Confusion about parking in a disabled parking bay?

twopenny

It would be a mean thing to do. If you have a blue badge you should know how difficult it is to get about any distance and to potentially cause them problems with getting to their home.

If you have someone to visit there they should know who needs it and when. Or they could ask.

Conrad3000

Just to add, certain folk seem to be taking the p*ss when it comes to having disabled bays outside their house.

They have more than one car in the household and the disabled individual hardly ever leaves the home. And when I say 'disabled', the person in question can walk out and about (albeit slowly) without any major issues.

Frozen_up_north

In many places, "residents only" parking streets can also be used by visiting blue badge holders, which is great as it often means there are places to park near where you need to be. As always, check with the council for the area.

Mildly_Miffed

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81863795#Comment_81863795

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/blue-badge-can-i-get-one/can-i-get-a-blue-badge

"walking slowly" is not grounds to qualify for a blue badge.

Do not judge from what you think you see. They may be taking advantage of one of their rare good days, and may pay for it for days to come. Nobody WANTS to be disabled enough to qualify for a blue badge.

Grumpy_chap

The disabled bays are available for use by anyone with the requisite entitlement (blue badge) and the bays are not linked to a specific property.

The usual rules around the trip being for the benefit of the eligible individual apply.

A driver cannot just park in the disabled bay and display the blue badge if the individual eligible for the blue badge is not travelling on that trip.

Okell

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6652950/confusion-about-parking-in-a-disabled-parking-bay

I think you need to be wary of some of the answers given here.

It depends on what the sign on the pole says.

Some disabled bays can be restricted to certain resident permit holders only, or even to an individual permit or resident, but the sign should clearly say what, if any, restrictions apply.

If it's just a bog (box?) standard disabled bay with no signed restrictions, then yes any blue badge holder can park there.

Having said that, I understand that in the City of London (or it might be Westminster - I'm not 100% sure?) they have their own disabled parking scheme and and you have to have one of their own green badges to park in a disabled bay, a blue one won't be accepted.

Without seeing a photo of the relevant sign and knowing which local authority it is, it's impossible to say for sure.

If you've received a parking ticket from the local authority you should go to ftla - Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so on) for advice on how to challenge

[Edit: Whereas the MSE parking board is acknowledged as the best source of advice when it comes to private parking "fines", ftla is the best when it comes to local authority PCNs - eg disabled parking bays]

Okell

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81863795#Comment_81863795

Don't be so judgmental - how do you know they don't have "major" issues?

In any case, AFAIK you can qualify for a blue badge without a physical disability.

(There used to be a real judge named titled Judge Judge. Wouldn't it be great if there was a lawyer named Mental who became a judge?)

unforeseen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81863982#Comment_81863982

If there is no signage then it is advisory and still open to any body. It needs a standard 'disabled parking' sign as a minimum to be legally enforceable. This will be covered by a TRO.

Okell

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81864009#Comment_81864009

Sorry but I don't quite understand what you are saying.

If there is no signage then how would anyone know what is or is not advisory?

So far as I know if there is no signage (eg no DYL, no SYL, no parking restrictionon a pole, no disbaled only, no CPZ etc) then anyone can park anywhere.

What is advisory about no signage?

user1977

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81864034#Comment_81864034

Historically there's been a practice of the bay being marked outside the home of a disabled resident, but the council not bothering to promote a Traffic Regulation Order to go along with it or put up the regulation signage (e.g. it might only have the white lineage on the road). So they're relying on the goodwill of those parking rather than having any right to enforce it.