On Wed, 16 Oct 2013 09:29:55 +0100, Another John wrote:

I'm sympathetic to the idea of blue badge bays --- but not when I see
some of the "disabled" types getting out of their cars

You can't see many disabilities, even ones which severely affect mobility.

or when I see people using what is clearly someone else's badge.

Which is naughtier than using a space without a badge at all - it's not
only breaking the parking regs in exactly the same way, but can lead to
withdrawal of the badge from the holder, who actually needs it.

(And up here in Northumberland they're allowed park free! WHY!!!????
Are they poorer than me?

Well, they don't have the same options to work that you do - and they
don't have the option to walk or cycle that you do.

In their highly expensive "Motability" tax-payer-subsidised new
cars?

For which they forgo their higher-rate mobility allowance. Are you sayiing
that you object to the severely disabled receiving mobility allowance?

And WHY are they allowed to park on double yellows?

Only in the same places as able-bodied people can legally park for
loading and unloading purposes, albeit for a longer (but fixed) period.

etc etc etc /rant

Look, there's an easy solution. Get somebody to kneecap you badly enough
that you have sufficient mobility problems to qualify for a blue badge,
then you'll be happy, right?