Comments on: Parking Unnecessarily in Wheelchair Spaces is Bad Karma

By: Karen Putz / DeafMom

Karen Putz / DeafMom — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:28:10 +0000

Margalit,

My parents have a placard– my Dad has some days where he can walk well and other days when he can’t. My mom has a heart condition. So I never question a placard.

But if someone is parking in a space without a placard– then that’s a whole different ballgame.

By: Glenda

Glenda — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:43:21 +0000

Margalit, thanks for sharing your frustrations with parking and for reminding people that not all disabilities are visible.

By: margalit

margalit — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:59:09 +0000

Just because you can’t SEE a handicap doesn’t mean there isn’t one. I do have a handicap placard (legal) and often when I park in a handicap space people challenge my right to park there, even with my placard. I’ve had so many people say “you don’t LOOK handicapped” or “what is your handicap?” like it’s any of their business. If someone has a placard, and the photo on the placard is of them, believe that they are handicapped. Don’t ASSume that you know more than the handicapped person.

FWIW, I have congestive heart failure and can’t walk more than about 50′ without getting faint and dizzy. I’m FINE sitting down, but walking is very tough for me. I look like any regular person, but I’m not. I’m tired of being challenged, too.

By: Glenda

Glenda — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:07:53 +0000

Sounds like fun, Karen, in a sadistic sort of way!

I know of one woman who would let the air out of tire on car without a placard and leave a note on the windshield, “Now you ARE disabled.” Not that I’m (officially) condoning such behaviour!

By: Karen Putz / DeafMom

Karen Putz / DeafMom — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 02:37:59 +0000

Way back in my CIL days, I used to ride around town with my co-worker looking for people in those spots with no placard. We towed quite a few cars one summer and a few people learned to leave those spots free.

By: Glenda

Glenda — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 04:06:58 +0000

Mary, yes, it is frustrating when other drivers park in wheelchair spaces or don’t leave enough room to get the lift out – while they jump out of their sports car for a six pack!

However…some mobility impairments, such as heart conditions or arthritis, are not obvious, yet they may have a parking permit and be eligible to park in those spaces, legally.

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:26:23 +0000

Glenda, this is one of my pet peeves – my cousin is in a wheelchair, and when I travel with her I am amazed at the number of folks who ignore the signs, or park so close that she can’t activate her ramp. Oftentimes she is forced to unload in the road, then move the van into the spot (she can walk for very limited distances in a pinch)

In my more rambunctious days, I would walk by someone obviously with no physical disability who was parked in handicapped, and wonder aloud (loud enough for them to hear) — Well, no physical impairment – they must be mentally impaired! THAT would get a few hard stares – and I’d stare right back!