A recent discussion on a popular Facebook page highlighted concerns about the number of disabled parking spaces at the new Carrefour in Mijas Costa, which has forced able-bodied drivers to park farther away. Some expressed frustration over the inconvenience of a quick trip for essentials like bread. However, the conversation quickly shifted when contributors pointed out a far more pressing issue: disrespectful drivers parking in clearly marked disabled spaces without a valid permit. Euro Weekly News spoke with James, who has relied on these spaces for nearly 30 years to access his wheelchair, and his partner, Simone, who battles daily to assist James with essential tasks like doctor visits, administrative errands, or grocery shopping. “Some people park in disabled spaces every day without fail,” James said. “Their excuse is always, ‘I’ll just be a minute,’ but then I see them having a beer in the bar across the road.” Surprisingly, many offenders are fellow expats, so language is not an issue. James is fortunate to have Simone’s help getting in and out of their car. Others, like an elderly friend who lives alone, aren’t so lucky. “Six out of ten times, she has to give up and go home,” Simone shared. “We haven’t been out for a meal or drink in our village in over four years, as we can’t park anywhere,” James added. Simone recounted numerous attempts to politely remind drivers they’re in a disabled space. “I asked one woman if she realised she was in a disabled spot. She replied, ‘What are you doing out after 5pm?’ as if disabled people have a curfew.” She clarified, “The blue badge doesn’t always mean the driver is disabled. I might be picking James up or getting his wheelchair out.” Obtaining a blue badge in Spain is no easy feat, James explained. “I had to face 12 doctors and Social Security. It took years. They test you thoroughly, even strip you down, and every few years, they ask trick questions to verify your need.” Simone added, “It’s not like in the UK where it’s just paperwork. It’s rigorous here, and it should be.” Yet, despite the stringent process, the real challenge begins after obtaining the badge: finding a space not occupied by an able-bodied driver parking for convenience. Disabled space parking wars getting aggressive “The abuse we face is exhausting,” Simone sighed. “I try to raise awareness about how this impacts disabled people’s lives, but I’ve stopped confronting drivers because of their aggression. They expect James to struggle out of the car alone, not me, an able-bodied person, assisting him.” James noted, “Squeezing into a regular parking space and unfolding a wheelchair is impossible.” EWN asked, “With cars getting bigger but parking spaces staying the same, how do wheelchair users manage essential trips like doctor visits or shopping?” “They don’t,” Simone replied. “They just go home.” The correct thing to do is to call the local police and wait for them to arrive and dish out a fine. But, in reality, who has time to wait an hour for the police to arrive and do little? When asked about the worst local spots, James listed Carrefour, Aldi, Lidl, and the car park near Correos in Coín. We chatted in a café at a BP garage near Alhaurín Golf. Their car was parked awkwardly and diagonal due to three motorcycles blocking the disabled space. Disabled space parking wars – local police do too little To be fair to the businesses mentioned above, the blame doesn’t lie solely with them, as car parks are often under council control. James and Simone pointed out that local police rarely enforce regulations. Despite the increased number of disabled spaces in new car parks, the problem is worsening. When one driver sees another non-badge holder using a disabled space, it seems to normalise the behaviour, and so it just increases, leaving those who genuinely need these spaces excluded from everyday activities and increasingly confined to their homes. Follow the plight of Simone and others on Don’t Dis My Ability, a Facebook group where local Malaga region folk who suffer from people disrespecting disabled parking spaces.