it did seem spiteful.  I don't see why anyone, including staff and blue badge holders (as was stated in the original post - and which was the point of the OP) should have to pay to park at any hospital. It's ironic. 

Where I live, the hospitals' car parks aren't even owned by the NHS. They're owned by private companies who are making an absolute fortune out of ill people and their relatives. My daughter was in hospital for two weeks and the parking costs I paid were extortionate. £4.50 for four hours and visiting hours were from 8am to 8pm so I stayed visiting for as long as I was allowed (it was just pre coronavirus). That's without even mentioning disabled people and staff. Nobody should have to pay. But the comments about disabled people having to pay and the sarcasm on here just makes me feel sad. The post's gone off the original topic and turned into criticism and holier than though comments about how disabled people should pay to park everywhere. Not kind.

MalMonroe

Mojisola said:

If a disabled person goes to hospital on the bus, should they be able to travel for free?

We've been paying for disabled parking spaces at our hospital for decades.

In that case isn't it about time people where you live started to do something about it??? Protest, at least! Why should any of us have to pay to park at a hospital of all places?!  People just accept it though and parking companies get richer. Because where I am, hospital car parks aren't even NHS owned.

And YES, disabled people SHOULD be allowed to travel for free. And where I live, they can and do. Stop being mean!

born_again

MalMonroe said:

b

Wow, who pays £50k+ for a car?!  
The post WAS harsh because it did seem spiteful.  I don't see why anyone, including staff and blue badge holders (as was stated in the original post - and which was the point of the OP) should have to pay to park at any hospital. It's ironic. 

Was not meant to be spiteful.
A lot of these cars are not available via Motorbility. So they are funded by themselves.
Round here I regularly see Range Rovers, Discoveries, BMW's, Mercs, Telsa & even the odd Porsche. With BB & that is in Hospital car parks as well.
If they can afford a car like that, then they can afford car parking charges.
Sure some maybe because it is a family members car taking a disabled person out.

On the OP.
TBH. If you can afford to pay, then why not. I'm certainly happy to if it helps fund the NHS. Round here you have to stop and go to the kiosk for free parking on the way out.
Personally it's not worth the couple of quid it costs. But I understand to some it is. When you see some of the above cars waiting in line to avoid paying. You just have to think why... Oh it's because I can....