Parking in a disabled space when a car park is full

[Artsy]

I can't say I give a lot of thought to disabled parking spaces. I would never use one but I do sometimes think there are a touch too many available.

What really gets me is these new electric car parking spaces with chargers that seem to be placed conveniently close to everything.

My local supermarket has just installed two and they are really close to the entrance. I've noticed the same thing in a couple of airports and the worst one was Luton where the electric cars get a massive discount on parking fees.

I'm all for electric and saving the environment, but now that it's still in its infancy it feels like if you're able to pay for a Tesla or similar you also get preferential treatment...

[J4CKO]

thelostboy said:

Out of interest, if you really needed the loo, and the only available option was the disabled toilet, would you use it?

Again, plenty of people don't have a visible or official disability but there are loads of folk with gastric issues such as Crohns, IBS, Ulcerative Colitis etc that mean they can need a toilet very urgently.

I know Disabled Toilets are set up for those with limited mobility but if you have to go, you have to go.

I used one once in Manchester Airport as I had a stomach upset the night before a long haul flight and all the other cubicles were occupied, it was touch and go so I used the disabled loo as the other option was too horrific to contemplate. Its not quite like parking as the intention is to be in and out as quickly as possible.

I don't think anyone uses disabled toilets out of laziness/entitlement like parking slots.

I suppose there is a similarity in a way, the disabled spaces are just for blue badge holders but any one of us can have an injury or illness that temporarily limits mobility, I don't think most people would have any issue with someone with say a broken leg in a cast using a disabled spot, the badge is a bit of a blunt instrument and open to abuse itself.

Trouble is, there is a percentage that will just abuse any honour system, saw a bloke in a new Merc at our local Sainsburys, tossed the receipt into the wind with the myriad of bloody vouchers they give out, was parked in a P and C spot with no kids in attendance, then drove off leaving his trolley in the next bay, sod taking it back to the trolley park, some people are just turds.

[petop]

Terminator X said:

I have done and would park in a disabled space if all the regular ones are taken. Seen a situation during busy Xmas period where literally every regular space has gone but tens of spaces available per floor for disabled spots. Imho they build far more disabled spaces than they actually need which sometimes puts undue pressure on the regular spaces.

Before anyone lays in to me I would not park in a disabled spot otherwise.

Same can be said btw for electric charging spaces, almost always empty in my experience + tend to be prime spots right next to the entrance!

TX.

I think the location of the charging spaces is due to closeness of the power supply from the shop/establishement.

[RDMcG]

petop said:

Terminator X said:

I have done and would park in a disabled space if all the regular ones are taken. Seen a situation during busy Xmas period where literally every regular space has gone but tens of spaces available per floor for disabled spots. Imho they build far more disabled spaces than they actually need which sometimes puts undue pressure on the regular spaces.

Before anyone lays in to me I would not park in a disabled spot otherwise.

Same can be said btw for electric charging spaces, almost always empty in my experience + tend to be prime spots right next to the entrance!

TX.

I think the location of the charging spaces is due to closeness of the power supply from the shop/establishement.

Although I do not have or plan to own an EV I am glad to say that they are introducing major fines to those who park in these spaces without an EV.
For me all of this stuff is a bright line. I have se reasonably expensive cars, which is my choice.
If I park in a public space that’s my choice too.

Personally I would fine anyone who parks in a disabled space,EV space,parks across two spaces and so on.
Not an excuse that it’s busy. Not an excuse that it it is just for a short time.
If you get your car keyed you deserve it .

I have zero sympathy. I had a brand new GT3RS scraped into the front corner one time. Of course I was upset but nobody made me park there.

It is just selfish,entitled loutish behaviour by people who think they have more rights than anyone else.

[toon10]

My general rule of thumb is I don't park in any disabled spaces and I only park in parent/child spaces when I have my toddler with me. If there are no other spaces available then I wither wait or go elsewhere. Being a decent person isn't that hard.

[borcy]

JimSuperSix said:

Who me said:

Surprisingly he was most apologetic. He'd not seen the signs.

Thinking more about it, I think P&C spaces would make more sense if they were specifically for use by people with a child under a certain age that requires a car seat and a pushchair, as that is when you need that extra space.

However most people who use them seem to think it means any child under about 15, which is why I have no issue with anyone using them - the parents are already abusing the principle of the system so the spaces become fair game imho.

Most (probably all) supermarkets do have an age limit for the child, usually around 7 years old. But it's in the small print that pretty much no one reads.

I don't think I've seen anyone park there with a 15 year old let alone 'most'.

[anonymous-user]

RDMcG said:

Although I do not have or plan to own an EV I am glad to say that they are introducing major fines to those who park in these spaces without an EV.
For me all of this stuff is a bright line. I have se reasonably expensive cars, which is my choice.
If I park in a public space that’s my choice too.

Personally I would fine anyone who parks in a disabled space,EV space,parks across two spaces and so on.
Not an excuse that it’s busy. Not an excuse that it it is just for a short time.
If you get your car keyed you deserve it .

I have zero sympathy. I had a brand new GT3RS scraped into the front corner one time. Of course I was upset but nobody made me park there.

It is just selfish,entitled loutish behaviour by people who think they have more rights than anyone else.

Exactly right.

[budgie smuggler]

hyphen said:

Its a nice to have.

A 1st world/modern problem,

They didn't have these spaces when many grew up. And with 99% of supermarkets, if you go out of peak hours, you can park towards the end with space around you.

And as a parent, I can tell you that often the parent & child spaces are full (probably 7 in 10 visits to my local Tesco all would taken) and you get on with it just fine.

Should make them just for kids under 4.

Edited by hyphen on Saturday 14th December 16:42

Why limit it to 4 year olds though? If anything once kids go up to the bigger size seats (group 2/3) with SIPS it gets a lot harder to get them in and out of a half opened door. A baby seat is child's play in comparison.

[av185]

J4CKO said:

Other one was in Oldham, outside the hospital when visiting my grandad, a family arrived and parked their white X5 in the Ambulance bay, then proceeded to argue with the ambulance driver when asked to move it.

To be expected because most Chavs driving white X5s tend to have a specific and extra special sense of entitlement.

Especially those inevitably 'adorned' with a crappy and illegal Chavplate.

[Vipers]

borcy said:

JimSuperSix said:

Who me said:

Surprisingly he was most apologetic. He'd not seen the signs.

Thinking more about it, I think P&C spaces would make more sense if they were specifically for use by people with a child under a certain age that requires a car seat and a pushchair, as that is when you need that extra space.

However most people who use them seem to think it means any child under about 15, which is why I have no issue with anyone using them - the parents are already abusing the principle of the system so the spaces become fair game imho.

Most (probably all) supermarkets do have an age limit for the child, usually around 7 years old. But it's in the small print that pretty much no one reads.

I don't think I've seen anyone park there with a 15 year old let alone 'most'.

Notwithstanding various age limits, if you dont have kids with you, dont park in the bays, sorted. Isnt too difficult to work out.

[borcy]

Vipers said:

borcy said:

JimSuperSix said:

Who me said:

Surprisingly he was most apologetic. He'd not seen the signs.

Thinking more about it, I think P&C spaces would make more sense if they were specifically for use by people with a child under a certain age that requires a car seat and a pushchair, as that is when you need that extra space.

However most people who use them seem to think it means any child under about 15, which is why I have no issue with anyone using them - the parents are already abusing the principle of the system so the spaces become fair game imho.

Most (probably all) supermarkets do have an age limit for the child, usually around 7 years old. But it's in the small print that pretty much no one reads.

I don't think I've seen anyone park there with a 15 year old let alone 'most'.

Notwithstanding various age limits, if you dont have kids with you, dont park in the bays, sorted. Isnt too difficult to work out.

I never said it wasn't

[bobtail4x4]

borcy said:

Most (probably all) supermarkets do have an age limit for the child, usually around 7 years old. But it's in the small print that pretty much no one reads.

I don't think I've seen anyone park there with a 15 year old let alone 'most'.

I once parked in one with my mum, I was about 50, ok she was in her late 70s and had forgotten her blue badge.

[Sticks.]

Artsy said:

I can't say I give a lot of thought to disabled parking spaces. I would never use one but I do sometimes think there are a touch too many available.

Sometimes there will be, sometimes not. I stopped at Tesco today and they were all take. I bet at 9pm tonight they're not.

[PorkInsider]

Terminator X said:

I have done and would park in a disabled space if all the regular ones are taken. Seen a situation during busy Xmas period where literally every regular space has gone but tens of spaces available per floor for disabled spots.

Nope. No excuse for using a disabled spot.

Just don't do it. Ever.

Having a suitable space available can make the difference between being able to visit the shop, or whatever it is, and having to just go home for a disabled person.

It's not about a bit of inconvenience.

Really boils my piss when people come up with excuses for why they are ok to ignore the signs.

[croissant]

Artsy said:

I can't say I give a lot of thought to disabled parking spaces. I would never use one but I do sometimes think there are a touch too many available.

This is the situation in my local sainsburys. Got be more than 50 disabled bays - more than parent and child bays and they're hardly used. I understand that they're necessary and important, but do they really think that many disabled drivers are going to visit at any one time? They're certainly mostly unoccupied when I've been whilst the rest of the car park is near full.

[swisstoni]

croissant said:

Artsy said:

I can't say I give a lot of thought to disabled parking spaces. I would never use one but I do sometimes think there are a touch too many available.

This is the situation in my local sainsburys. Got be more than 50 disabled bays - more than parent and child bays and they're hardly used. I understand that they're necessary and important, but do they really think that many disabled drivers are going to visit at any one time? They're certainly mostly unoccupied when I've been whilst the rest of the car park is near full.

Perhaps they are subject to local authority planning regs.
I’m also slightly dismayed that there is no national standard for the issuance of blue badges.

Nevertheless I have too much self respect to ever dream of parking in a disabled space.

[Scrump]

swisstoni said:

I’m also slightly dismayed that there is no national standard for the issuance of blue badges.
.

There is a national standard (although it varies slightly between England, Scotland, NI and Wales).
There are a set of criteria which if met entitle the holder automatically to a blue badge. There is also a separate assessment criteria against which other applicants may apply, this is subject to an independent assessment against nationally set levels of walking ability etc.
Summary here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/blue-ba...

The rules have been tightened up compared to what they were a few years ago and some holders have lost their badges under the new criteria. There may still be a few with badges granted under old rules and they have not yet come up for reassessment. (Badges are valid for 3 years).

[Vipers]

borcy said:

Vipers said:

borcy said:

JimSuperSix said:

Who me said:

Surprisingly he was most apologetic. He'd not seen the signs.

Thinking more about it, I think P&C spaces would make more sense if they were specifically for use by people with a child under a certain age that requires a car seat and a pushchair, as that is when you need that extra space.

However most people who use them seem to think it means any child under about 15, which is why I have no issue with anyone using them - the parents are already abusing the principle of the system so the spaces become fair game imho.

Most (probably all) supermarkets do have an age limit for the child, usually around 7 years old. But it's in the small print that pretty much no one reads.

I don't think I've seen anyone park there with a 15 year old let alone 'most'.

Notwithstanding various age limits, if you dont have kids with you, dont park in the bays, sorted. Isnt too difficult to work out.

I never said it wasn't

Sorry, didn't mean to say you said that, just a comment on the subject

[DoubleD]

PorkInsider said:

Really boils my piss when people come up with excuses for why they are ok to ignore the signs.

I've enjoyed reading all the excuses that people have come up with for using a space that they shouldn't.

[sasha320]

Although it doesn’t make it right, I do get the sense that the majority of disabled drivers roll their eyes and get on with parking as best they can when there are no disabled spaces - and are a bit bewildered why so many able bodied people get so incensed on their behalf (given there are so many examples of how selfish able bodied people can generally be otherwise in life).

For the avoidance of doubt as an able bodied person I don’t park my car in disabled parking spaces (but I have often used a disabled toilet (or rather a toilet for everyone that has also been equipped for the less abled)).