Traffic Wardens

[Jonboy]

I think we've all done it Jamie.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Keef - as ever you contextualise perfectly.

Nice follow up post from Jamie as well. And now that I know which Jamie it is I assume the business referred to is the one you first spoke of on the forum a while back Jamie? Glad to see it's up and running

But the thread did start off about taking the fine to court which is surely a massive waste of resource and at the time sounded like a plea for sympathy

None of us are perfect Jamie and it sounds like you posted immediately after the event and have slept on it overnight. I think you might find that the experience will affect your behaviour should you find yourself in a similar situation.

As I said when we first spoke some weeks back however, it's not easy starting a business and you are obviously working long days so good luck with that

[Ant]

Sorry - parking in disabled bays is something that just gets me angry, as I said earlier. I'm not saying you're a bad person, it's just that particular bit of behaviour I dislike so much. Hope that was clear.

[Louisa]

I dont get that. Jamie I quite agree that half of the disabled spaces around ED, and especially in supermarkets are an absolute farce. I do not agree that people should be fined for parking in them, especially in supermarkets, when on saturdays their is little in the way of parking for anyone. We all pay taxes, why should a disabled person have priority to park somewhere when others have to park miles away and walk. I am not being difficult here, I genuinely see no point in the majority of these disabled spaces, and for the life of me cant get why they take priority.

[pk]

Louisa Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> why should a disabled person

> have priority to park somewhere when others have

> to park miles away and walk

??!! cos they're disabled??!! and may be can't walk like 'others'

[SeanMacGabhann]

you would have to say that was the clincher alright, pk

I'm not sure what taxes has to do with supermarket parking either.

[Keef]

I'm going to go out on a limb here, and agree, in part, with Louisa.

Blue badges are not only dished out to people in wheelchairs, they are given to all sorts of people. Now, a blind person is entitled to a blue badge, but obviously can't drive, so they will obviously have someone with them in the car. Why in this circumstance should they get to park right next to the supermarket in a special spot, when they have a sighted companion with them to guide them from the car to the shop?

Also, there is the arguement that a blue badge allows you to park in any spot for free, so why then do we need extra parking spaces on top?

[Louisa]

My mother is 88, she drives, and she has been registered as disabled now for 25 years or more because of severe arthritis. She is still able to drive, and she would be quite happy to park slightly further away and give up her space for someone else. Then you come across the guy who has a fake disabled badge (VERY easy to get hold of), and he gets to park where he likes because no one ever checks these badges. The whole thing is a farce, those who deserve them dont want them, and those who want to flaunt the law park anywhere they like. Their really isnt any point in these special spaces. They make no difference at all!

[Keef]

Another fair point (about the people using bogus badges... Not so often fake, as used inappropiately because their old aunt who is sat at home was convinced to get one). Bloody hell Louisa, we must stop agreeing on things ;-)

[susyp]

plus we need more disabled places because non disabled people frequently park in them meaning there are less for those people who really need them.

[susyp]

also in response to keef - i don;t know if you;ve ever walked with a blind person, but it's not always easy - and i for one would much prefer to park right up to the entrance to a shop than have to navigate roads or a busy car park....

[Keef]

Yes I have once or twice, and I disagree.

[pk]

Louisa Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> My mother is 88, she drives, and she has been

> registered as disabled now for 25 years or more

> because of severe arthritis. She is still able to

> drive, and she would be quite happy to park

> slightly further away and give up her space for

> someone else. Then you come across the guy who has

> a fake disabled badge (VERY easy to get hold of),

> and he gets to park where he likes because no one

> ever checks these badges. The whole thing is a

> farce, those who deserve them dont want them, and

> those who want to flaunt the law park anywhere

> they like. Their really isnt any point in these

> special spaces. They make no difference at all!

and it follows that as people commit benefit fraud that the benefit system should be abolished?

[Louisa]

Good grief what is this world coming to! It's wetter than a weekend in the Brazilian rainforest!

[Louisa]

No of course not, but the practical situation is quite simple.. I know lots of diabled people, and half of them do not choose to have these badges because as keef has pointed out already, relatives beg to use the badges when they are going out on a saturday morning. You simply cannot catch these people, they will do it anyway. If disabled people do not need these spaces, then lets stop being all warm and cuddly and socially responsible about it, and just abolish the whole damn thing. It obviously doesnt work, and it just adds to the tension of a shopping trip out for people who desperately need to park somewhere!

[susyp]

hmm well i have to say i only escort a blind colleague (at work) quite rarely and i am monstrously bad at it so maybe its just me. but i don;t have any problem in parking further away to ensure that places are free closer to shops. and my grandmother had terrible arthritis and in her later years wouldn;t have stood a chance of walking around a corner, or across a carpark. i guess it depends on the person, on how fit they are generally aside from their disability, (or how confident they are), but there are plenty of people out there who wouldn;t be able to get out unless these disabled places were available so it's a no brainer really.

[SeanMacGabhann]

It started with Keef agreeing with you Louisa and now you are pulling back from an argument AND cracking a joke.

I'm getting very confused - made me laugh tho

;-)

Back on topic: I can understand the original rationale behind disabled spaces but can see how things have moved on - however as long as the current system is in place it should be adhered to.

But that doesn't mean the whole thing can't be reviewed and a more modern solution found (whatever form that might take)

[Louisa]

Sean I agree with you there - if it's the law then it has to be adhered to regardless of what we all think. But I do think the current situation is ridiculous, and should be reviewed.

[Huguenot]

Chortle!

An execeptional contribution from Louisa! I can imagine you letting the wheelchair tyres down when they're at the cashpoint because they take up too much of the pavement...!

I did hear rumours about naughty things afoot with disabled badges, and more than once I've asked people what exactly is wrong with them as they dance out of their permit-carrying car in the disabled slots.

[Louisa]

Huguenot it's quite remarkable the number of people who have these badges. I've seen 6ft plus tattooed gentlemen wearing shorts jumping out of vauxhall vectras with darkened windows with these so called disabled badges. It's shocking. I could tell you of at least four locations along Peckham High Street where these things are sold on the streets.

[SeanMacGabhann]

I'm quite enjoying this thread now...

... but none of this explains why you promised to come last Friday and then didn't, Louisa

(and I know you didn't because I asked people at at least 4 different locations on Peckham High Street if they had seen you...)

[Keef]

To be honest Susyp, I work with Blind people and teach mobility.... Sorry, should have come clean :-$

I agree completely that people who need these spaces because walking any distance is a mission for them, should have them, or at least some acceptable alternative.

I do however think that these things are abused to such a level that they do need looking at.

Just nipping off topic...

As for the blind (and many other disabled people actually), I totally agree with them receiving assistance where required, and having things made accessable for them! My gripe is that we live in a culture that tends to wrap disabled people up in cotton wool too much and so they become overly dependent on others.

I believe in people receiving assistance that they require, but feel strongly that they should be encouraged, and in some cases pushed to do things for themselves wherever possible.

I say this as the son of a very bright woman who was sent to a "special school" *cringe*, because she is visually impaired and so came through life without meeting her potential in many ways. She was determined that should either of her children inherit her sight, that they would be given the same chances as any other child.

It's that attitude that I take.

[susyp]

well i take your point then, not having anything like your experience. maybe you are right. i am probably guilty of over worrying since even my pregnant friends have a problem walking around without me constantly checking for things they might bump into and hurt themselves! interesting discussion tho. i agree the current situation is a disgrace. but i wouldn;t park in a disabled space. catholic guilt!

[susyp]

also i did nearly get the aforementioned blind colleague hit by a bus once, so i am a bit paranoid. i would find it very difficult to walk across the sainsburys carpark escorting someone. my colleague is totally independent and proudly so - he frequently kicks up a fuss when put on the "disabled people's vehicle" as he comes off a plane (which is outrageous!) so i do take keef's point. will ask him his thoughts on this discussion next time i see him.

[Keef]

As a bit of advice, try to relax when you're guiding him. If you're nervous he'll feel it in your tensed muscles, and that will make him worry as to why you're tense.

Why we're on the subject, if anyone wants to help a blind person, please let them take your arm, don't grab their arm and drag them along. Also, if they say "no thank you" to an offer of help, don't think them rude. You've done a nice thing offering, and they don't need it and are happy to go on their way. Everyone's a winner :))