Social Research - The Use and Value of the Blue Badge Scheme

Appendix One Telephone Survey Questionnaire

Project number P483
Project name Blue Badge Scheme Survey

INTERVIEWER INTRODUCTION:

Good morning/ afternoon, my name is ****. I am calling from an independent research organisation called Research Resource. We have been commissioned by the Scottish Government through its agency Transport Scotland to carry out some research with Blue Badge holders in order to help them understand the use and value of the Blue Badge scheme. Please can I speak to the Blue Badge holder? The survey should take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Is this a convenient time to complete the survey?

NOTE TO INTERVIEWER: PLEASE BE AWARE THAT RESPONDENT MAY REFER TO THEIR 'BLUE BADGE' IN ANOTHER WAY, FOR EXAMPLE, AS AN 'ORANGE BADGE' OR 'PARKING STICKER'.

AS NECESSARY: We identified you/ your child as a Blue Badge holder through your participation in the Scottish Household Survey. When you responded to the Scottish Household Survey you gave permission to be re-contacted for follow up research.

ADD IF NECESSARY

  • The research is being conducted under the Code of Practice of the Market Research Society, which means that all of the answers you give are strictly confidential and anonymous. Participation in this survey is voluntary. You can say if there are any questions you do not wish to respond to and we will move on to the next one.
  • The responses of all people taking part will be combined into a statistical report.
  • You should have received a letter letting you know we are carrying out this research and that you will be contacted.
  • If you wish to check that Research Resource is a bona fide research organisation you can contact Lorna Shaw at Research Resource on 0141 641 6410 or Graeme Beale at the Scottish Government.

READ OUT TO ALL

Firstly I'd like to check that you can participate in the research.

SQ1 Are you currently a Blue Badge holder?

Yes 1 Go to Q1
No 2 Go to SQ2

SQ2 Are you the parent or carer of a Blue Badge holder?

Yes, parent of a Blue Badge holder 1 Go to Q1
Yes, carer of a Blue Badge holder 2 Go to Q1
No 3 THANK AND CLOSE

[INTERVIEWER NOTE: IF RESPONDENT IS A PARENT OR CARER OF A BLUE BADGE HOLDER, THEY SHOULD ANSWER ON BEHALF OF THE BLUE BADGE HOLDER]

Getting a Blue Badge

For how long have you/ the Badge holder had a Blue Badge? [INTERVIEWER NOTE: PLEASE ENSURE THIS IS THE TOTAL LENGTH OF TIME WITH A DISABLED BADGE RATHER THAN TIME SINCE RENEWAL]

Less than 1 year 1 Go to Q2
2-3 years 2
4-6 years 3
7-10 years 4
Longer than 11 years 5
Can't remember 6

How did you/ the Badge holder initially find out about Blue Badges?

GP/ Doctor 1 Go to Q3
Family member 2
Internet 3
Other (please specify) 4
Can't remember 5

What is the reason you/ the Badge holder have been issued with a Blue Badge? [INTERVIEWER: PROBE FOR A FULL RESPONSE]

Go to Q4
Prefer not to say 2

Do you consider the current qualification criteria to be appropriate?

Yes 1 Go to Q6
No 2 Go to Q5
Not sure 3 Go to Q6

If no, how would you change the current criteria?

How and why the Blue Badge is used

Do you/ the Badge holder use the Blue Badge as the driver, the passenger or both? [SELECT ONE ONLY] NOTE TO INTERVIEWER: IF RESPONDENT IS PARENT OR CARER OF BLUE BADGE HOLDER, PLEASE CODE PASSENGER

Driver 1 Go to Q7
Passenger 2
Both 3

What type of travelling are you/ the Badge holder doing when using the Blue Badge? [MULTI]

FOR EACH TYPE OF TRAVELLING DONE WHEN USING THE BLUE BADGE, PLEASE ASK THE FOLLOWING, RECORDING RESPONSE IN THE GRID BELOW AND USING THE CODE FRAMES:

Thinking of when you travel for [INSERT TYPE OF TRAVEL], when do you mainly travel? Is this mainly during on a weekday, or weekends? SINGLE

And is there a particular time of day or times of day when you normally travel? MULTI

Where do you park using your Blue Badge when travelling for? MULTI

On average how many times do you use the Blue Badge in a week? SINGLE

On average, how long are you parking for? SINGLE

Q7 - Type of Travelling Q8 - Mainly travel Q9 - main times of travel per travel method Q10 - where parked Q11 - No of times used in last 2 weeks Q12 - Length of time parked for
Education 1 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Work 2 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Leisure 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Shopping 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Medical appointments 5 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Visiting friends and family 6 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Other (please specify) 7 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

FOR EACH TYPE OF TRAVEL, PLEASE ASK THE FOLLOWING. INSERT APPROPRIATE RESPONSE CODE FOR EACH QUESTION.

Code frame Q8 When do you normally travel? Q9 - main times of travel per travel method Q10 - where parked Q11 - no of times use Q12 - length of time parked
1 Weekdays Early morning (7am-9am) Yellow lines (single or double) None Up to 10 mins
2 Weekends Late morning (9am -12noon) On street parking metered bays Once 10-30 mins
3 No usual time of travel Early afternoon (12noon - 3pm) On street disabled persons' parking bays 2-3 times 30-60 mins
4 Late afternoon (3pm - 5pm) Off street disabled persons' parking bays (supermarkets, hospitals) 4-7 times 1-2 hours
5 Early evening (5pm - 7pm) Railway stations 8-14 times 2-3 hours
6 Evenings after 7pm Other (please specify) More than 14 times More than 3 hours
7 No main time of travel/ varies It varies

Do you/ the Badge holder have a free bus pass or concessionary travel pass?

Yes 1 Go to Q14
No 2
Not sure 3

Do you/ the Badge holder also use any of the following methods of travel?

How often, on average, would you say you/ the Badge holder use this method of transport? [ASK FOR EACH METHOD OF TRANSPORT USED]

Q14 - Methods used SELECT ALL THAT APPLY Q15 - Number of times method of transport used
More than 5 times per week Between 3 and 4 times per week Once or twice per week Every couple of weeks 2 to 3 times a month Less than once a month
Community Transport/ dial a bus [NB may also be known as Dial a Ride or Demand Responsive Scheme] 1 1 2 3 4 5 6
Local bus service 2 1 2 3 4 5 6
Taxi / Taxicard scheme 3 1 2 3 4 5 6
Rail 4 1 2 3 4 5 6
Do you use any other methods of travel? (If yes, please specify) 5 1 2 3 4 5 6
No other methods used 6

IF NO OTHER METHODS USED, GO TO Q16

The Value of the Blue Badge Scheme

What difference has the Blue Badge scheme made to you/ the Badge holder? [DO NOT READ OUT, CODE ALL THAT APPLY, PROBE FULLY]

I/we would not be able to leave home without it 1 Go to Q17
It gives me/us freedom to leave home when I/we want to 2
It allows me to take up employment 3
It results in financial savings 4
It allows me/us access to places I/we couldn't otherwise get to 5
It makes me/us feel safer when travelling 6
It allows me/us to get out of the car more easily 7
Other (please specify) 8

What aspects of having a Blue Badge are most important to you? I'm going to read out a list of things that may be important to you in having a Blue Badge. Can you tell me what is most important and then second most important to you in having a Blue Badge. If the most important aspect to you of having a Blue Badge is not in the list please just let me know and I can take a note of it. [READ OUT ALL BEFORE CODING REPLIES. SELECT ONE PER COLUMN - ROTATE LIST]

Most important 2nd most important
The comfort it allows 1 1 Go to Q18
Park for free/ financial benefits 2 2
Park closer to my destination 3 3
Saves time/ convenience 4 4
Peace of mind 5 5
Wider parking bay 6 6
Independence 7 7
Other (please specify) 8 8

Without the Blue Badge scheme, to what extent do you agree that you would do the following? For each statement please indicate whether you strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor disagree, disagree or strongly disagree. Without the Blue Badge scheme do you think you would.....

Strongly agree Agree Neither/ nor Disagree Strongly disagree
Make more frequent use of taxis 1 2 3 4 5
Use public transport more frequently 1 2 3 4 5
Rely more on friends/ family for a lift 1 2 3 4 5
Park in free/ cheapest parking spaces available 1 2 3 4 5
Pay to park in the most convenient parking space 1 2 3 4 5
Go out less often 1 2 3 4 5

Restrictions and Enforcements

Do you have or are you aware of the Blue Badge Users booklet?

Yes 1 Go to Q20
No 2

Do you think you have a good understanding of the rules and restrictions of using a Blue Badge?

Yes 1 Go to Q21
No 2
Don't know 3

Are the entitlements of the Blue Badge scheme appropriate?

Yes 1 Go to Q23
No 2 Go to Q22
Don't know 3 Go to Q23

What entitlements would you like to see given to Blue Badge holders?

Are there any places you avoid driving to or visiting because of restrictions with the scheme?

Yes (please specify) PROBE FULLY 1 Go to Q24
No 2

Have you experienced misuse of the Blue Badges/disabled parking spaces by non-disabled people?

Yes, regularly 1 Go to Q25
Yes, sometimes 2
Yes, but rarely 3
Yes, but only once 4
No, never 5 Go to Q26

Where have you seen this misuse of the Blue Badge or disabled parking spaces by people who are not disabled?

Supermarket car park 1 Go to Q26
On street parking bay 2
Hospital car park 3
Parking on yellow lines 4
Other (please specify) 5

How big a problem is this for Blue Badge holders?

A major problem 1 Go to Q27
A minor problem 2
Not a problem 3
Don't know, never experienced 4

To what extent do you agree the Blue Badge scheme is adequately enforced? Do you….

Strongly agree 1 Go to Q28
Agree 2
Neither/ nor 3
Disagree 4
Strongly disagree 5

Has anyone asked to borrow your/ the Badge holders Badge?

Yes 1 Go to Q29
No 2 Go to Q30

If yes, did you/ the Badge holder give it to them?

Yes 1 Go to Q30
No 2

About the Blue Badge Holder

[INTERVIEWER: READ OUT] This final section of the survey asks some factual questions about the Blue Badge holder. These will be used only for analysis purposes to understand the characteristics of Blue Badge holders.

Are you / the Badge holder?

Male 1 Go to Q31
Female 2

What age are you/ the Badge holder?

16 or under 1 Go to Q32
17-24 2
25-44 3
45-59 4
60-64 5
65-74 6
65-84 7
85 and over 8

How would you describe the Blue Badge holder's (you/ your child) ethnicity?

White Scottish 1 Go to Q33
White other British 2
White Irish 3
Gypsy/ traveller 4
Polish 5
Any other white background 6
Mixed or multiple ethnic background 7
Indian, Indian Scottish or Indian British 8
Pakistani, Pakistani Scottish or Pakistani British 9
Bangladeshi, Bangladeshi Scottish or Bangladeshi British 10
Chinese, Chinese Scottish or Chinese British 11
Any other Asian background 12
Caribbean, Caribbean Scottish or British 13
African, African Scottish or British 14
Any other black background 15
Arab, Arab Scottish or Arab British 16
Any other group (please write in below) 17

What is the Blue Badge holder's (you/ your child) employment status?

Full time employment (more than 35 hrs pw) 1 Go to Q34
Part time employment (16-34 hrs pw) 2
Part time employment (under 16 hrs pw) 3
Unemployed/Seeking Work 4
Unemployed/Not seeking work 5
Not working due to health condition 6
Looking after home/ family 7
Carer 8
Retired 9
In further/ higher education 10
School 11
Pre School 12
Other (please write in below) 13

What is your annual household income?

£5,000 or under 1 Go to Q35
£5,001-£10,000 2
£10,001-£20,000 3
£20,001-£30,000 4
£20,001-£40,000 5
£40,001-£50,000 6
£50,001-£60,000 7
Over £60,000 8
Prefer not to say 9

What is your/ the Badge holders postcode?

As part of this research, we will be speaking with Blue Badge holders directly to gather more in-depth feedback about their experiences of the Blue Badge Scheme. We will be organising a series of focus group discussions with Blue Badge holders. Would you be interested in taking part in a focus group discussion?

Yes 1 COMPLETE DETAILS BELOW
No 2 THANK AND CLOSE

(A focus group brings together between 6 and 8 people in a local venue for around an hour and a half to discuss similar topics to those we have covered today).

If yes, interviewer to collect contact details, (ensure confidentiality, details will be destroyed on completion of this research)

Name

Daytime contact telephone number

Email

Local Authority area

A researcher will be in touch in the next few weeks with further information about being a focus group participant.

[INTERVIEWER: CLOSE INTERVIEW BY READING OUT STATEMENT]

'Thank you very much for your help. Can I assure you once again that the information you have given will be treated as absolutely confidential and will only be used for the purposes of genuine market research.'