Blue badge - can only use if have disabled tax in local town centre ?

[caro]

You can't display what you haven't got. If it was me I'd be parking where I thought appropriate, and if they issued a ticket would be appealing as the signs are obviously not compliant with current legislation.

[GamekeeperToPoacher]

I have left my out of date tax disc on but TBH have not parked anywhere where it might have been a problem,

[Bookworm]

Genuine question, sorry if it offends... but why shouldn't a disabled person pay for parking?

 

Well, there is more than one reason, so take your pick:

 

- It's about redressing the balance: Usually, a disabled person will take longer than an able-bodied person to go about their business, so if they have to pay, the cost will disproportionately fall on them, having to pay for say 3 hours where a non-disabled would only need 2. To avoid this, councils prefers usually to grant the free parking, which is easier to manage all around and really doesn't cost them that much in lost revenue.

 

- A disabled person might not have the choice in having to use a car. Whilst able-bodied people can use public transport, it is often not the case for the disabled person, so again, the cost would disproportionately affect them, using the car as necessity rather than choice.

 

- A Blue Badge holder can park on yellow lines FOC as long as they do not cause an obstruction. Whilst the car may not cause an obstruction, it can still slow down the flow of traffic, especially if there is more than one, so it makes sense for the local authorities to instead say: "Park here for free" and hopefully more BB holders will do this and thus park off roads, which in turns help traffic move smoother all over town.

 

So there you go. Whilst it may look like just another one of those unwarranted privileges, there are actually good reasons for the payment exemption for BB holders, and they do benefit everyone else too.

 

HTH.

[Nystagmite]

A lot of disabled people aren't BB holders, we have to pay and we may have to take much longer than an able-bodied person to shop.

 

Bizarrely, the criteria for a BB for my local authority is DLA mobility. They didn't specificy on their forms at all that it has to be higher rate and I applied on the basis that I do receive DLA mobility and was rejected and couldn't appeal. The wording, imo, was misleading - because I do receive DLA mobility and yes, I do have serious mobility needs.

[Surfer01]

Well, there is more than one reason, so take your pick:

 

- It's about redressing the balance: Usually, a disabled person will take longer than an able-bodied person to go about their business, so if they have to pay, the cost will disproportionately fall on them, having to pay for say 3 hours where a non-disabled would only need 2. To avoid this, councils prefers usually to grant the free parking, which is easier to manage all around and really doesn't cost them that much in lost revenue.

 

- A disabled person might not have the choice in having to use a car. Whilst able-bodied people can use public transport, it is often not the case for the disabled person, so again, the cost would disproportionately affect them, using the car as necessity rather than choice.

 

- A Blue Badge holder can park on yellow lines FOC as long as they do not cause an obstruction. Whilst the car may not cause an obstruction, it can still slow down the flow of traffic, especially if there is more than one, so it makes sense for the local authorities to instead say: "Park here for free" and hopefully more BB holders will do this and thus park off roads, which in turns help traffic move smoother all over town.

 

So there you go. Whilst it may look like just another one of those unwarranted privileges, there are actually good reasons for the payment exemption for BB holders, and they do benefit everyone else too.

 

HTH.

 

 

Excellent answer. BTW you do not need higher DLA to claim a BB.

[ashmk]

They should just charge everyone the same and be done with it. Much easier, much fairer, no discrimination anywhere.

[Surfer01]

They should just charge everyone the same and be done with it. Much easier, much fairer, no discrimination anywhere.

 

Why do you think it will be fairer?

[ashmk]

Everybody pays the same.

[Surfer01]

Everybody pays the same.

 

Am I missing something as I am still wondering why you think it is fairer that a person with a BB pay extra just because they have a BB as per post #28?

[ashmk]

Nobody pays any extra. Everybody pays the same. You pay a pound, I pay a pound. It's really quite simple.

[rebel11]

That's just it, if your disabled it isn't simple, excellent post from Bookworm.

 

'Well, there is more than one reason, so take your pick:

 

- It's about redressing the balance: Usually, a disabled person will take longer than an able-bodied person to go about their business, so if they have to pay, the cost will disproportionately fall on them, having to pay for say 3 hours where a non-disabled would only need 2. To avoid this, councils prefers usually to grant the free parking, which is easier to manage all around and really doesn't cost them that much in lost revenue.

 

- A disabled person might not have the choice in having to use a car. Whilst able-bodied people can use public transport, it is often not the case for the disabled person, so again, the cost would disproportionately affect them, using the car as necessity rather than choice.

 

- A Blue Badge holder can park on yellow lines FOC as long as they do not cause an obstruction. Whilst the car may not cause an obstruction, it can still slow down the flow of traffic, especially if there is more than one, so it makes sense for the local authorities to instead say: "Park here for free" and hopefully more BB holders will do this and thus park off roads, which in turns help traffic move smoother all over town.

 

So there you go. Whilst it may look like just another one of those unwarranted privileges, there are actually good reasons for the payment exemption for BB holders, and they do benefit everyone else too.

 

HTH. '

 

Nobody pays any extra. Everybody pays the same. You pay a pound, I pay a pound. It's really quite simple.

[colin11]

But is that not the reason the disabled get extra money, to cover the extra costs that arise from their disability, i think parking should fall within that

 

it does annoy me that i go shopping, cant find anywhere to park, but there will be a mass of disabled bays unused

 

also, you see people park in them, get out, and don't seem to have much wrong with them

[Surfer01]

Nobody pays any extra. Everybody pays the same. You pay a pound, I pay a pound. It's really quite simple.

However it is not simple as you may pay a £1 for one hours parking and I have to pay £2 as it takes me twice as long to get around the supermarket so in effect I am being penalised. To get around this it would be simpler for me to park on yellow lines legally and perhaps inconvenience some people.

[rebel11]

Lets forget the government made against people with disabilities. The money that they get goes towards many different things. It's there to take many burdens away from them.

 

If bays are empty, speak to your supermarket, ask them if all the bays are required. There might be regulations, but they might need looking at.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1252452/Revealed-Why-disabled-bays-stay-empty.html

 

But is that not the reason the disabled get extra money, to cover the extra costs that arise from their disability, i think parking should fall within that

 

it does annoy me that i go shopping, cant find anywhere to park, but there will be a mass of disabled bays unused

 

also, you see people park in them, get out, and don't seem to have much wrong with them

[ashmk]

However it is not simple as you may pay a £1 for one hours parking and I have to pay £2 as it takes me twice as long to get around the supermarket so in effect I am being penalised. To get around this it would be simpler for me to park on yellow lines legally and perhaps inconvenience some people.

 

But it's ok for able-bodied people to be penalised every time they want to park while disabled people get free parking for no apparent reason?

 

You can not cherry pick equality. If things are to be equal then it must be equal across the board and if that means you have to pay a couple of quid to shop like the rest of us then sobeit.

[rebel11]

If you can get rid of peoples disabilities, then, yes there would be equality. People have disabilities, i.e. no lower limbs, no upper limbs etc. You seem to think they can carry out day to day functions as an able - bodied person. Am I missing something? Is that correct?

 

But it's ok for able-bodied people to be penalised every time they want to park while disabled people get free parking for no apparent reason?

 

You can not cherry pick equality. If things are to be equal then it must be equal across the board and if that means you have to pay a couple of quid to shop like the rest of us then sobeit.

[caro]

I'm all for equality and that includes for able-bodied people, and see no issue with disabled people paying for car parks, especially when paid benefits for extra costs incurred due to disability, or even get motability cars. No-one wants to be disabled and most prefer to be treated the same as everyone else, although some obviously need a little help along the way to lead a "normal" life.

[Nystagmite]

I see that many people have ignored my post then. Many of us disabled people DO have to pay for parking and many of us DO take quite a long time due to our disabilities. How is that fair? yes, I do get DLA. But it doesn't seem right that because I don't have a blue badge (despite having little vision) that I've got to pay and most of the time, I (or rather, my carer) has to pay more because it takes longer for me to get around due to my disabilities. And then there's the constant having to find somewhere where I can shop - can't tolerate noise and am at serious risk of an asthma attack if someone sprays something.

[caro]

Is there a complaints procedure? Alternatively have you raised the issue with your local Councillor?

[caro]

A lot of disabled people aren't BB holders, we have to pay and we may have to take much longer than an able-bodied person to shop.

 

Bizarrely, the criteria for a BB for my local authority is DLA mobility. They didn't specificy on their forms at all that it has to be higher rate and I applied on the basis that I do receive DLA mobility and was rejected and couldn't appeal. The wording, imo, was misleading - because I do receive DLA mobility and yes, I do have serious mobility needs.

Is there a complaints procedure? Alternatively have you raised the issue with your local Councillor?

[rebel11]

If disabled people had to pay for parking, it would cost them more, it would take them longer to do their shopping, then an able bodied person. This is about practicalities, more then anything else.

 

I'm all for equality and that includes for able-bodied people, and see no issue with disabled people paying for car parks, especially when paid benefits for extra costs incurred due to disability, or even get motability cars. No-one wants to be disabled and most prefer to be treated the same as everyone else, although some obviously need a little help along the way to lead a "normal" life.

[caro]

If disabled people had to pay for parking, it would cost them more, it would take them longer to do their shopping, then an able bodied person. This is about practicalities, more then anything else.

 

I appreciate that but surely the mobility element of DLA covers extra costs such as this.

[Nystagmite]

There's no appeal. Like I said, their wording was ambigious, I think the word is. On the form it stated "mobility allowance", which to me, meant I could apply and would be entitled because I do receive lower mobility.