BBNav: A GPS for Finding Disability Parking Spaces
Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2009/02/11 - Updated: 2025/03/25
Publication Type: Product Release, Update
Category Topic: Adaptive Driving Controls - Academic Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This GPS navigation system is designed to assist drivers and passengers with disabilities in finding parking spaces. The BBNav system incorporates a number of features including Blue Badge and Red Route on-street parking bays, over 60,000 Points of Interest, and NAVTEQ street level mapping covering the UK and Republic of Ireland. While currently limited to the UK, the BBNav system is expected to expand to other countries in the future - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Navevo, a European technology company, has developed a BBNav GPS navigation system designed specifically to help drivers and passengers with disabilities find parking spaces. The BB in BBNav means "Blue Badge", which is a Disabled Person's Parking Permit in the U.K. The parking permit is displayed upon parking a vehicle carrying a person whose mobility would be otherwise significantly impaired by age, illness, disability or infirmity. In the U.K., a "Blue Badge" allows partial or total exemption from charges or penalties associated with the parking of a motor vehicle used by a badge-holder, and shows entitlement to use of dedicated parking bays and off-street parking.
Main Content
The BBNav device looks like, and functions like a GPS or vehicle satellite navigation system. The BBNav has a 4.3 inch touchscreen, NAVTEQ maps of the UK and Ireland, and hands free Bluetooth calling capabilities.
The BBNav can save time searching for a car parking space as you can easily search for a car parking bay and navigate directly to it.
The BBNav also specifies which type of Blue Badge parking is available:
- Grade 1 parking is suitable for people with wheelchairs that are traveling independently.
- Grade 2 is for people with wheelchairs traveling with assistance.
- Grade 3 is for people with wheelchairs that can walk for limited distances.
BBNav's mapping has been color coded to show the rules that the local councils apply for Blue Badge holders, so users can easily identify whether they can park legally on yellow lines, pay & display or in residents' bays.
Engadget says, "the system comes pre-loaded with information on more than 10,000 'Blue Badge' parking spaces and 3,500 disabled accessible car parks in 150 cities and towns in the UK, and a database of more than 20,000 points of interest that are easily accessible for people with disabilities."
Points of interest range from accessible accommodation to public toilets (including Radar toilets), as well as over 300 beaches with disabled access.
Features of the BBNav GPS System Include:
- Safety Camera Alerts.
- 7 digit postcode routing.
- Disabled-accessible car parks.
- Local council Blue Badge parking concessions.
- Blue Badge and Red Route on-street parking bays.
- Over 60,000 Points of Interest (20,000+ Blue Badge)
- NAVTEQ street level mapping covering UK and Republic of Ireland.
- BBNav also provides route information for converted vehicles about any height restrictions above 2.2 meters.
NOTE: The BBNav system is currently only available in the U.K., however it is sure to make an appearance in the U.S. and other countries in the future.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The BBNav GPS system exemplifies how tailored technology can significantly enhance mobility and independence for individuals with disabilities. By addressing specific challenges faced by disabled drivers, such as locating accessible parking and facilities, BBNav not only simplifies travel but also promotes inclusivity. As we advance, it's imperative that such innovations continue to evolve and expand globally, ensuring that accessibility is not confined by geography - Disabled World (DW).
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.