Why Every Country Should Have a Blue Badge Scheme

People with disabilities have trouble finding accessible parking spaces, even with special permits. But the United Kingdom is making it easier for citizens with disabilities to get parking spaces with its Blue Badge Scheme. Read on to know more about this scheme. Finding a parking space in cities is a hassle, and the situation is much worse for people with disabilities. Around 85% of disabled people have trouble finding accessible parking spaces in the USA. They either do not have accessible parking or find them occupied by regular drivers. To help people with parking, authorities in different countries issue disabled parking permits, but they pale in comparison to UK’s Blue Badge Scheme. Let us understand why this scheme is revolutionary and should be universal across the globe.

What is the Blue Badge Scheme?

UK’s Blue Badge Scheme provides special parking benefits to people with disabilities. A blue badge allows people to park closer to their destination, whether they are drivers or passengers. The scheme is implemented by the local authorities who review applications, conduct assessments, and issue badges to eligible citizens. If someone needs to get a blue badge, they can contact their local council , or apply for the blue badge at Gov.UK.

Who can apply for a blue badge?

To apply for a blue badge, a person should fulfill one or more of the following criteria:

• be registered blind
• have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability
• receive a higher rate of the Disability Living Allowance’s mobility component
• get War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• receive Personal Independence Payments
• have chronic walking issues due to stress, anxiety and mental health
• have problems using both their arms

One can also apply on behalf of a child over two years of age having trouble walking or a child under three years of age who needs to be near a vehicle due to any health condition.

Why should the Blue Badge Scheme be universal?

• Free parking

Blue badge holders can park in public spaces for free, irrespective of the type of parking space. Countries such as the USA allow free parking to permit holders only at disabled parking zones. But they still have to pay for private parking unless the lot owners provide free parking for blue badges. Blue badge owners can park for as long as they want unless a sign specifies a time limit.

• Not limited to special parking spaces

What makes The Blue Badge Scheme successful is that it does not limit badge holders to handicap parking zones. The pass holders can park their vehicles in metered and on-street parking spaces. They can also use single and double yellow lines as parking for 3 hours unless there is a “no loading” sign. Some councils allow badge holders to park at yellow lines even if there is a “no loading” sign.

• Residential parking 

Stepping up their commitment towards accessible parking, some councils allow blue badge holders to apply and get disabled parking near their houses. The parking is free, but the eligibility of those who can get parking depends on the councils.

• Accepted in other European countries

Finding parking is difficult for people with disabilities in most countries and almost impossible if they travel to a foreign country. Blue badges also make it easier to use parking spaces while travelling to European countries like Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. Blue badges make parking easy for differently-abled people, but it also requires them to follow certain rules. Usual rules like fines for causing obstruction or parking near schools or intersections apply to blue badges too, and it is also illegal for badge holders to let others use their badges.

Final words

UK’s Blue Badge Scheme is truly phenomenal from ideation to its implementation, and it has done so much to re-integrate people with disabilities into a public space like a parking lot. There’s a strong case for such schemes, and governments worldwide must work toward implementing them.