Disabled blue badge holders

[dave50]

I can understand the disabled needing these badgers to be able to park nearer where they want to go but why do they also get free parking?

[daffy654]

They don't in every car park.

[rowanwitch]

quite often because it is unreasonable to expect a disabled person to wander off and find the pay and display machine.... sort of defeats the object of the exercise really

[sunny-dave]

They don't necessarily - many councils (especially in holiday areas) are introducing charges for blue badge holders in their car parks.

I'd perhaps go for a half way house of "an extra 30 minutes free" - mobility problems can mean that stuff just takes longer to do - but don't see why it should be entirely free.

[ubasses]

Depends on the local council. When my mother in law was alive she never go free parking in Norfolk.

[daffy654]

When I had my blue badge I used to pay for a ticket even when it stated free parking for badge holders.

[rojash]

"needing these badgers"
Well, I've heard of seeing dogs for the blind, but never of parking badgers for the disabled.

[Sipowicz]

And they're black & white, not blue!

[puternut]

As a Blue BAdge holder I can assure you that not all spaces are free.

Within 10 miles of home I am in 3 different boroughs which offer 3 different schemes ranging from completely free, first 3 hours free then pay and pay full whack for parking in marked bays. Unmarked bays are different too!

And also other parks (i.e. NCP) have bays but (example multi storey car-park) where you get a timed ticket to go in, go to machine to pay before leaving and you have to pay full whack as there is no reduction system available to get your ticket stamped to let you out.

Even hospitals have different systems - generally meaning you pay or at best 3 hours free - but what if you are there all day for tests??

HAving said all this I do appreciate the sytem and hope it will continue

[rowanwitch]

What... badgers?

Perhaps those who complain about those who have the badges should be grateful they don't need one...

[dannyk13]

Probably because there is no stipulated charge for parking on yellow lines

[naomi24]

My mother-in-law's is blue.

[B00]

oh I dunno, this one looks pretty stationary

http://www.walkinginm...-2-miles/badger_0.jpg

[puternut]

Sipowicz - is yours a photo copy of one??? And a b&w one at that <GRIN>

[sunny-dave]

http://i1.cpcache.com...&height=460&width=460

[cazzz1975]

Im sure they would swap their ailment and blue badge in a shot for good health dave.

[Sipowicz]

You cheeky little............!

[jamesnan]

They certainly dont where we live in Essex.

[heathfield]

Our local council gave up charging for the use of Council car parks. Even taking into account the money they took in, the cost to the council of parking supervisors pay exceeded the cost of maintaining the car parks.