Disabled parking spaces are not a privilege, says Costa del Sol expat Steve

Long-time Costa del Sol expat Steve has contacted Euro Weekly News with another blunt note, this time as a disabled driver tired of watching reserved bays taken by people with no right to them.

Finding a space, he says, is not about convenience. “Finding an available parking space is not simply about convenience it is a necessity to leading, as much as possible, a normal life.” Able-bodied drivers occupying those bays leave him angry. “As a disabled driver here in Spain it is particularly galling to find that designated parking spaces for disabled drivers are often occupied by able bodied drivers who have no entitlement to use them.”

“I’ll only be five minutes” is not an excuse

The usual defence does not wash. “‘I’ll only be 5 minutes’ is not an acceptable excuse. Able bodied drivers shouldn’t be in that space at all!” Those minutes can decide whether someone gets to a doctor, the shops or friends. “Those 5 minutes could mean the difference between a disabled driver being able to get to their medical appointment, do a little shopping, see friends, or having to return home. That has happened to me on more than one occasion.”

The spaces exist because walking even a short distance can be too much. “Designated disabled parking spaces are not a privilege they are essential for people who find even walking a short distance too much.” Many conditions do not show. “Many mobility issues are not outwardly visible. On the contrary a great number of drivers suffer from diseases that are not visible to the naked eye. Heart, lungs and kidneys to name several.”

A blue badge is hard-won

Getting the badge is slow on purpose. “To obtain a ‘blue badge’ is a long drawn out process in Spain. Everyone who applies has to go through a series of hurdles that can take realistically, up to 2 years or longer. This is to ensure that only those who qualify obtain this valued credential.”

So the bay should mean what it says. “A disabled parking space should mean exactly what it says. A reserved space for someone who genuinely needs it and has proven that to the satisfaction of the Spanish authorities.”

Steve’s last line is the same quiet challenge he has used on neighbours, retirement and the roads. “If you are not disabled please remember that those who need that designated space did not choose to be a member of this select group. They need it. You don’t.”