disabled parking

[colin-yorkshire]

hi all

the biggest tossers are the ones who abuse the badge system sort that out first.

clamp all the cars in the the bay for disabled and then only release the genuine ones .

see how many badge holders actually need them now that would be wothwhile exersize.

while ever these people regulary abuse the system and are not stopped from doing so you cannot expect the rest of us to have any sympathy for the badge holders. I certanly dont have any???.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

hi emmerson

my wife too has problems with her knees and can only walk a few paces unaided the differance is I dont have a badge for her but this does not mean she is not diabled does it.

 

[LMH]

Anyone who parks in a disabled bay and DOES NOT have a blue badge, should be clamped. I think

 

[Val & Frank]

Colin

www.northyorks.gov.uk/.../Parking%20permits%20(blue%20badge)%20-%20279/bluebadgeregblind.pdf -

For your application, so that you don't have to struggle for parking when you are out with your wife. Genuine not -)

Val & Frank

 

[S-MaxJon]

While I have some sympathy for the badge holders as people has said it is abused.The number of times you see badge holders quite freely get in an out of vehicles with no visible disability.

Saying that disability is not just related to actual walking etc.It could be shortness of breath if walking distances.Disability is a complex issue and very difficult to measure.

My main gripe is when disabled badge holders park in Parent and Toddler bays.Double standards I think here.There seems to be a misconception that because they have a blue badge they can park anywhere whether there are provisions or not.

 

[Meister]

And ..................... changing tack slightly:

It was, for many years, not too difficult to get a Blue Badge but that is apparently changing.

Whereas previously it was enough for a family Doctor to sign the application form I have read (cant remember where) that the "powers that be" are starting question this.

Whilst a person who is in receipt of the Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate will have no problem getting a badge anyone else will have to make out their case AND can/may be asked to undergo an examination by independent Doctor/s.

I personally welcome this sort of action and, coupled with better enforcement, could greatly reduce the amount of misuse/fraud that is carried out by "supposedly" disabled people.

Hopefully there would then be more spaces available for those who really ARE disabled.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

To be fair the term 'disabled' covers a multitude of complaints. My ex-husband is 'disabled' by MS - sometimes his walking appears normal, sometimes he can only walk a few steps. I have a friend who is considerably disabled by epilepsy - she has a blue badge, and her son drives her around. When she has no fits she appears fit and well, when episodes arise she can collapse suddenly without warning and the fits can continue over a long period of time. My mother has a blue badge because of COPD and has to use a wheelchair. If someone has a blue badge please don't judge them if they appear fit and well, but if no blue badge is displayed action should be taken against the offender.

Well said Valerie, appearances aren't always as they seem. You might like to add Angina to your list :O)

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Meister you are very deluded if you think that will cure the problem. Do you think that by this happening it will still stop the wasters, who from experience, are mainly in their teens or twenties, from parking in disabled/mother & child places?

Somehow I don't think so. Like Lisa said, hit them where it hurts, in their pockets. Theres no deterrent hence no respect for those worse off than themselves. Neither will it stop those who use a badge for a relative from using it when the relative isn't in the car. The person I mentioned earlier whose mother has a badge uses the same badge to park wherever she is when away in the caravan. She uses it locally when shopping without her mother. What is needed is the photo to be shown of the holder so it can be checked by wardens or car park attendants

 

[ThePlotter]

Unless enforcement takes places by the powers that be you will not stop it,however the siusation is not helped by the abusers regularly you see the badge and a clearly abled bodied person get out of the car,or the disabled person stays in the car whilst the abled bodied person goes shopping.You will know that my wife has just recovered from cancer and whilst undergoing treatment had difficulty walking any distance at all but is not allowed to have a blue badge.

Now the controversial bit,if the disabled need the spaces to access their wheelchairs why do the spaces need to be outside the door,or if they do not use a wheelchair because they can walk again why outside the door,if the answer is because they cannot walk across the car park how do they then manage to walk around the shops.Just a tongue in cheek thought,retires and places tin hat on head.

 

[Dougy1]

What great topic. I love how the majority of people jump to the conclusion that it is older people that have Blue Badges.

I am afraid this is not always the case as people can suffer a disability at any age.

For me, I was thirty two and I had a motorcycle accident which broke my back and crushed my spinal cord leaving me wheelchair dependent for the rest of my life. You might have seen some of the posts I have made previously where I will rant about things but this is something I do have real knowledge of.

When I first started using my wheelchair I would make all sorts of comments to people about parking in disabled parking bays and after being threatened a few times I have now given up because I don't want thumped by some idiot. If they are inclined to park in a disabled bay, having a dig at them is not going to stop it. THEY DON'T CARE.

With regards to the parking spaces being close to the door, I honestly don't think this is completely necessary because as many people have pointed out, people who use a wheelchair can push themselves for the majority of the time. I would be quicker across a car park than most able bodied people so I think there has to be a bit of give and take. I do appreciate that there are genuine people who need to park near to the door due to mobility issues but I consider myself to be fit enough to park further away as long as the space is large enough.

This is another point that someone has made, the width of the spaces. Being independent I need to open my door fully to get my wheelchair in and out of the car. I am sure that if I scratched your car with my chair you would have something to say about it. I have parked in 'normal' spaces numerous times and on return to my car I find the idiot next to me has parked too close and I can't get into my car, so I have to go to customer services and put a message over the tannoy or wait on them returning and when they return they complain and say I should have parked in a disabled bay. YOU CAN'T WIN

Regarding the parent and child parking spaces, I never use them because they are for that very reason but it would be helpful as I explained earlier, I need a wider space to get my chair in and out so it would be beneficial for me to use one of those spaces but I don't want the hassle from someone who has kids.

Someone else mentioned that the spaces would have to be policed. This is the only way it would work, but as someone pointed out, these spaces are for everyone to use and it is not against the law to use them, it is purely courtesy not to use them so until it is policed there isn't anything anyone can do.

I was recently in Devon and when I parked in a disabled space a chap went past me a glared in the car at me. I did put my blue badge on the dashboard of my car but he continued to glare at me. When I got my chair out of the car he then stopped glaring at me but I could see he was really angry. I am only forty years old now and I have numerous friends who are in their teens who drive cars and have blue badges so think of the looks they get. One in particular is a young girl with blacked out windows, loud exhaust and music blaring out of her car. She is only in her early twenties but I have been with her when people stare at her and we have both been challenged on numerous occasions. I played basketball with a guy who used to shout at others "you have my parking space, would you like my disability?' until this backfired on him. It was the person in the rear of the car who required assistance.

I know that this will put the cat amongst the pigeons and I am sure I will be battered with comments about being treated different and having 'special treatment' but I am big enough to comment on it so I am happy to take it on the chin.

I look forward to the bombardment.

Dougy

 

[Parksy]

I have been reading this thread with interest and some wry amusement at some of the more sweeping generalities and some probably genuine misconceptions regarding the 'blue badge' system.

I was able bodied untill I was 50 and for reasons too boring to go in to I became at first quite severely disabled but improving over time untill now, where I find myself at 56 an old fogey who uses a walking stick.

For those who proffess to having 'no sympathy' for blue badge holders I say save your sympathy, I certainly dont need it, just thank your lucky stars that you dont need the much coveted blue badge.

A person receiving the highest rate of disability living allowance can apply for a disabled parking permit(blue badge)

This must carry a photograph of the permit holder and is renewable every two years. Highest rate DLA recipients can also qualify for 'free' road tax because after attending a medical board. A person with real mobility problems needs transport. If that preson happens to be a child, or cannot drive then they can appoint someone to drive for them. Many local authorities permit free disabled parking on their car parks, although some, especially in holiday destinations, require a blue badge holder to obtain a further permit from them or pay the going rate. Of course disabled people have rights but they also have responsibilities which sadly, in common with much of todays society, they neglect.

The free parking system and perhaps also disabled bays in supermarkets ought to be limited to certain less busy times so that people who have to fit in shopping etc around work schedules are not unfairly treated.

When one mentions 'higher rate DLA' many people assume that this consists of a kings ransom. Let me assure everybody that it is not. While one would never starve on this largesse one has to be very careful with the pennies. Think of the lowest legal hourly rate for 40 hours in this country and halve it, just in case anyone beleives that disabled people are paid a fortune.

I apologise for the wordy reply to this interesting thread and please be assured that my remarks are not pointed ones. I can fully understand why this can be such an emotive subject and I probably shared the same or similar views myself once. You wouldn't want to swap places, nor would I wish you to.

Nowadays I dont always park in the disabled bays in supermarkets unless Carole makes me get tons of shopping. If I find the bays full and we need to use one we just wait for a couple of minutes and one usually becomes empty. One thing that both Carole and myself have is plenty of time so we just refuse to become stressed, listen to old Terry Wogan or whoever and enjoy each others company and the day.

Posted more in sorrow than in anger,Steve

 

[Essexeddie]

What great topic. I love how the majority of people jump to the conclusion that it is older people that have Blue Badges.

I am afraid this is not always the case as people can suffer a disability at any age.

For me, I was thirty two and I had a motorcycle accident which broke my back and crushed my spinal cord leaving me wheelchair dependent for the rest of my life. You might have seen some of the posts I have made previously where I will rant about things but this is something I do have real knowledge of.

When I first started using my wheelchair I would make all sorts of comments to people about parking in disabled parking bays and after being threatened a few times I have now given up because I don't want thumped by some idiot. If they are inclined to park in a disabled bay, having a dig at them is not going to stop it. THEY DON'T CARE.

With regards to the parking spaces being close to the door, I honestly don't think this is completely necessary because as many people have pointed out, people who use a wheelchair can push themselves for the majority of the time. I would be quicker across a car park than most able bodied people so I think there has to be a bit of give and take. I do appreciate that there are genuine people who need to park near to the door due to mobility issues but I consider myself to be fit enough to park further away as long as the space is large enough.

This is another point that someone has made, the width of the spaces. Being independent I need to open my door fully to get my wheelchair in and out of the car. I am sure that if I scratched your car with my chair you would have something to say about it. I have parked in 'normal' spaces numerous times and on return to my car I find the idiot next to me has parked too close and I can't get into my car, so I have to go to customer services and put a message over the tannoy or wait on them returning and when they return they complain and say I should have parked in a disabled bay. YOU CAN'T WIN

Regarding the parent and child parking spaces, I never use them because they are for that very reason but it would be helpful as I explained earlier, I need a wider space to get my chair in and out so it would be beneficial for me to use one of those spaces but I don't want the hassle from someone who has kids.

Someone else mentioned that the spaces would have to be policed. This is the only way it would work, but as someone pointed out, these spaces are for everyone to use and it is not against the law to use them, it is purely courtesy not to use them so until it is policed there isn't anything anyone can do.

I was recently in Devon and when I parked in a disabled space a chap went past me a glared in the car at me. I did put my blue badge on the dashboard of my car but he continued to glare at me. When I got my chair out of the car he then stopped glaring at me but I could see he was really angry. I am only forty years old now and I have numerous friends who are in their teens who drive cars and have blue badges so think of the looks they get. One in particular is a young girl with blacked out windows, loud exhaust and music blaring out of her car. She is only in her early twenties but I have been with her when people stare at her and we have both been challenged on numerous occasions. I played basketball with a guy who used to shout at others "you have my parking space, would you like my disability?' until this backfired on him. It was the person in the rear of the car who required assistance.

I know that this will put the cat amongst the pigeons and I am sure I will be battered with comments about being treated different and having 'special treatment' but I am big enough to comment on it so I am happy to take it on the chin.

I look forward to the bombardment.

Dougy

All brings to mind when I was once on a job wallpapering a flat for a friend. Some jerk parked across the driveway, I could not get out, So I pasted some wallpaper across their windscreen with a message!

I felt terrible afterwards........it was a midwife!

 

[ThePlotter]

My comment regarding why the spaces need to be right by the door was a little tongue in cheek however if the spaces were further away I guarantee that the abled bodied would not use them.

 

[Parksy]

Its handy for me if they are reasonably close. I use the trolley as a kind of mobile zimmer frame which is great unless I get the trolley with the wonky wheel. At our local Asda I might end up 'in the cut' :0)

 

[Robert_374242026]

I know someone who never pays for parking. Wherever she goes she uses her mothers badge even though her mther doesn't even live with her. Until the authorities clamp down on it and the photo of the disabled person is shown nobody will care. Regarding places like Tesco what can they do apart from clamp them. It's totally wrong emmo and those morons should be made to pay for their dont care less attitude.

My Wife's photo is on her card, thought they all had it.

 

[andyyorks]

Its handy for me if they are reasonably close. I use the trolley as a kind of mobile zimmer frame which is great unless I get the trolley with the wonky wheel. At our local Asda I might end up 'in the cut' :0)

he he

 

[emmerson2]

Meister you are very deluded if you think that will cure the problem. Do you think that by this happening it will still stop the wasters, who from experience, are mainly in their teens or twenties, from parking in disabled/mother & child places?

Somehow I don't think so. Like Lisa said, hit them where it hurts, in their pockets. Theres no deterrent hence no respect for those worse off than themselves. Neither will it stop those who use a badge for a relative from using it when the relative isn't in the car. The person I mentioned earlier whose mother has a badge uses the same badge to park wherever she is when away in the caravan. She uses it locally when shopping without her mother. What is needed is the photo to be shown of the holder so it can be checked by wardens or car park attendants

LB, the holder's photo is on the back of a blue badge, and parking attendants can ask to see it, so anyone using someone else's badge is taking a risk.

 

[emmerson2]

hi emmerson

my wife too has problems with her knees and can only walk a few paces unaided the differance is I dont have a badge for her but this does not mean she is not diabled does it.

No, Colin it doesn't. It took me nearly three years to persuade Herself to apply for her badge; she hated having to admit that she was disabled.Her pride took a blow when she finally had to give in. Even now, she hates being seen in her wheelchair. She does enjoy her electric buggy though! Unfortunately, there are those who abuse the system which makes it difficult for the genuine sufferers.Incidentally, we only have the parking badge, not full mobility allowance.

 

[emmerson2]

Continuing the thread, I also query why disabled people are allowed free parking, and also agree that there is no neccesity for the bays to be near if the user has a wheelchair. BUT, as has been said, if a person cannot walk far then they need to be near the entrance. As to how they then walk round the store, the answer is that hey don't. Most stores have courtesy chairs, either manual or powered. To use the powered chairs, Morrison's insist on a small proficiency test, and issue a card which entitles the holder to use a powered chair in any of their stores.

One thing that I must admit, I take advantage of but cannot understand, is why blue badge holders are allowed free crossing over the Severn bridges! Disabled or not, they still use the same road!

 

[emmerson2]

My comment regarding why the spaces need to be right by the door was a little tongue in cheek however if the spaces were further away I guarantee that the abled bodied would not use them.

Good point ,Plotter!

 

[Parksy]

Continuing the thread, I also query why disabled people are allowed free parking, and also agree that there is no neccesity for the bays to be near if the user has a wheelchair. BUT, as has been said, if a person cannot walk far then they need to be near the entrance. As to how they then walk round the store, the answer is that hey don't. Most stores have courtesy chairs, either manual or powered. To use the powered chairs, Morrison's insist on a small proficiency test, and issue a card which entitles the holder to use a powered chair in any of their stores.

One thing that I must admit, I take advantage of but cannot understand, is why blue badge holders are allowed free crossing over the Severn bridges! Disabled or not, they still use the same road!

I didn't know that about the severn bridge. The times i've paid to cross that! It always struck me that you pay to get into Wales but its free to get out :0

 

[Diane1]

L.B. Lost the thread on my post. To continue... The dear was parked in a blue badge bay, however it was a blue badge for her husband, who it turns out was in hospital. Not just youngsters i think have no respect.

 

[ThePlotter]

Off on a tangent ( no suprise there) why do the disabled ( my daughter is handicapped) have reduced charges on the M6 Toll Road they like everybody else has a choice to use it or not.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

In reply to emmo's post to me, yes I know the photo is on the Blue Badge mate but it should be on view so that it could be checked. The chances of someone using a badge that doesn't belong to them when theres a warden around is very slim unless they are stupid :O)

 

[Parksy]

Your Lordship is right about the photo being on the badge but for some strange reason it is on the opposite side to the one we are instructed to display.I,m glad mines on the back though.