Parafox Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 I'm pretty sure the answer will be an absolute NO from all of us, however, I am currently suffering from a painful bout of sciatica which makes it painful and difficult to walk more than a few steps without having to stop. The other day I had to go to Asda pharmacy to take in a prescription for pain relief. I decided that, due to my temporary condition, I would use a disabled bay for the short time I would be there. There are 16 such bays at my local store and only 3 were in use. I went in and was out again within 15 mins. There were still only 3 bays in use, 4 if you include the one I was in. Some guy in a car in the disabled bay that I was parked next to was clearly waiting for me (he was there when I arrived and he watched me get out of my car). He proceeded to give me hell for using the disabled bay without a blue badge. I tried to reason with him but he was almost purple with anger. I felt justified in using the bay on this occasion as my mobility was impaired and I got to wondering if anyone else would do the same.
cambridgefox Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 No,but I know what you mean about the back pain,nothing worse.Sometimes it's better walking but on other occasions as soon as you put one foot forward,that pain only someone else who has had it knows what it's like,I recently dislocated my shoulder but I had just got over my worst 4 1/2 weeks ever of back pain.This shoulder is a breeze,no pain after initial dislocation,a little sore ,take that everytime. That bloke should weigh up situations,loads of spaces,he could see you were struggling I presume and probably worse than most who use it,especially the ones playing the system.
Jon the Hat Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Yes I probably would have done the same in such circumstances. It pisses me off to be honest waiting for a parent and kid parking spaces when there are clearly more disabled spaces available than the number of disabled people ever go shopping at the same time, as I have never seen more than about 2/3 full.
kingcarr21 Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Personally i dont think i would use it but i wouldnt begrudge someone using the space in your situation. Although i do agree with Jon the Hat i think the problem with that is if there were more parent toddler spaces than disabled spaces you would find more people without kids using them spaces over people without a disability using the disabled spaces. You're more likely to have the parent toddler spaces misused than you are the disabled spaces imo. It can be annoying that there are many disabled spaces not being used but im not disabled so its easy for me to say that. I would imagine it would be very stressful to have a disability and have to park far away from the store entrance with no space either side to get in and out your car. So really its actually a good thing that there are always spaces available.
davieG Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 No. The problem is we've created a society where selfishness has won out over commonsense so everything has to regulated allowing no scope for sensible use. In a perfect world we wouldn't need blue badges just disabled parking spots.
The Railway Man Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Yeah I would, don't believe in them anyway. Want to be treated equal then be treated equal.
leicsmac Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 No. The problem is we've created a society where selfishness has won out over commonsense so everything has to regulated allowing no scope for sensible use. In a perfect world we wouldn't need blue badges just disabled parking spots. Yeah I would, don't believe in them anyway. Want to be treated equal then be treated equal. Aaaand exhibit A for the prosecution right there, DavieG.
Raj Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Yes I probably would have done the same in such circumstances. It pisses me off to be honest waiting for a parent and kid parking spaces when there are clearly more disabled spaces available than the number of disabled people ever go shopping at the same time, as I have never seen more than about 2/3 full.Yep,I've never seen more than a few disabled spots used,but always have to try and find a baby n parent space....LOADS of abusers of these spaces too....
Christoph Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Get a motorbike and park where you want . When I go to Asda, I usually just park my bike near the cashpoint .
The Railway Man Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Yep,I've never seen more than a few disabled spots used,but always have to try and find a baby n parent space....LOADS of abusers of these spaces too.... Another bizarre thing there, parent and baby spaces. I mean wtf.
DB11 Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 It's easy for people to take the moral high ground on an anonymous internet forum, but I wouldn't use it. Without all the facts it appears to be selfish (I'm talking about seeing a vehicle in a disabled bay without a blue badge, not the OP scenario) but I don't know the procedure to procure a blue badge or how straightforward it is. My dad has a blue badge and it's quite annoying when he isn't able to get a space in a disabled bay and has to park further away and struggles to walk - some days are better than others. There has been many occasions when my dad's blue badge has been in the vehicle I have been driving but I don't use it to park where I shouldn't I just park where I can. I imagine some people would misuse it and use a blue badge that wasn't theirs.
theessexfox Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Yeah I would, don't believe in them anyway. Want to be treated equal then be treated equal. How much time would you save?
Babylon Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 No. Whilst there is some sympathy with people who have bad backs (I regularly suffer). People thinking it's ok to use them without a badge, just leads to more people thinking it's OK.
Leeds Fox Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 When I had a broken leg I occasionally used them. I wouldn't have taken the last one, or used it if there were very limited spaces though. Rather than risk smashing the door into the next car everytime, it seemed like a logical and sensible thing to do. In my opinion, whether you are disabled (by the true meaning of the word), for a week or a lifetime, the idea of disabled parking is to allow easy access into and out of your car, and that is purely the reason I used them. I always expected to have someone ranting at me, however it never happened. It always seems the people who would be having a go at you would be the ones who have the blue badges and don't necessarily need them.
Jon the Hat Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Another bizarre thing there, parent and baby spaces. I mean wtf. You physically cannot get a baby seat out of the car in some car parks, which is off putting to people with kids, so obviously the shops want to make it easier.
Jon the Hat Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Yeah I would, don't believe in them anyway. Want to be treated equal then be treated equal. You are completely missing the point then aren't you? Deliberately I expect. Being equal in this sense means they can go to the shops just like you. If they cannot walk as far, or cannot get out of the car in a cramped parking space, then they don't have that same access as you. Equality doesn't mean treating everyone the same, it means allowing everyone the access to the same things.
Brenfox Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 It's not like you were taking anyone else's space is it? I can't bear people like the one that you encountered & it's none of his business. If he was disabled & you had taken the last available space then fair enough but you hadn't. A little harsh maybe but people like this need to die.
Babylon Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 It's not like you were taking anyone else's space is it? I can't bear people like the one that you encountered & it's none of his business. If he was disabled & you had taken the last available space then fair enough but you hadn't. A little harsh maybe but people like this need to die. Yeah that's an appropriate response. This "It's not the last space" stuff is nonsense. What that basically says it's absolutely fine for non disabled people to take up disabled parking spaces so long as they leave just one space. The rules are quite simple, no badge no parking whatever the excuse.
Brenfox Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Yeah that's an appropriate response. This "It's not the last space" stuff is nonsense. What that basically says it's absolutely fine for non disabled people to take up disabled parking spaces so long as they leave just one space. The rules are quite simple, no badge no parking whatever the excuse. I see the point you are making but what gives this guy the right to take it upon himself to challenge the op? Not only that but it sounds like he was confrontational & in actual fact it's none of his business. I have had a similar experience of this as my son is disabled & just because he is not in a wheelchair people think they can interfere because they are 'doing the right thing.'
Fez of Mahrez Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Yeah I would, don't believe in them anyway. Want to be treated equal then be treated equal. Yeah because disabled people have equal rights in everything. Even if you just take transport and social activities... Imagine every time you want to go to the football, you can't book a ticket online. You have to ring up. Imagine all the tickets that are available to you are taken so you can't go, even if there are loads of tickets elsewhere in the stadium. Imagine not being able to go to a gig because it's upstairs and there's no access for you. Imagine having to ring stations every time you plan to get the train so they can prepare a ramp for you to board, otherwise you can't go. Imagine having to sit right at the front in most cinemas so you get neckache even looking at the screen. Imagine getting rid of disabled parking spaces because you're an absolute turnip and then drivers being blocked in on both sides in normal spaces and having to reverse out into the way of other cars and stop. But, of course, you'd love to be in that queue waiting because at least there are no disabled parking spaces and everyone's equal.
Carl the Llama Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 I see the point you are making but what gives this guy the right to take it upon himself to challenge the op? Not only that but it sounds like he was confrontational & in actual fact it's none of his business. I have had a similar experience of this as my son is disabled & just because he is not in a wheelchair people think they can interfere because they are 'doing the right thing.' The lack of a blue badge. I'm sure there are lots of examples where common sense might allow for the temporary use of a disabled space, but if you don't have a blue badge then everybody has the right to question your motives.
Parafox Posted 2 April 2015 Author Posted 2 April 2015 The lack of a blue badge. I'm sure there are lots of examples where common sense might allow for the temporary use of a disabled space, but if you don't have a blue badge then everybody has the right to question your motives. I agree. However his attitude was that, no matter how difficult it was for me to walk at the time, because I didn't have a badge I should not park in a disabled bay. Fair enough in normal circumstances. His approach was highly confrontational and he would not accept my "motives" for parking there. Opening gambit from the driver, aged approx 70: "You shouldn't park there, you haven't got a blue badge"! My reply: "How do you know I haven't"? Driver: "I've looked" (Therefore he must've got out of his car to check.) Me: "I have a bad back, It's not easy for me to walk at the moment" Him: "I don't care about that, you don't have a badge, you're not disabled. Other people might need that space". At this point I look around pointedly at the 12 other vacant spaces, most of which are nearer to the entrance than the one I'm in. "Sorry, I was only gone for 15 minutes", showing him the box of tablets. "Doesn't matter mate, like I said, you don't have a badge. You can't use the disabled spaces. It's a good job you came back cos I was gonna report you. My wife's disabled she needs these spaces and ignorant arseholes like you cause us problems" I agreed with him that it would have been a problem had I taken the last space. He responded angrily that I had effectively missed the point of disabled spaces. It went on a little while longer with him berating me until I just mouthed an expletive, got in my car and drove off. Needless to say I was riled by his attitude and I myself was shaking as one does after a heated argument in a public place.
MooseBreath Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 I wouldn't have used it in that situation. They're for disabled people not for people in a bit of pain. At least you did have something of am excuse though. Can't get my head around how messed up in the head these people are who use them for no reason.
DB11 Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Yeah I would, don't believe in them anyway. Want to be treated equal then be treated equal. Equality is treating people appropriately to their needs, not treating everyone the same. I see the point you are making but what gives this guy the right to take it upon himself to challenge the op? Not only that but it sounds like he was confrontational & in actual fact it's none of his business. I have had a similar experience of this as my son is disabled & just because he is not in a wheelchair people think they can interfere because they are 'doing the right thing.' Challenging inappropriate behaviour is something we should all do... the manner in which it is done can be questioned (ie. the way the OP describes it is confrontational and should probably have been done in a different manner)
davieG Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Given that a badge is required then there ought to be a fast track system to obtain a temporary / short term one for those that are temporarily disabled. I saw a guy this morning use the single disabled spot even though there were spaces 6 cars away to use a cash machine. Pure selfish laziness.
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