12 replies to this topic

[Apparelyzed]

We went shopping yesterday to Meadowhall in Sheffield, it's a huge shopping mall.

It was absolutely packed!, but I had a great time pushing through the crowds, it was like Moses parting the Dead Sea!

I now know of course that when visiting places like this, that if you sit waiting for someone to get out of your way, you can be sitting there all day!. Now, I pick a line to push along, and god help anyone who gets in my way, I don't even slow down anymore, but it does help if you have a slightly crazed look on your face.

I only ran over 3 people, not bad for a days shopping. It's amazing how many people walk in one direction, whilst looking in another, I don't think half of them have heard of "spatial awareness" or "peripheral vision".

Anyone else run anyone over today?

Simon.

[Joed]

LOL....

I was just talking about this yesterday, after a short shopping excursion. I told my husband that the next time I'm just going to start running up their backsides.

My biggest irk is when someone will be exiting an aisle, they see you coming, and I guess they think you're going to slow them down (although the fact is, most electric carts can out-pace a pedestrian anyday), so they jump right in front of you, causing you to have to brake to avoid running them over.

And you're right, Simon, it's like you've said....if you politely wait, everyone is making a rush to get in front of the 'slow mover', or they simply don't notice at all. I've pointed this out to my sister, and she says that she now notices these kinds of behaviors all the time. It's as if even the most common of courtesies are not extended to those in wheelchairs or electric shopping carts.

I say, let's start peeling their shoes off!

[Bookjunky]

I have always been appalled by the large number of idiots who cannot walk down the sidewalk in a straight line. They zigzag all over the place. The go right in front of you and sometimes even broadside you.

[Lucky]

I too was in Meadow Hall that day, on my crutches. And although some people are really nice, there are some ignorant gits about. I felt like smashing some people with my "sticks"
Good day to you all.

[icarus_melt76]

Was in Toronto a couple summers ago. At a corner, just crazy with people, I couldn't get around a woman a few years my elder. She was looking everywhere, start 'n stop in all directions, so I just turned off my e/chair and enjoyed the sun for a minute and persued my people watching.

Don't you know that same women bumped my shoulder, bounced along my arm then fell right in my lap. Could have been funny or maybe interesting, but she went APE....called me all kinds of names. Drew a small crowd. When her accusations calmed down, someone noticed my chair was 'off'. Once that was pointed out there were laughs, whispers any many grins. She quickly found a direction and hurried off. Turned my chair back on and headed off.....enjoying the sun and the sights.

One last quicky...was downtown shortly after getting my van. Had to parallel park. When in my chair and ready to go, I opened the side door for the lift...VVVVOOOOOOOM!!! A guy went by on the sidewalk about 100 mph on inline skates and missed that 'fast-opening' door by a layer of skin at most. Was almost like a cartoon with a big human impression in my door (ala 'RoadRunner')!!

[benok]

Quote

ran over 3 people, not bad for a days shopping

Quote

let's start peeling their shoes off!

Quote

large number of idiots

Quote

some ignorant gits

Same problem here when I go to the malls or in public
places, people are just amazed looking at us and forget
to move over and give way!

(I try to ran over beautiful girls. -
and when they get bumped, they are the one's who apologize
once they see that the person who bumped them
is a guy in a chair)

[Jilly]

I went shopping today and I had trouble getting around! And I have two good legs!! There were a couple of mums with babies in strollers who were looking pretty annoyed too. People just would NOT move!

I saw one guy in a wheelchair who was sailing along quite nicely...he must use your methods Simon!

[Adams]

Far too often people people turn around or step backwards without even looking. I've learned to watch out for their mistakes by holding my arm out so when they turn around they move into my arm instead of my lap. Of course if it's a hot girl, than it's okay

[Captain Pike]

I must be pretty numb -- never thought of the hot girl aspect of bumper shopping -- off balance is... almost in my lap, depending on the center of gravity. For me, it seems like there's a critical mass aspect to it all. When there aren't that many people out shopping, then they give me this ridiculously wide margin -- like 10 or 15 feet in all directions around my chair. But once the bustle factor reaches a certain density, then I become invisible, and they "didn't see me there". Sometimes what seems like an apology is really an insult, they ought to say "oh, sorry, you're so cumbersome".

I don't, out and out hit people too often. And I am mindful of the toes -- I'm in a power chair that weighs 351 pounds, so with my 200 pounds additional, the psi factor could be pretty painful. But, as others have said, what I noticed most is people don't seem to watch much where they're going. I can be stopped at the end of an aisle, and someone will plunge headlong into me, reading how much fat is in a can of soup.

It's funny how sometimes it seems like people start to get mad when they bump me, until they realize I'm in a wheelchair. And then they apologize, often gently slapping me on the knee for emphasis. I look back at them after that, as if to say "ah, can't feel that".

[Avocado Baby]

 Joed, on Oct 29 2004, 07:33 PM, said:

My biggest irk is when someone will be exiting an aisle, they see you coming, and I guess they think you're going to slow them down (although the fact is, most electric carts can out-pace a pedestrian anyday), so they jump right in front of you, causing you to have to brake to avoid running them over.

Yeah...why do people do that?! It's like 'you weren't in my way before but you just moved into my way...stupid!!'

I have been known to roll down hills in the shopping centre shouting 'Yaaaaay human skittles!' quite a few times!
People do just walk right into you cos they either aren't looking below them or they're looking behind them. I've also got very good at seeing it coming and sticking my arm to stop them falling on me. It never is a hot guy that falls on me...the only time I ended up with someone on my lap was an old lady at a German Christmas Market. She was very apologetic but I just thought the whole thing was quite funny!

[juls]

I ALWAYS manage to take out a few ankles while shopping, not on purpose of course...as it does look quite painful
I normally get taken out by womens handbags....they never say sorry, just turn around and give me a dirty look!
It doesn't matter if you are in a wheelchair or not....it seems people generally just don't look where they're going

Edited by juls, 21 December 2006 - 01:56 AM.

[rkzenrage]

Going tomorrow.
I have a bike flag I'm putting on, hoping it will help, but I'm pretty sure it will not.
Being in a power-chair, as long as they miss my legs, I can just let them hit me... they always seem so surprised.
I, also, put a bike horn on the chair... they about jump out of their skin when I use it. I only do after they ignore me a few times. They cannot ignore the horn. I have had people drop their bags.

Edited by rkzenrage, 21 December 2006 - 08:41 AM.

[Jilly]

 rkzenrage, on Dec 21 2006, 07:41 AM, said:

I, also, put a bike horn on the chair... they about jump out of their skin when I use it. I only do after they ignore me a few times. They cannot ignore the horn. I have had people drop their bags.

I got the giggles when I read this. I can just picture it!

What a good idea!