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Disabled Parking Permits in Europe

The blue badge has different names - take it with you on trips.

Mar 10, 2007 Jill Browne

Under a 1997 resolution, the European Union countries accept each other's disabled parking permits and those from Canada, USA, Australia and other associate EU members.

Disabled Parking Permits are Recognized in the European Union

In 1997, the European Conference of Ministers of Transport adopted a resolution where the disabled parking permits of the European Union member countries, and the associate member countries would be recognized everywhere in the EU member countries.

The badge must display the international blue and white wheelchair symbol.

The full list of EU member countries and associate member countries is provided on the ECMT website.

Currently there are 44 member countries and seven associate member countries.

The associate member countries of the EU are:

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Mexico
  • New Zealand
  • United States.

If you have a valid handicapped parking permit, blue badge, blue plaque (all of these are the same thing but the names vary between countries), entitling you to the disabled parking privileges in your home country, you may use it in the EU countries as well.

The ECMT website gives details for many of the individual countries' rules about disabled parking using a permit.

Local Parking May Be Limited

In every place where parking is limited - and this of course includes the busiest popular tourist sites - there is no absolute guarantee that you will find a parking spot even though you have a pass. So, do your homework and research the parking if there is some place you particularly want to visit.

The copyright of the article Disabled Parking Permits in Europe in Accessible Recreation is owned by Jill Browne. Permission to republish Disabled Parking Permits in Europe in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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Comments

Sep 8, 2009 5:13 AM
Guest :
I am in Ireland at the moment and the Irish DONT accept Australian disabled parking permits.I was told by a parking inspector that they only accept EU permits.I am not sure if this policy is throught Europe.
Gerard
Sep 8, 2009 9:03 AM
Jill Browne :
Thank you, Gerard.

This article, from March 2007, spells out the law as it appeared on the books at the time the article was written. Unfortunately, this is not the first time someone has reported a difference between the law and the way things are on the ground.

As the last paragraph of this piece says,

"Local Parking May Be Limited

In every place where parking is limited - and this of course includes the busiest popular tourist sites - there is no absolute guarantee that you will find a parking spot even though you have a pass. So, do your homework and research the parking if there is some place you particularly want to visit."

But on top of that, what you are reporting is simply that the local authorities do not accept a foreign permit. This is hugely disappointing, and I suppose points to the need for even more pre-trip research.

There are a few groups on the Internet where travelling with various needs, including the need to accommodate people with wheelchairs and limited mobility, are discussed. The best approach is to try and reach one or more people who either live in the area or who are frequent travellers there, and who can say how things "really" are.

Gerard, thanks so much for sharing your experience. I hope your own travel was not disrupted too much, and that your visit to Ireland is going well.

This long link leads to what appears to be current information about parking with a permit within the Republic of Ireland:

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/travel-and-recreation/traffi c-and-parking/parking_facilities_for_people_with_disabilities


This is typical of the sort of specific information you need to search for (anyone, not Gerard personally!), for any destination. It's not just each country that has its own rules, it can be each city.

Try to get to the most current version of the local government and police position, and then look as well for bulletin boards where visitors actually compare notes. The local travel bureau (and the more local, the better) is another source of good information sometimes.

I am so disappointed whenever I hear of travellers meeting bureaucratic barriers, especially when the physical barriers can be difficult to deal with on their own.

All readers may be interested in following the ongoing blog of a leading advocate for barrier-free travel worldwide, Dr. Scott Rains. His main website is http://www.rollingrains.com/.

Despite the setbacks, Happy Travels, everyone.

Jill
Oct 13, 2009 4:47 AM
Guest :
Jill - I am a British citizen, disabled, with a blue badge. I shall be visiting New Zealand early next year. Would you confirm that my blue badge is valid in NZ? I'd be most grateful for your response. Yours sincerely, Roger Davies
Oct 13, 2009 7:11 AM
Jill Browne :
Hello Roger,

I can't tell you for certain that it will go smoothly. This article sets out the legal basis for believing that your badge will be recognized. However, things on the ground can be different.

It's very wise of you to start researching early.

I suggest you contact the N.Z. official tourism board, and also the management of any sites that you already know you will be visiting, and get advice straight from them.

I'm not ducking your question but experience shows that the best way to approach this problem is by going to the local people in charge of parking and finding out what they will need.

Please let us know how things work out for you, and Happy Travels,

Jill
Jan 31, 2010 7:34 AM
Guest :
hope you can help!!!! can i use my blue in brisbane australia
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