Handicap Parking Rant

MitchellC wrote: I park in the back anyways and don't sweat the little things.

I agree....very wise advice

In reply to bravenrace:

You don't know me, don't make assumptions. And that is my point in the first place: if you have some debilitating pain that makes it hard for you to walk a long distance, what happens when you have to park way out back because people who truly have no reason to, are parked up front?

I have never said anything to anyone parked in a handicapped spot simply because you just never know. But we have all seen the obvious offenders and I think the system should be improved to protect those who truly need it. And how about a spot up front, next to the Expectant Mom and Employee of the Month spots, labelled "For regular people who have jobs and support the welfare cheats with handicapped permits"

pinchvalve wrote: In reply to bravenrace: You don't know me, don't make assumptions. And that is my point in the first place: if you have some debilitating pain that makes it hard for you to walk a long distance, what happens when you have to park way out back because people who truly have no reason to, are parked up front? I have never said anything to anyone parked in a handicapped spot simply because you just never know. But we have all seen the obvious offenders and I think the system should be improved to protect those who truly need it. And how about a spot up front, next to the Expectant Mom and Employee of the Month spots, labelled "For regular people who have jobs and support the welfare cheats with handicapped permits"

I'm not making assumptions, I based my response on what you said.

"OK, this might make me unpopular, but WTF is up with temporary handicapped parking permits?"

Handicap permits, whether temporary or permanent, are issued by a doctor. At least in Ohio, they are issued when a person cannot comfortably walk 200 feet. For the person with the disability, temporary or permanent makes no difference, as at the time they are using it they need it.

"I stopped at Target today, and had to walk for half a mile across empty handicapped spaces, freezing my dang butt off. Don't I pay the same prices at Target? Don't I deserve at least one space near the front door?"

No you don't.

"And it would be fine if these spaces were ever filled with actual handicapped people, but they aren't. "

The number of HC parking spaces is dictated by the state, not the store. It's based on the overall size of the parking lot. You may think there are too many HC spaces, but at least in Ohio there are usually not enough. I get one about 60% of the time.

"One or two spaces for wheelchair vans seems to be plenty."

Really? It sounds like you are saying I need to be in a wheelchair to use a HC spot? Are you starting to understand why I made the post I did. Again, no assumptions here, I just read your post.

" The rest are filled up with fat, lazy, chain-smoking rednecks (no offense to any fat, lazy, chain-smoking rednecks on the board) who have a 6-month permit, issued 4 years ago, for bunion surgery or temporary gout or a colonoscopy or whatever. "

That's pure bullE36 M3, and massively stereotyping. Rednecks can't have health issues? Hell, they probably are more likely to have more heath issues if anything.

Yes, I took offense to your post. That's because I'm pretty sure that if you saw me walking from my car parked in a handicap spot that you would think I don't need it, because I don't always look like I do. You say I don't know you and shouldn't assume anything. Well friend, you don't know me or any of these people that you accuse of abusing the HC spots, so you shouldn't make assumptions. What's worse, is that you are clearly implying that there should be less handicap spots than there are so you can park closer. I only hope that someday you feel even half the pain I have all the time.

Datsun1500 wrote: Am I the only one that noticed the rant was about people abusing the TEMPORARY permits and not a judgment on people that need them?

Why does that matter? Pain is pain. It makes no difference if it's going to go away next week or never.

Why do they have them outside a rock climbing gym? That just seems like a honeypot for insurance adjusters to take photographs.

Zomby woof wrote: I hate those spots reserved for customers with child/newborns etc. I park in them. I have children. They're 22, and 24, but they're still my children.

I park in them, and I dont have children. SWMBO says I act like a child so that has to count for something.

I have a handicap permit and I use it a lot, but I too am dismayed at the fact that some stores take up a huge block of parking spaces right at the door rather than spread them out.

Target is the worst offender. They could put the handicap spaces at the end of 4-5 rows which would leave spaces closer to the door for everyone. Instead they take a long block that puts handicapped people much further from the store than most. Target puts in more handicapped spaces than the law requires and does it in a way that a non handicapped person can't get near the door.

Target is also worse than even Wally world when it comes to motorized scooters for fatties. Everytime I see someone on them I want to scream at them "Riding around is only making your problem worse. Get up and walk!"

A friend actually walked up to one lady and laid his hand on her forehead like one of those old time Evangelists and in his best imitation said "HEALED! Now get up and walk" and then he walked away. 2 people clapped.

Disneyworld is next to impossible to navigate for the scooters and strollers. And the scooters hurt when they run over your toes.

My FIL was handicapped (passed away). We went to a Mall once, he rolls up behind a row of cars parked in handicapped spots; none of which had proper tags.

"Get out."

I did. Then he parked his hugass Oldsmobile station wagon across the back of three and said "Lets go shopping."

carguy123 wrote: Target is also worse than even Wally world when it comes to motorized scooters for fatties. And the scooters hurt when they run over your toes.

If somebody ran over my toes with one of those "Pork-chop trolleys" it would challenge every fiber of my sunny disposition....

In reply to 914Driver:

Sounds like your FIL was a proper rascal ! (oh, no pun intended...)

Some of these people should have special "permits" that permit them to only park in the far back corners of the lots.

A handicapped parking sign does not signify that this spot is for handicapped people. It is actually in fact a warning, that the spot belongs to Chuck Norris and that you will be handicapped if you park there.

On a serious note now, all I'll say is that I'm thankful I don't have a physical condition or I'm not old yet to have to use handicap. I'll gladly park in the back.

I too like the outer regions of the lot, trying to prevent my car from becoming a shopping cart magnet. I will gladly leave all those spots up front by the doors to the people on their mobile phones, drinking their Frappe-Latte-da's waiting for 2 minutes to get a spot close "Because I'm in a hurry !!"

Waste of skin if you ask me...

I'll worry about who is parking in the handicapped spots if I ever have to park in them myself.

When my wife was buyouts with baby we parked in the expectant mothers Pots, but only when she was with me did I park there. I've only seem them at stores that cater to parents.
I, for one won't worry about folks parking in them when it doesnt look like they need them because life is too short.

Drewsifer wrote: I hate the "Fuel Efficient" parking spots. I park the Miata in them all the time. However handicapped spots? I full respect that people do require them, and the just because I can't see what makes them handicapped doesn't mean they aren't. But when I see an obese person get one, I get a little upset. My brother lost 200+ lbs on his own. Lose some weight, let people who really need those spots use them.

My car is more fuel efficient than a Prius, and Jeremy Clarkson proved it. (Ok, so I don't have an m3, but you bet your ass i'd get better mpg's loping my ms3 around gingerman chasing a prius doing 10/10ths). Not to mention, fuel efficiency is relative. I make more power per gallon of fuel than a prius does, which in my world, is more efficient. So I still win.

I always park in handicap parking spots. But there are a few rules; there has to be more than 1 spot at the given store, and there has to be one spot left empty if I use one. In all honesty, they are used so rarely it is ridiculous you have to have more than 1 for any store.

I know a person who has two deaf parents, who have and use their HC placard. Even if they go to the rock-climbing place. Parking lots are very dangerous for deaf people.

My FIL has a placard and deserves it. If I'm driving him somewhere, I'll drop him at the door, then park in a marked spot. I don't know if he'll want to walk to the car or not (or maybe he'll need to, for some reason), but I'd rather use that space for him-he has very bad back muscle issues that have him bent over about 70 degrees at the waist.

I try not to judge others without knowing their situation. The OP shouldn't either.

I have been yelled at for NOT parking in a handicapped spot when driving my wife's car (bad knee, permanent plate). Seems the other person wants "my" parking spot, and is offended that I don't just park in the "proper" space for the car.

Wife has a small card that she carries in her wallet and must produce to the police if requested when parking in the aforementined spaces.

As a father of a boy in a wheelchair I have more than my share of handicap parking space rants. We have a full size van with a wheelchair lift that deploys from the side so we need to park in one of the 'van accesible' spaces or we won't have enough room to get the lift out. Turns out there are a lot of folks who think those blue hash marks are where they are supposed to park. We frequently have someone park i them and when we return to the van cannot get the lift out. The other issue I have is that a store that has say 4 handicap parking spots, one of which will be 'van accesssible' but they always seem to put the van spot as the first one closest to the store. That means that that spot is always taken by one of the people with no outward disability. They essentially take all four spots as far as I'm concerned and we have to park our van out in the hinterlands and take up 2 spots. We keep a cone the block off enbough room when we do that.

If anyone is ever designing a parking lot, please put the larger 'van accessible' handicap spot(s) farther away than the regular handicap parking spots. Not many people driving around tha need that extra space, but when you need it, you need it.

Speaking of handicapped placards and plates, here's a funny one. When we moved to Alabama they wouldn't issue me a handicapped plate because I am not handicapped and the van is in my name. I explained that my son is wheelchair bound and is the handicapped one, but they looked at me like I had a third eye and said no plate because it is not his vehicle. Didn't matter that he was 12 or 13 at the time and will never drive or own a vehicle of his own. It was a lot harder than it should've been and resulted in my wife in tears.

It worked out in the end, but it was irritating to say the least.

I will gladly trade anyone their two good feet for my placard. I feel a little guilty sometimes because my injuries were self induced (motocross accidents), but I will take any benefit I can for having two destroyed feet. And yes, my limp is only noticeable sometimes, so I am sure plenty of people I think I'm a healthy bastard.

If you have a problem, call the cops. The owner of the placards have to carry proper paperwork with them. So if some douchebag is using somebody else's placard they'll get busted.

In reply to Cone_Junky:

Exactly. Interesting how some people that have no disablilities are so comfortable judging those that do.

In reply to bravenrace:

So do you want a scarlet letter or to be treated like a normal human being?

The available guidelines to getting a placard/plate are far too lax.