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May 2015
8:10pm, 29 May 2015
1,408 posts
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Fellrunning
I don't particularly feel the need to defend myself. More put right a Daily Mail/UKIP/Jeremy Vine sponsored idea that abuse is widespread. Its no more widespread than any other kind of fraud (which is what misuse of a Blue Badge amounts to incidentally its a criminal offence).
I've come to regard the Blue Badge as the motoring equivalent of the Yellow Star of David. Slap one on your dashboard and the fascists appear quicker than Mr Benn's shopkeeper. Checking the time on the badge etc,. I understand that these people have to fill their time somehow between editions of the Jeremy Vine show but I've reached the point where we avoid using the thing unless we have to - despite all the DWP hoops you have to jump through to get one in the first place.
Of course us not using a DP space means that there's one less space for a deserving able bodied person.
Wish I could go for a run. Sadly the pacemaker hasn't let me do that just yet...
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May 2015
8:09am, 30 May 2015
1,208 posts
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Fitz
I often ferry my mum around in my car. I feel I should be able to use a parent & child space in a car park. Not because she is my parent but because she has very poor mobility (arthritis, artificial knee, sundry oldagepensionerness) and it's very difficult to get her in / out of the car in normal spaces without damaging her, me or any vehicles.
But I very rarely do so, just because I don't need the abuse from parents of real, fit, able-bodied children.
I suppose I could apply for a blue badge. I very much doubt I'd get one though.
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May 2015
8:22am, 30 May 2015
29 posts
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Tecnikal
It's one of those things I'm afraid where they need to get the wording right and where people need to use common sense. Where they go wrong is firstly creating these spaces and calling them Parent & Child instead of Baby/Toddler and less abled or something. Then the spaces having no legal implications and finally by them not being policed by the people who created the spaces to clear up any confusion about who can use them.
By doing all these things, some people misinterpret the signs and use them to their advantage and it is all the fault of the people who created them without thinking and then just left them there for everyone to abuse.
I am only talking about P&C parking here not disabled which should be obvious, you either have a blue badge or you are picking up or dropping off the owner of the blue badge. Simple right. Perhaps they should give people with new borns a P&C badge that is valid for 5 years then expires. Would that solve a problem?
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May 2015
8:24am, 30 May 2015
30 posts
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Tecnikal
I forgot a question mark in the last paragraph and can not now edit it. What grinds my gears is that I feel I have to justify that before the grammar police attack. lol 
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May 2015
8:51am, 30 May 2015
9,689 posts
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Diogenes
Tecnikal, in your post on the previous page, wouldn't it have been easier to have explained to the nosy parker what you explained to us, that you were early for an appointment and killing time? It may have been nine of their business but it's not exactly classified info and would have avoided you both getting worked up.
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May 2015
8:56am, 30 May 2015
9,690 posts
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Diogenes
Ironically, something that grinds my gears is people who like to tell others how they should live their lives.
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May 2015
9:09am, 30 May 2015
1,409 posts
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Fellrunning
Sadly Diogenes my experience is the same as Tecnikal. The Blue Badge thought police aren't interested in having a conversation - only in being right. That's because they don't actually give a toss about Disabled Parking - they just hate the idea that the disabled get this "perk" and can do something that they - the non freeloading tax paying public - cannot. Its the same mentality as the open hostility towards cyclists by some motorists. They just don't like the idea that a bike can get through the traffic more quickly than they can.
Fitz - your Mum should apply. Its based on a points system and takes into account all sorts of factors - not just mobility. Anyone over the age of 2 can have one and it goes with them from vehicle to vehicle.
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May 2015
9:25am, 30 May 2015
9,691 posts
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Diogenes
FR, I was referring to the situation where T was parked outside someone's house. Having a disabled father I quite understand the blue badge issue and expect to be questioned.
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May 2015
9:32am, 30 May 2015
1,410 posts
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Fellrunning
Yes I see my mistake there. Actually I'd be more comfortable with being challenged as a stranger in a suburban street. Seems quite reasonable -- although the ensuing argument could have been avoided as you point out.
Why would you expect to be questioned? The Blue badge has a number. If people suspect I'm abusing the system then they should report me - simple as. Its for the authorities to ask the questions.
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May 2015
11:04am, 30 May 2015
2,259 posts
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Jono.
there's far too much of this *you have to prove your entitlement* or be prepared to be questioned by someone - its also a result of allowing Quasi organisation to exist to fulfill roles that should be carried out by public bodies.
remember the old fashioned Traffic Wardens? employed by the Police, they used to a degree of flexibility.
The training of the people in the Quasi Police organisations is none existent and the life experiences of the people employed in them is very limited.
if you are responsible for a public designated area, whether it is deemed Private land or not, you have to accept people at face value, be fairly open minded and put measures in place to assist people and hinder them.
After all you can actually spot a *bad 'un* a mile away and despite the rantings of the daily mail, they are few in number.
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