A blind Team GB athlete has slammed the council after it removed a disabled parking way to ‘make way’ for some new electric bikes.
Tennis player, Rachel Morgan who competes in the B1 (blind) category for players with the greatest degree of sight loss, is frustrated and says she feels the life of disabled people is ‘less valuable than others’.
The athlete is world number one in the B1 group and has won several regional titles, three national titles and two World Championships – but time will tell whether she can win her battle against Camden Council who she says ‘erased’ the disabled bay she uses.
Speaking of the new Lime bikes replacement, she said: ‘It really feels like the life of disabled people is less valuable than others.
‘This time Camden Council have literally erased the disabled bay I use and given it to rental bikes.
‘Where am I to safely and legally park?’
One local, John said, on the social media post shared by Ms Morgan: ‘Same across the UK, all about cycling, don’t give a stuff about disability.’
Another person added: ‘You’re right. They do not care. Spiteful fools.’
A third individual said: ‘Everyone is second class to cyclists in Camden.’
But the Camden Council says the move is only temporary while building work takes place.
Replying on X – formerly known as Twitter, the authority said: ‘Hi there, thanks for waiting while we looked into this.
‘This disabled bay was temporarily installed locally while building works were taking place. These works have now been completed – there is now a yellow line so e-bikes should not be parked there.
‘There are no plans to make this a dockless parking bay and are looking into adding a disabled bay on a permanent basis around this location.’
The council then went on to further weigh in on the discussion by releasing a statement.
It read: ‘This disabled bay was temporarily installed locally while building works were taking place.
‘These works have now been completed – there is now a yellow line so e-bikes should not be parked there.
‘There are no plans to make this a dockless parking bay and are looking into adding a disabled bay on a permanent basis around this location.’