I would think that we all have relatives or friends who use handicap parking bays.
It has long been a bugbear of mine when I see able bodied people parking in such designated bays, I politely tell them to move, unlike you lot we don’t have wheel clamping here so the best that we can hope for is an eagle-eyed traffic official perhaps passing by to stop and issue a fine. Unfortunately the chances of that happening are remote, our traffic cops are usually on lunch or manning a speed trap when you really need them.
(Perhaps I’m being a bit unfair, they are probably understaffed, under funded and under resourced, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.)
A quiet word from me, a threat to report them to the management of whatever facility we are in normally works, if they have children in the car so much the better their embarrassment normally jolts their brains into gear “Oh, thank you. I didn’t see the sign” they mutter and move on.
I saw this sign recently outside a local pub and thought that I’d share
🙂
You can click on the picture for a larger version if you wish to save a copy to your computer.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Absolutely love it! It’s a bug bear of mine, too.
In Brisbane there are a growing number of designated bays near the shops for ‘Senior Citizens’ – not handicapped, but still in need of some consideration in terms of walking great distances. It annoys me just how many ‘youngsters’ seem to think they ‘qualify’ for those parking spaces too!
Morning Boa
Ja, I think ours double up as ‘Senior Citizen’ bays as well, they have to have an authorised disc from our local traffic dept, though. I wouldn’t think that they are too difficult to obtain.
Pleased you ‘love’ the sign
(And NO I don’t need one ………..(yet!) ;))
The fashion here is to ignore all manifestations of ‘authority’: wear seat belts, no phones while driving, no entry, handicapped parking, public toilets, litter bins, etc. Nice.
No Soutie – they are two separate areas. Handicap Parking has to display a badge – Senior Parkers only have to be 60+ and have (but not display) a Senior Card…
I think it is despicable when able bodied people use disabled bays, or even worse able bodied people use a disabled persons sticker for their own ends. You can buy disabled badges on Ebay.
As the law stands in the UK a parking warden has no right to question you if you are displaying a badge, he is unable to ask to see the photo to confirm it is the badge holder.
However on the other side I really do not understand why disabled badge holders can park free. Disabled does not mean poor.
Many cars showing badges are £40k plus so they are well able to pay for their parking, yes make it close to exits and shops and wider. But make them pay.
Is it right that a disabled person earning £150k per year parks free and an OAP on a state pension has to pay?
It is because it is free that others abuse the system.
It is also bloody irritating when all the able spots are filled and there are half a dozen disabled spots standing empty. Many people who have disabled or elderly badges do not warrant them. When I broke my leg and was on crutches, I did not use a disabled bay though I am sure I had more need of one than many who did. The old and disabled are just as capable of abusing systems as anybody else. If they are treated like victims, they behave like victims. They demand more and more. It is human nature.
I was in a grocery queue ysterday. The till lady suggested to the old fellow behind me that as it was slow moving he might like to go to another till. Indignantly he replied that he would not. ‘I am 80 years old’ he felt it necessary to tell her for some reason.
While I do not use disabled parking bays, I do not get overly indignat about those who do. I have no compunction about using a disabled toilet. Am I a sociopath?
Sipu I understand your feelings when you broke your leg.
When I did my back in earlier this year it was not a case of walking it was getting out of the car, I needed to open the door fully to lever myself out.
So when I went to my sports club for a swim I used the disabled bay, I did have a word with the manager and explained and he agreed it was okay due to the circumstances.
I made a great study of this in Brum, the boy had a badge and needed it, so I often got a good look at who was next to us and leapt out of the car with amazing agility!
I have to say that the vast proportion of people abusing the places were Pakistani!
Says it all really, their complete contempt for our country.
I know the disabled parking system is open to abuse.
If a person really can only walk a few yards or requires space to get out a wheelchair it must be infuriating if someone is flouting the rules, preventing a valid badge holder from using the space and therefore restricting access to amenities.
(I too will use a disabled toilet if there is a huge queue for the ordinary ones and no-one is waiting for the disabled ones. I know I’ll only be in there a matter of moments.)