Her is a web site that gives a lot of food for thought, and a lot of able bodied people as well as the less able bodied will find interesting. http://www.baywatchcampaign.org/index.htm

How many of us ignore these disabled bays and just pop in for a few things.

I know a lot of people that buy and sell disabled parking stickers for cars so they can park in town lol.

It grips my sh*t when able bodied people park in them - it's sheer bloody minded laziness.

Its when they have thousands of disabled car parking spaces and us able people have nowhere to park that is the problem.

It used to be 3/4 spaces at the front of supermarkets, now it is like 30 space denoted to them, the majority of which are always empty.

And no I never park in them, just an observation I have noticed.

It does my head when fat lazy people with no badge park in a disabled bay.
I have a blue badge in my car,(belongs to my mother),But i never use it unless she is with me.Even when she is with me ,I never park on double yellows with the badge,because I think that is as bad as able bodies parking in a bay.

People who park in disabled bays out of sheer laziness should get done for it to the full extent of the law IMO.

How would they like it if they were disabled and had to walk further to somewhere cos some muppet had pinched their spot in the car park?!

Sorry but stuff like this burns me up... I bet PT'll have something to say on the matter as well when she sees this thread.

I must admit that it does annoy me when places have a ridiculous disabled/non-disabled space ratio. I think the actual ratio of disabled/non-disabled drivers should be calculated, and used as a guideline for when people build car parks.

Originally posted by spook
It grips my sh*t ...
What a simply fantastic expression! Not heard that before.

But selfish parking grips mine too.

Originally posted by uncleheed
It does my head when fat lazy people with no badge park in a disabled bay.
I have a blue badge in my car,(belongs to my mother),But i never use it unless she is with me.Even when she is with me ,I never park on double yellows with the badge,because I think that is as bad as able bodies parking in a bay.

Do disabled badges allow the holder to park wherever they please - e.g. double yellow lines etc?

Originally posted by Norbo
Do disabled badges allow the holder to park wherever they please - e.g. double yellow lines etc?

No.

Only in designated disabled parking bays, contrary to the popular belief of some disabled drivers who think that IS the case.

Nobody's actually ALLOWED to park on double yellows anyway apart from emergency service vehicles like the Police, Firemen etc.

AFAIK you ARE allowed on double yellows with a disabled badge.

removed by spook

I thought the whole point of double yellow lines was to prevent people parking in places where doing so would cause unnecessary obstruction.

removed by spook

So you admit it! You just paint them there to **** people off! :P

removed by spook

I was refering to 'you' as the sort of big brotherish higher power; you're the ones who enforce it afterall.

I was only kidding anyway, I understand there's a need for double yellows.

I must admit that lots of Blue Badge drivers seem to leave their cars with gay abandon anywhere that suits. Notorious places are around the Crucible and outside Coles. In both places the Council have had to change the road layout because of idiot disabled drivers.

Spook, out of interest, how inclined are the Police to ticket and fine a badly parked car with a Blue Badge? Is it taboo?

Tony, it's not a taboo the traffic wardens will and do issue tickets on disabled drivers but they are more inclined to hang around to see if the person using it is disabled and then decide whether or not to issue a ticket as the law states (spook is this correct) that the only time the badge is to be used is when the person who has their picture on the card is actually in the vehicle.

Actually it seems that Traffic Wardens are generally inclined to hang around and try to get vehicles moved before issuing tickets.

It's obviously a policy, and it's much better that just slapping tickets on vehicles. Well done Wardens :thumbsup:

Traffic Wardens arent as harsh as most people make out! If you park legally, they should cause you no hassle.

And yep, parking in disables spots really annoys me. Also, it seems owners of Ferraris and Porsches etc seem to think a flash car allows them to use the spaces. Tw*ts.

They are there for a reason. Some people need them, others do not.

The 'Parent and child' spaces annoy me a bit, because they are often very prolific, and who has any way of proving that they are there with the kids?

I still dont park in em though.

Originally posted by Skatiechik
Its when they have thousands of disabled car parking spaces and us able people have nowhere to park that is the problem.

It used to be 3/4 spaces at the front of supermarkets, now it is like 30 space denoted to them, the majority of which are always empty.

And no I never park in them, just an observation I have noticed. I am disabled which supermarket has 30 spaces for the disabled,i will use it,

Disabled people have to pay for the blue badge scheme,so we actually pay for our parking in supermarkets etc,so when some lazy good for nothing parks in a disabled space because they cannot be bothered to walk a few feet.most industrial estate's only have a few parking spaces for the disabled & one way to stop people is to make sure that all vehicle's display the blue badge at all time's,if there is no badge,then clamp or fine them,that would stop them parking in area's designated for the disabled,also most supermarket's have family & toddlers parking & they get abused as well,so come on be thankful you are healthy & give some thought to people who struggle,because one day you might be that person who is struggling.party political broadcast over Thankyou.

I wouldn't park in a disabled parking spot, and people who do really shouldn't, but there does seem to be far too many of them in some places. Is there really any need to have so many, if you got to almost anywhere when it is extremely busy, (supermarket on a sat afternoon, for instance) there are never enough parking spaces, yet often alot of empty disabled spaces.

Actually i'm lying, there are ALWAYS a lot of empty disabled parking spaces. In the few that are usually taken, the car doesn't usually have a badge. I am all for disabled parking spaces, but maybe we need to be more realistic. I think there should be more than enough, but some places seem to go overboard.

I think there should also be spaces for compact cars closer to the store as well, only to be used by small cars, and larger spaces further away. People who drive 4x4's and SUV's should have to walk that little extra because they already damage the enviroment enough.

(In answer to the earlier question, ASDA must have at least 30 disabled parking spaces)

Hi Snook,I understand a lot of able bodied people having the opinion that there are too many parking spaces for the disabled ,but 30 spaces,for the disabled & a few hundred for able bodied people does not add up,the reason for disabled parking close to a supermarket etc is for that reason,for people who are disabled in one way or another ,not just for wheelchair user's to get in .I have had load's of trouble myself,at Cortonwood Industrial Estate, at the B&Q there is roughly 10 disabled parking spaces throughout all the industrial estate & with new shop's opening up,the parking is crazy.The main parking area's for able bodied parker's are smaller than the parking for the disabled,trying to get out of a car into a wheelchair in the able bodied section is tough,I worry about damamging someone's car.You wouldn't believe the looks I get when I complain about not showing the badge,it is not hard to put a badge in the windscreen area,some are disabled but are too lazy to display & I admit some people use the badge as an excuse to park how they like.parking outside someone's drive or on the pavement.

SOME badge holders park in the 'parents n kids' bays so i park in the disabled ones!

Originally posted by foxy27
SOME badge holders park in the 'parents n kids' bays so i park in the disabled ones! Fare enough just because they have a badge does not give the disabled a right to park where we please

Originally posted by Tony
I must admit that lots of Blue Badge drivers seem to leave their cars with gay abandon anywhere that suits. Notorious places are around the Crucible and outside Coles. In both places the Council have had to change the road layout because of idiot disabled drivers.


What were the road changes the council made around the Crucible...can't say I've noticed any recently. And what happned to the (eight was it ?) disabled spaces behind the Ruskin Gallery in Tudor Square ? They disappeared during the building work there but haven't been reinstated.

It isn't surprising there is a high requirement for disabled parking in the Crucible area with three churches, two theatres and the central library to cater for.

Originally posted by foxy27
SOME badge holders park in the 'parents n kids' bays so i park in the disabled ones!
Maybe they're disabled AND have children?

Originally posted by Greybeard
What were the road changes the council made around the Crucible...can't say I've noticed any recently. And what happned to the (eight was it ?) disabled spaces behind the Ruskin Gallery in Tudor Square ? They disappeared during the building work there but haven't been reinstated.
I think you just answered your own question. ;)

Is it just me, or has the equal rights issue gone completely out the window? Are we not all equal? Therefore should we not all equally take the bus and ban cars altogether?
I know some of you out there with disabilites will argue over convenience factors etc. but isn't that just the point? We all want things to be most convenient for us whenever we can but life isn't about convenience.
I know what I am typing is bound to offend some people but tough. From my own experience (which is all I have to base my opnion on) there are far too many reserved parking spots for the disabled, sat empty, far too often.
I am fortunate to be able bodied and thank my lucky stars every day but when I see cars with disabled badges pulling up over the top of a KEEP CLEAR printed on a road where there is a crossing with lowered kerb it makes me mad, when I see disabled badged cars stopping on double yellows, it makes me mad. Many people have disabled badges in their cars and abuse them so it makes me wonder if we shouldn't scrap the scheme!
People with disabilities are just that, less able. Whilst I do not wish to offend anyone, let's examine the new exaggerated political correctness for just a moment. Disabled people (and their relatives) can drive a year before the rest of us, why? Is there some reverse logic that says you are less physically able therefore you must be more responsible?
Many people with disabilities argue they should by treated by society like the rest of society, equally, therefore isn't the Parking For Disabled Only space something of an hypocrasy? Aren't you offended that society deems you unable to make a journey of a few yards? After all you are capable enough to traverse the quarter mile or so around B&Q or Tesco's or wherever, surely that journey in itself is further than even the furthestmost car parking space at most retail stores.
What is next? Perhaps extended licensing hours at the bar for the disabled or public byelaws requiring the removal of stairs as emergency exits from tall buildings, can you imagine building design if all emergency accesses were huge long shallow ramps up the insides of buildings? Ok, so I'm going to extremes but where do disabled people stop beliving society owes them something special? Might I suggest as a compromise that stores could offer specific areas of parking that are reserved for the disabled but only during limited periods and that perhaps those zones become pick-up and set-down spots for busy periods so everyone can benefit from being able to enter and exit their vehicles quickly and with a minimum of fuss or struggle.
I have no wish to make those whose lives is already a struggle worse but do we not all struggle in some way? I just do not see the point in making everyone else's lives more difficult for the sake of a few.
I guess what I'm saying is that the disability remains that of the individual and whilst that must be difficult, it is not generally our society's fault or responsibility. We do not live in a socialist state but a capitalist one which most closely reflects natures order of survival of the fittest without resorting to brutality. So, without being harsh, please, if you are disabled, do not harp about parking spaces to me, but be grateful you live in a country which generally respects all form of human life equally, unlike some nations.

My husbands is disabled and needs to use disabled bays, and quite often there isn't any available, if they are occupied by other disabled people,there's nothing we can do, but if they are occupied by non disabled, say in supermarket car parks, they should clamp them and the money should go to disabled charities.
Another thing which is highly annoying and this is done by the B&Q on Queens Road is to put parent/child places nearer than the disabled, we all know that it's difficult with children, we've all had them,and I appriciate their safety is paramount,but they do have parents to get them in and out of cars,disabled people often struggle on their own.I don't mean to sound so grumpy but I was taught " There but for the grace of God go I"

Originally posted by owdlad
Her is a web site that gives a lot of food for thought, and a lot of able bodied people as well as the less able bodied will find interesting. http://www.baywatchcampaign.org/index.htm

How many of us ignore these disabled bays and just pop in for a few things. Thanks for the link being disabled it's great to get any info I need to fight bigotts cheers

Originally posted by marycrookes
My husbands is disabled and needs to use disabled bays, and quite often there isn't any available, if they are occupied by other disabled people,there's nothing we can do, but if they are occupied by non disabled, say in supermarket car parks, they should clamp them and the money should go to disabled charities.
Another thing which is highly annoying and this is done by the B&Q on Queens Road is to put parent/child places nearer than the disabled, we all know that it's difficult with children, we've all had them,and I appriciate their safety is paramount,but they do have parents to get them in and out of cars,disabled people often struggle on their own.I don't mean to sound so grumpy but I was taught " There but for the grace of God go I" I am a disabled wheelchair user thanks for your support as others do not understand.

Originally posted by Tony
I think you just answered your own question. ;)


Oh !...well in that case I don't think it has helped very much. Since that off-road disabled parking in Tudor Square was removed the metered bays in Norfolk Street are all in use by people with blue badges (who I believe don't have to buy a ticket ? ) :loopy:

Originally posted by osiris
Is it just me, or has the equal rights issue gone completely out the window? Are we not all equal? Therefore should we not all equally take the bus and ban cars altogether?
I know some of you out there with disabilites will argue over convenience factors etc. but isn't that just the point? We all want things to be most convenient for us whenever we can but life isn't about convenience.
I know what I am typing is bound to offend some people but tough. From my own experience (which is all I have to base my opnion on) there are far too many reserved parking spots for the disabled, sat empty, far too often.
I am fortunate to be able bodied and thank my lucky stars every day but when I see cars with disabled badges pulling up over the top of a KEEP CLEAR printed on a road where there is a crossing with lowered kerb it makes me mad, when I see disabled badged cars stopping on double yellows, it makes me mad. Many people have disabled badges in their cars and abuse them so it makes me wonder if we shouldn't scrap the scheme!
People with disabilities are just that, less able. Whilst I do not wish to offend anyone, let's examine the new exaggerated political correctness for just a moment. Disabled people (and their relatives) can drive a year before the rest of us, why? Is there some reverse logic that says you are less physically able therefore you must be more responsible?
Many people with disabilities argue they should by treated by society like the rest of society, equally, therefore isn't the Parking For Disabled Only space something of an hypocrasy? Aren't you offended that society deems you unable to make a journey of a few yards? After all you are capable enough to traverse the quarter mile or so around B&Q or Tesco's or wherever, surely that journey in itself is further than even the furthestmost car parking space at most retail stores.
What is next? Perhaps extended licensing hours at the bar for the disabled or public byelaws requiring the removal of stairs as emergency exits from tall buildings, can you imagine building design if all emergency accesses were huge long shallow ramps up the insides of buildings? Ok, so I'm going to extremes but where do disabled people stop beliving society owes them something special? Might I suggest as a compromise that stores could offer specific areas of parking that are reserved for the disabled but only during limited periods and that perhaps those zones become pick-up and set-down spots for busy periods so everyone can benefit from being able to enter and exit their vehicles quickly and with a minimum of fuss or struggle.
I have no wish to make those whose lives is already a struggle worse but do we not all struggle in some way? I just do not see the point in making everyone else's lives more difficult for the sake of a few.
I guess what I'm saying is that the disability remains that of the individual and whilst that must be difficult, it is not generally our society's fault or responsibility. We do not live in a socialist state but a capitalist one which most closely reflects natures order of survival of the fittest without resorting to brutality. So, without being harsh, please, if you are disabled, do not harp about parking spaces to me, but be grateful you live in a country which generally respects all form of human life equally, unlike some nations. owldlad started this thread & he does not come across as being disabled,but someone who has some sense, & I have as much right to access as you or anyone else & as for parking in the B&Q car park ,the disabled parking spaces are 1 & half times larger to allow wheelchair access,as I do not expect the world to change it's out of date Laws & ideals,there are a few politicians who do care about disabled rights just as much as able bodied rights,well we should start by taking the wheelchairs off disabled people then we cannot go out & nothing has to change & take guide dogs off the blind & they can stay indoors,better still why not have us all put down & then people like you can live in your own little world.( Tanni Grey -Thompson Olympic Gold Medalist) Quote:Being a mum & a disabled person accssible,wide parking spaces are as important to me as being close to the shops.If people realised what impact the MISUSE of parking spaces had on disabled people,I am sure they would think again what they are doing!.The words from Tanni Missuse & Impact,think about how it would be if you woke up tomorrow & you had lost your independence,because it is terrible to here people going on about a few parking spaces for the disabled when the able bodied have hundreds,but prefer to use disabled parking spaces because they are too damn lazy,as said in my original quote,we hav to pay for our badges to allow us to park in the like's of the B&Q do you have to pay to park in your supermarket or local stores, NO.All I hear is what about the parking for disabled this & that,well give me some new legs & I will gladly walk to the doors,the problem with this country we still live in thatcherite britain where it's I am alright Jack F**k the rest.apologies for the language.I do not wish to offend any able bodied people.

Originally posted by tosh13
owldlad started this thread & he does not come across as being disabled,but someone who has some sense, & I have as much right to access as you or anyone else & as for parking in the B&Q car park ,the disabled parking spaces are 1 & half times larger to allow wheelchair access,as I do not expect the world to change it's out of date Laws & ideals,there are a few politicians who do care about disabled rights just as much as able bodied rights,well we should start by taking the wheelchairs off disabled people then we cannot go out & nothing has to change & take guide dogs off the blind & they can stay indoors,better still why not have us all put down & then people like you can live in your own little world.( Tanni Grey -Thompson Olympic Gold Medalist) Quote:Being a mum & a disabled person accssible,wide parking spaces are as important to me as being close to the shops.If people realised what impact the MISUSE of parking spaces had on disabled people,I am sure they would think again what they are doing!.The words from Tanni Missuse & Impact,think about how it would be if you woke up tomorrow & you had lost your independence,because it is terrible to here people going on about a few parking spaces for the disabled when the able bodied have hundreds,but prefer to use disabled parking spaces because they are too damn lazy,as said in my original quote,we hav to pay for our badges to allow us to park in the like's of the B&Q do you have to pay to park in your supermarket or local stores, NO.All I hear is what about the parking for disabled this & that,well give me some new legs & I will gladly walk to the doors,the problem with this country we still live in thatcherite britain where it's I am alright Jack F**k the rest.apologies for the language.I do not wish to offend any able bodied people.


Firstly I resent your implication I am bigoted, self-interested or behaving in a way which some would describe as being "discriminating", which actually literally means to be able to distinguish one which is different from another.

I am not having a go at disabled people, nor do I have an "I'm alright Jack" attitude, what I do see as wasteful is the large percentage of wasted space every time I pass empty disabled parking places.

You want equal rights, so does everyone else, but you seem to think that exceptions should be made for you, that in some way you are special. We all struggle in life, one way or another, don't think that I don't care but I do resent one group of people assuming they are entitled to something which serves them and them alone, cars are seen as a right by many, disabled badges seem to be seen by some of their bearers as a right to ignore road laws that aren't convenient for them.

I want equality. A persons disability should not entitle them to special treatment. Certainly, some wider & reserved parking spaces, fine, but if you want equality in life then surely you should accept it for just that, equal.

One last thing, I am disabled and whilst I do not have to use a wheelchair and have much sympathy for those who do, I cannot empathize with anyone who knows full well that there are often long stretches of disabled parking spaces which sit empty wasting space and time and sees that as their right.

Time, which is the most costly and valuable of all our possessions as we never really possess it, only borrow it for a short while. Everyone's is equally valuable as none of us can really get more.

I Don't expect exceptions I have got about & done things by myself for over 40 years & I resent the fact you say I think I'm special,I am no different from anyone else, but the fact I am in a wheelchair does not grant me Special Treatment not once in my thread do I say I want Special Treatment,Women with prams have as much trouble as me or anyone else with a disability,If people realised the impact the misuse of parking spaces had on the disabled,I am sure those people who park in disabled parking areas would think again,as said disabled parking areas are 1 & half times larger than normal parking areas,so as to make it easier for wheelchair access,say I parked at the side of your car in a normal parking space & I scratched your paintwork ,would you say I should park in the disabled parking area,because like I said in my statement I worry about damaging someone's car,I know how much it cost's to paint a panel,so I would rather not park in the able bodied section.You say you are disabled have you ever suffered any sort of discrimination,because I have had plenty & I have been disabled all my life,take shop's they are by law now expected to allow access to there premises but some have done a great job some don't give a toss,I did not mean to offend you as said at the end of my statement,but if you are disabled you should have a least have some understanding of how difficult it is sometimes,I get around my area in a Electric Scooter & to say it's bad sometimes is an understatement,Bins,Cars,Skips all parked on the pavement not only making it bad for disabled people ,but the women with prams & OAPs.Any way mate I am going to draw a line on this subject for me as we could argue all day about this subject,so let's agree to disagree.cheers Tosh

Originally posted by Tony
I must admit that lots of Blue Badge drivers seem to leave their cars with gay abandon anywhere that suits. Notorious places are around the Crucible and outside Coles. In both places the Council have had to change the road layout because of idiot disabled drivers.

Spook, out of interest, how inclined are the Police to ticket and fine a badly parked car with a Blue Badge? Is it taboo? So disabled drivers are idiot's now,well you are a moderator insulting disabled people,what a rascist remark,If a black person parked like that would you call them the same black idiots,I do not think so,most people who I have encountered at poor parking are able bodied ,they park outside your drive,when it clearly say's keep clear disabled access & parking on the pavement,is another bugbear,if disabled people park poorly say that & do not call us idiots that is likely to cause offence. & yes we can get fined for bad parking just like you & some disabled people do park poorly & take advantage of the fact they have a blue badge,but don't paint us all in the same colour.

Originally posted by J-Blaze
I know a lot of people that buy and sell disabled parking stickers for cars so they can park in town lol. Well J-Blaze report them & it certainly is very funny

Tosh13, please don't be so sensitive (again).

I think that you had better read what I said again. I didn't paint all disabled drivers with the same brush at all. I agree that there are good and bad in all abilities, but I maintain that... and I repeat here.. 'lots of Blue Badge drivers seem to leave their cars with gay abandon anywhere that suits'

Is that not factually correct? Am I saying that ALL disabled drivers do it?

Originally posted by Tony
Tosh13, please don't be so sensitive (again).

I think that you had better read what I said again. I didn't paint all disabled drivers with the same brush at all. I agree that there are good and bad in all abilities, but I maintain that... and I repeat here.. 'lots of Blue Badge drivers seem to leave their cars with gay abandon anywhere that suits'

Is that not factually correct? Am I saying that ALL disabled drivers do it? The facts are you called disabled people Idiots & glad to read that there are good & bad in all abilities,I see bad parking everyday disabled or not & believe me it Ps me off even when some disabled people park badly & to me that is being selfish to everyone not only other disabled people & badge users that abuse the scheme by using a relatives badge to go shopping Ps me off as well,they should be fined.also sensitive I'm not, caring about other's I do,but that's been my problem for years mate.It's Friday so have a good weekend moan over.

Originally posted by Skatiechik
Its when they have thousands of disabled car parking spaces and us able people have nowhere to park that is the problem.

It used to be 3/4 spaces at the front of supermarkets, now it is like 30 space denoted to them, the majority of which are always empty.

And no I never park in them, just an observation I have noticed. thousands of disabled car spaces,well I think math's was not your strong point,then you say 30 make your mind up ,30 out of a possible 250 car park spaces in a supermarket,whooo,park us all around the back & we won't have to hear the like's of you moaning.Disabilty can happen to anyone at any time Remember.

A very interesting thread, with very differing views.

Whilst I agree that disabled drivers (or passengers) should be granted wider bays to enable the wheelchair user access, I can't see how disabled non-wheelchair users should find the need to park in these wider bays. I have seen elderly, and not-so-elderly badge users park in these bays who climb out of their cars with a little struggling then march off to spend an hour or two strolling around Meadowhall. Surely if these bays are wider solely for wheelchair access, then only the wheelchair-bound disabled should be allowed to use them.

Similarly, shouldn't the 'parent with child' bays be for the sole use of parents with children in prams/pushchairs and not those with walking children?

Originally posted by markham
I have seen elderly, and not-so-elderly badge users park in these bays who climb out of their cars with a little struggling then march off to spend an hour or two strolling around Meadowhall. Surely if these bays are wider solely for wheelchair access, then only the wheelchair-bound disabled should be allowed to use them.


Too true



Originally posted by markham
Similarly, shouldn't the 'parent with child' bays be for the sole use of parents with children in prams/pushchairs and not those with walking children?


Agreed. I remember when i had a toddler trying to 'escape' while I struggled with a trolley full of shopping as it was running away from the car and at the same time trying to put the baby into the car....... a nightmare. Mother and child parking spaces were a godsend. My children are still young but thankfully I don't have the same problems and so I leave the bays for people who need them more than I do, but able bodied people often use them as do disabled people.

Originally posted by markham
A very interesting thread, with very differing views.

Whilst I agree that disabled drivers (or passengers) should be granted wider bays to enable the wheelchair user access, I can't see how disabled non-wheelchair users should find the need to park in these wider bays. I have seen elderly, and not-so-elderly badge users park in these bays who climb out of their cars with a little struggling then march off to spend an hour or two strolling around Meadowhall. Surely if these bays are wider solely for wheelchair access, then only the wheelchair-bound disabled should be allowed to use them.

Similarly, shouldn't the 'parent with child' bays be for the sole use of parents with children in prams/pushchairs and not those with walking children? I totally agree they should only be for ,wheelchair & pram user's co's disabled people have children.