Should Blue Badge Holders Get Free Parking?
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I know they can park in places designated but I was shopping with a friend who is disabled and he advised as my car has a bigger boot we take mine. I expected to pay parking so not the issue but he told me he pays too as no free bays near the centre now so has to use the multi storey which is no longer free. He pays for his hospital parking as well and sometimes his visits can take up to 4 hours- coudnt help thinking this was wrong, thoughts?
I agree all disabled bays even multi-storey car parks should be free. After all public transport doesn’t cater for wheelchairs even though the law says they should, so they have no option to use free bus passes or cycle or walk!
Often there’s no space for a wheelchair user if there are pushchairs on board.
I am a registered disabled wheelchair user and I find it shocking the number of people who think that they can use blue badge spaces when they are not a blue badge holder. They often use them when car parks are busy but this then means that we cannot use a wider space that is necessary to get in and out of the car and to get my chair out of the car. I feel that we shouldn't have to pay for parking.
I am not but recently saw no word of a lie 4 separate people parking in front of me in these bays as it was busy and they didnt want to wait in the traffic circling the car park so I politely reported them to staff who told me they were unable to do anything so any disabled people were forced to park at the other end once spots available- whats the point then!
Disabled parking places for those with seen and unseen disabilities should be free. The amount of negativity around this issue is unprecedented. Especially when able-bodied people feel it is their right to park in these spaces. I guess it comes down to the fact a lot of people feel 'entitled'. I can assure anyone that any disabled people would rather not be using those bays if they did not need to. Xx
exaxtly! My friend would rather be hopping in and out of his car and working more rather than spending 4 hours in hospital every few weeks so surely a bit of parking near where they need to shop etc is the least we could do
this will be an unpopular opinion, but in light of the recent “scandal” of Boots charging people for weekly prescription deliveries, i‘m quite annoyed by the general attitude of the public when it comes to being entitled to everything for free, whether you are disabled or not, whether you are elderly or not, whether you are rich or poor etc. I understand it is difficult being disabled, as it is being elderly or poor, but why should that mean you get everything for free? Just in Scotland for example, prescriptions are free on the NHS, people were getting their weekly deliveries of dosset boxes made up and delivered for free. Boots is bringing a just over £1 charge per delivery (fuel, staff and vans are not free!) and people are kicking off saying it’s not fair.
I realise not every location is the same, but my nearest Asda has around 50 disabled parking bays and every other space is a good 500 meters from the door. I find that most places I go. In a multi-storey, if I have to pay £2 for parking, and also have to park 500 meters away from the entrance, that’s fine, but because someone has a blue badge, they can park a meter away from the door AND expect it to be free. Why? I have VERY little money each month, i’m sure there are many disabled people who are a lot better off financially than me, why does everyone think it’s fair that someone with no money should have to pay but they don’t because of a disability? I don’t disagree with disabled people getting to park closest to the entrance - that makes logical sense to me, I disagree with them getting it free on top of that, I don’t understand why money and disability are connected.
Until you’re a wheelchair user you will never understand. I hope you live a long healthy life with no disabilities.
Pjran Completely agree!. A few years ago I was trying to park in an open free car-park with my Mum who had to use double arm crutches due to being hit by a motorbike - not her fault- and she was determined not to be in a wheelchair. I circled and circled for 15 minutes trying to get into a blue badge bay without any luck so I eventually parked in a mother and child space as near to the shops as I could. I couldn't believe it when a young mother sauntered past and muttered 'funny, can't see any child'. She had no pram and her child about 5 years old was walking and skipping. I am not ashamed to report that I turned her ears pink! (no abusive language) I pointed out how lucky she was to be able to walk and if there was an entitlement she was the one that did not deserve it. I also asked if she would like to swap places with my Mum and see just how painful her mobility was. I also told her I was saddened that another human being could to be so begrudging and mean spirited. I probably would have felt embarrassed by my actions but I was clapped by half a dozen mixed aged witnesses. Some people will never understand.
sarahgreen15 I can see your point here. I fully agree with the blue badge scheme and that stores should have plenty of free disabled parking bays, parking on yellow lines should be free and I believe hospital parking should definitely be free but when it comes to the average multi-storey car park then I feel that there should be no differentiation between parking fees. The differentiation should be in the closeness and availability of disabled spaces in my opinion.
This is not always a money issue for many. It's an issue of what a disabled person is capable of managing in terms of accessing facilities.
That said, many people that I know have indeed lost their livelihoods because of illness and are therefore living off benefits. I think it is right and proper that society looks after those who need it most. For many both money and disability are intrinsically linked and for good reason.
What Scotland does is up to them. I really cannot comment on that.
angemski i didn’t mean to cause any offence with my comment, but every argument I have seen in regards to this is always arguing that they are in pain / reduced mobility / need to be closer to entrances - that was my point, I don’t disagree with that at all, but those arguments have nothing to do with money and whether or not they are able to pay. Should all food be free to people who have disabilities? Many people with disabilities (not all I’m sure) receive benefits, special parking, free healthcare and medications in the U.K., free or reduced cost housing, free equipment to manage their disabilities etc etc. my point is why should they then get free parking too? I agree with availability, i agree with free healthcare / equipment to help manage disabilities, I disagree with people feeling entitled to getting everything in their life for free.
sarahgreen15 you’re right some disabled people do not claim benefits because they already own their home and have a working spouse. Just because you’re disabled you don’t automatically get free prescriptions so please don’t assume disabled are milking the state benefits system.
I personally think when it is in places where it is in close proximity to places that people needm it should definitely be free because if they couldn't park there, they wouldn't be able to get there!
I know in my local area, council car parks are free for blue badge holders, so I had assumed it was the case in other places too?
A few years ago I had to be a temporary wheelchair user, I can appreciate the need to use bigger parking spaces but not why they should be free in payable car parks. Two disability spaces uses at least three usual spaces, the loss of that revenue costs the car park who still have to pay staff and maintain the facility.
I think hospital parking should be free for everyone. My local hospital actually made parking free a few years ago. My dads in a wheelchair and the blue badge is great for when we take him shopping as the normal parking bays are just not wide enough and quite a distance from the shop. People do take advantage and park in them when they shouldnt, the same as parent and child parking. I have confronted a few people for parking in these spaces with no children etc and the majority of the time i have been told to f off 
. I dont know why parking in general should be free to blue badge holders though, why should everyone else have to pay for parking when they dont? Im all for closer and bigger spaces and better access for wheelchair users, thats something that should be provided everywhere but i dont understand why it should be free. When we had to pay on the toll bridge to get into Wales it was about £6 A car but blue badge holders didnt have to pay. I asked my dad why and he didnt know but said if it was free he would use it 
My partner has a blue badge as he has a muscle wasting disease (CMT) and is unable to walk anywhere. It infuriates me when obvious non disable people with no badge use the disabled spaces.
I think hospital parking should be free for everyone who use the services inside there. It cost a lot if u need to park there for hours and I find it weird that they make money on this.
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