Mobility and Driving

I had a couple of interesting conversations recently with people who were observing me walking, making the observation that I could consider getting a blue badge. (For non UK-readers, a blue badge is a badge which allows you to legitimately park in disabled parking spaces, on some types of road where there are parking restrictions, and frequently gives you free or reduced price parking charges in car parks).

I know that I will need one of these in the future, and I considered that I dont need one right away. However, I also realise that I might be being stubborn, so I investigated the criteria for eligibility in case my stubbornness was getting in the way.

There are two levels of eligibility, a higher level will let you have one without seeking any further information, and a lower level where they will consider the application that you put forward. These are set out here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/blue-badge-can-i-get-one/can-i-get-a-blue-badge

I do not meet the criteria for the higher level because I am not on benefits, I am not severely sight impaired, and I have not been in the armed forces.

When considering the lower level, the closest two factors are:

• "you cannot walk without help from someone else or using mobility aids"
• "you find walking very difficult due to pain, breathlessness or the time it takes".

None of the others are relevant (at least not at the moment). I realise that insoles are a mobility aid, but it feels like I dont really meet the first of these yet, so it is more around the second one now.

These badges are issued through the local authority, so I went to see the process at my local authority. Within this, I would be in the category "Subject to further assessment: applicants with walking difficulties".

The bar is set quite high with the initial statement in this section of the form "Please note that you will only qualify for a Blue Badge under this criterion if you have an enduring (lasting for at least three years) and substantial disability which means you are unable to walk; have very considerable difficulty in walking; or are at risk of serious harm when walking."

So, HSP is enduring, but I can still walk, and I dont regard my difficulty as being considerable. I am not yet at the risk of serious harm.

After several describe your situation questions, there is a multiple choice question on the way that you walk, and I'm probably adequate at the moment. Then they ask a few "can you do this" questions, and then questions on breathlessness, pain, and balance/coordination. My mobility doesnt yet substantially tick any of these areas. 

The next questions are about mobility aids, the distance you can walk without stopping, if you can carry on after a short rest, and what sort of distance you cover in a given time. On these questions I have impact, as I'm needing to pause for a short rest every few minutes, and my distance is limited.

On reflection, I think I'm more likely to get a badge when I get to the point when I'm needing to use sticks/poles/crutches on a regular basis, which essentially means when my balance deteriorates a bit further.

Overall though, the big thing for me is the mental space for thinking about this. Applying for a blue badge is an open admission that my mobility is getting poor, and I'm not sure that I'm quite ready to do that yet. It has been said that even if I get a badge, I dont have to use it every time. Whilst this is true I will know that I have it. This is ultimately tied up with the negative societal prejudices around disability, and my reluctance to have such an obvious badge. And, yes I know that this is irrational, because the badge will soon be appropriate, and useful, and I think I'm probably already making different journey choices because of my mobility. So, its just me catching up with myself.