Blue Badge Rule Change To Allow For People With Hidden Disabilities

[Deskdiary]

Do people who are anxious really need to be able to park a bit closer to the shops?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/29/parking-permits-extended-people-hidden-disabilities/

[woofgang]

yes absolutely, its about time this change was made

[Spicerack]

I don't get it, DD. I'm an old fashioned type, I suppose.

[Zacs-Master]

Shouldn’t people with anxiety or brain injuries be being driven to the shops or work and dropped off rather than driving themselves?

[Tilly2]

I'm an old fashioned type, I suppose.

Does that mean that old fashioned types don't have any experience of severe anxiety issues?

[woofgang]

ZM for the umteenth time, blue badges are not just for drivers with disabilities. They can be used by people who need to be driven.

[Ken4155]

'Old fashioned types' don't recognise anxiety and depression, Tilly. My dad was an 'old fashioned type' and couldn't get his head around my illness. He would have tut-tutted if this had come in while he was alive.

[Spicerack]

Certainly do not, tilly. When everyone gets a badge, no-one will have one. (worth a light)

[AZardoz]

Of course they do, as does any other lazy sod who can come up with an "acceptable" excuse.
Here, all the natives have them. Apparently for some old granny who never leaves home, but ... she might. Doesn't matter. They park wherever they damn well please and nobody dare say boo.
Giant pickup truck ? That's good too - one of the best actually. Road rules of any kind do not apply.
Spicerack nailed it.

[Tilly2]

Then you are extremely lucky, Spicerack.

[Tilly2]

I have to go out now. I don't have time to discuss things with old fashioned types.
Bye.

[furrypusscat]

I can see a problem arising where there won't be enough disabled spaces for people with mobility issues that have problems walking. They will then have to park on double yellow lines where they can legally park for 3 hours with a blue badge but one has to then ask why are there double yellow lines, they are usually there for a reason.

[spathiphyllum]

I'm saying No. Anxiety isn't a disability. It will not affect your ability to safely walk across a car park, unlike being a parent with a child, or someone with a blue badge disability.

I sympathise with those with anxiety, sometimes feel it myself.. But i mean cmon, do you really think those who are anxious would actually benefit from a parking space closer to the shops?

[spathiphyllum]

I mean of course.. unless the lack of parking is what's making them anxious? Then it's more stressful parking isn't it..

[spathiphyllum]

"08:48 Fri 30th Aug 2019
"

I agree.

[david small]

Yet another example of the PC correct world madness.

[spathiphyllum]

A walk in the fresh air helps those with anxiety, if they get blue badge spots their walk in the fresh air will be reduced. Therefor, this would potentially negatively impact those with anxiety.

[chelle7272]

//I'm saying No. Anxiety isn't a disability. It will not affect your ability to safely walk across a car park,//

Rubbish. Approaching a place can bring out the worst anxiety, people watching you, will it be crwoded , will whatever your activity is go okay, what if you can't find something and so on. It can be difficult to bring yourself to get out the car, to then havc a long walk during which all these anxieties are magnified is an awful experience. Anxiety can be extremely crippling.

[retrocop]

The test for a blue badge at my civic centre used to be a greeting in the ground floor lobby by the interviewer. She would invite you to accompany her to her office on the first floor by way of the staircase.If you used the stairs you failed the first hurdle. A lift was available. Once on Ist floor corridor she would walk to her office at a brief trot to the end of the long corridor. If you kept pace with her and did not have to use the strategically placed chairs in the corridor then you failed the 2nd hurdle. That was before the health inquisition and medicines check in her office.
My latest blue badge, having filled in all the renewal paperwork accompanied by all my tales of woe (Hospital Discharge Summaries), was waiting for me to collect at the Civic centre reception.

[spathiphyllum]

"what if you can't find something and so on. "

Like the door to the supermarket?

Most people with anxiety are more concerned about what's in the shop rather than the carpark.

[ludwig]

It doesn't make much sense to me because the availability of parking and it's proximity to the shops or wherever is all about making things easier for people with physical disabilities.

On the plus side at least those hundreds of empty disabled parking spaces I always have to drive past will now see some use, but I'd be worried that people who really need them such as wheelchair users etc will struggle to find one.