[BeWheeler2]

Hi All,

I drive a wheelchair van and have for many years. Is it just me or does everyone have a disabled placard now AND is everyone using the Van spaces? In order to shop I have to be at the grocery store prior to 8:30 or there are no van spots left. Most of the time they are taken immediately by compact cars with drivers who don't use mobility equipment. I can go to Costco and every Van spot is full with little cars and all that's left are regular disabled parking spots.

Is anyone else having this problem? Are there any solutions? Do you have any ideas?

I've given some talks around this area about disabled parking and no one realized that I actually NEED that spot! Somehow the information is not given to drivers with disabilities - I sure wish it was!

Would love to hear your ideas, I plan to contact the legislators around here and try to get something done, but not feeling very hopeful.

Bea

[mellowgator]

bea,

i live in the worse state for being disabled. in florida every one over the age of 55 has a plackard and i never get a van accessible spot. while visiting my mother in the hospital last night some one with a plackard took the ramp access. wtf.

apparently as long as the buisness follows the national guidelines common sense won't prevail. usually to park i take 2 spaces at an angle so no one can block me. parking is a sore spot with me as well and i'm sure most of us with disabilites deal with this.

mellowgator

[davjed]

I sometimes find the nearest non-accessible spots and park at an angle so no one can park next to me. Let them bitch......

[sh1wn]

It's the same way here, hell I had some guy park his motorcycle in the striped area for the lift, I thought about putting the ramp down, but the store called it out on the speakers and we made made fun of him as he moved it. I got some decals for the side window but haven't put them on yet. I have a powerchair, so we just park way out and I have two little cones that I put out, sucks in the rain.
Shawn

[The Black Sheep]

It's the same in NY, too. Everyone has a disability now.

I usually park in the farthest parking spot possible, where no one else does, not even AB, so I can't get blocked in. I have a small 2-door car, but the 2-doors are long, and when you open one, it goes out about 3 feet. I don't need as much room as a van, probably, and leave those spots for anyone who does need them. Then I race passed all the walking folks anyway.

On another note, how often do you see fat dudes parking in the expectant mothers parking spots?

[S&W Winger]

I'm with the take two spots and park at an angle group...today I had a new twist: went to an MD at a medical arts complex...only one or two disabled spots per building...did find one, but there was NO ROOM FOR THE RAMP TO DESCEND!! I sat there a moment deciding my next move, when the space next to mine became free! So I did the angle parking in both spaces, much to the dismay of a woman pulling in to the complex...so I let let the ramp down and watched as her anger visibly turned to understanding!

[BeWheeler2]

Wow, I hear y'all and know exactly what you mean. I've done the angle parking a few times but have had another "smaller" car angle in beside me - what is up with that? So, the question is what can we do about it? Is there anyone here who knows how to get the law changed? I realize we van drivers are probably a minority of the disabled BUT hey... we have a voice right? Perhaps we should write AARP and some of the other "older" groups and see if they can't at least get an "awareness" campaign going.

I contacted our Governor's committee on Disability but haven't heard back... but I'm not giving up yet!

I tend to seethe whenever I get blocked in or someone else is in a van spot - Oh.. and speaking of parking far away from the store - it scares the heck out of me to be power wheeling through the parking lot. I don't know about y'all but around here people tend to back up without looking. Do any of you have a bike horn or something - flag, anything to let them know you're out there? Just curious as I feel like I'm risking my life transversing the parking lot.

Thanks for all the input - not glad that it's a common problem BUT... glad to know y'all know what I mean!
Bea

[sh1wn]

I listen real carefully and watch for brake lights, I also try to stay as close to the middle of the lane so I have room to react. I used to ride a bike so I'm used to idot drivers.
Shawn

[airart1]

yeah, u got to watch out for them, they dont see us because were low to the ground, but i do the 2 spot thing if there isn't a spot.......doesn't bother me a bit.....i have had them squeeze in beside me though and i'm right in the middle, and i got 2 handicapped guys with a saying on the door that says do not park closer than 8 ft. so driver can get in and out......amazes me!

[dangerousdave]

Engineer a way of letting the ramp down in it's up position or half up position
Where it will gauge a car if it comes to close
But on a more positive note - why isn't your tail lift at the back

[gunsmokeak74]

I feel your pain i drive a full sized van, when i lived in Georgia it was pure hell trying to get a parking spot,i think Georgia gives disabled vet tags and placards to anyone that wants them, I also remeber finally getting a space at CVS and soon as i was about to let my lift out a car pulls in and parks in the diagnal lines, able body people only want the wheelchair parking spaces because the spaces are close to the front door, the same problem exists with public restrooms,they only want the wheelchair stall because it has more room, i wish there could be a national ad campaign teaching able bodied people the importance not to park in a wheelchair parking space

[BeWheeler2]

I think that's the key - a national ad campaign that explains why we need "van" spots and that parking to "just run in for a minute" is still as unlawful as parking in a disabled space and spending the day in the store! Of course I realize that we're dealing with a world of "entitlement" where some people think it's ok not to stop at stop signs/stop lights etc. Perhaps it's just another example of break the laws and apologize when you get caught? Sorry feeling a tad cynical this morning!

I did go to Joann's yesterday and parked on an angle and all was well - got a few dirty looks... but I can deal with those :O

Thanks for sharing everyone!
Bea

[Snakeye]

What gets me is when some kid in a VW bug, using his grandma's handicapped placard, parks in the "Van Accessable" spot located right next to the front door and I have to struggle unloading in a smaller stall...They don't enforce handicapped parking for doodle around here...People are so lazy and selfish nowadays...It's all about instant gratifacation and me, me, me....

[airart1]

snakeye, u hit the nail on the head......we're the same way here in TN., u get a placecard for a frickin ingrown toenail..then they use it forever.....

[Kodie]

Double parker here too! I've seen motorcycles parked in the striped area too..makes ya wanna go push it over. And the tiny cars that take 'em up piss me off too. Double parking has been my key to ALWAYS having a van accessible parking space!

[Enabled1]

Van Accessible Parking is a Big Stinking Lie!

Due to severe mobility impairment, I use a power wheelchair, and drive a van with a rear electronic lift (that seldom works), and a six-foot tri-fold ramp. These pieces of equipment assist me in getting out of the confines of my apartment. The greatest problem I face, is non-access to Van Accessible parking spaces. Anyone with a Handicapped license or placard, can park in a Van Accessible parking space! That mixed with selfish people who steal Handicapped parking, means that I'm shut-out! When forced to occupy and straddle two regular parking spaces so that I can go to doctor appointments, buy groceries, etc., I often return to find that someone has scraped paint off of my driver door. In the parking lot of my apartment complex, someone cracked my windshield and more recently, they have smeared "poop" on the side door of my van where the ramp is extended for loading. All acts of hatred, harassment, abuse, and discrimination.

In seeking support over the years, I found that there are thousands of blogs, forums, and websites for disabled victims to vent about people stealing Handicapped Parking spaces. Some of those resources have existed for a number of years, where one can post licenses and photographs of vehicles parked illegally; and some where "tickets" can be purchased to place under offender windshield wipers (I certainly am not physically able to do that!). Do these resources fix the problem? No. People who are disabled try to get police to respond and ticket violators. They also seek help from other agencies which are supposed to enforce ADA regulations. Also, out of desperation, they attempt to confront the offenders, because they really need that parking space that has just been stolen. Now an organization is formed to unite disability rights advocates for people who are disabled in the United States. We're building our numbers, and taking our complaint to Washington, D.C. Won't you join us? We are the American Alliance to End Handicapped Parking Abuse: https://sites.google.com/site/aaehpa/

[edlee]

Good luck with that. It's been my experience that the ones most often abusing the spots are those WITH the badges/blackards. How do you plan to sort out the ones who need them from those who ,, don't need them as bad?

My advice,,,, suck it up,,,, nobody likes a bitter cripple.

ed,, ( a somrtimes a bit negative cripple)

[ZEN12many]

Getting my van with a lift was probably my worst decision. Before, I had a regular van and would just open up the doors, let down my wheelchair with a rope tied to its back, then transfer to my wheelchair from the floor of the van. I didn't need "Van Accessible Parking".

But I was getting old and pulling my wheelchair up into the Van was getting harder. And scooting around the Van on my butt and flipping over onto my hands and knees to crawl up to the driver's seat and lifting myself up with my arms to get into the driver's seat - all that caused me to be less continent. So I got a Van with a lift and am now much more continent but now I need "Van Accessible Parking". [I think I would rather pee my pants].

[Enabled1]

Kodie, on 06 September 2010 - 05:09 PM, said:

Double parker here too! I've seen motorcycles parked in the striped area too..makes ya wanna go push it over. And the tiny cars that take 'em up piss me off too. Double parking has been my key to ALWAYS having a van accessible parking space!

Kodie, I know it's been over a year since your message, but I wonder if anything has changed for you in Van Accessible parking. Are you able now to find the spaces when you need them, or is it about the same as back when? I rarely can get a Van Accessible parking spot, and since 2005, I've had to double park in order to get a big enough space for offloading my wheelchair. Stupid people are defacing my van a lot in retalliation, both in Florida and in Indiana. Has any vandalism been done to your vehicle?

This post has been edited by Enabled1: 02 July 2011 - 03:22 AM

[Enabled1]

Hi Everyone: I keep coming back and reading your posts about your struggles with Handicapped parking, because you say the things I've also been saying for years now. I can't stand being abused by stupid, selfish people! In fact, I don't take abuse well at all period, coming from childhood abuse. It's made me a fighter; one with no tolerance for lies, manipulation, bullies. There are millions of people who are severely mobility impaired, who either drive or are driven to places outside of their homes. How on earth have their needs for parking been discounted for so long? I've taken the proper steps many times to get help from police, store managers, Civil Rights, apartment management, church officials, etc., wherever I go, and all they do is give me excuses, and usually refuse to talk to me period. I feel that everything is falling into place for me to help do something about Handicapped parking abuse, by finding people ready to admit that what's been done in the past has worked against us, because the system only pretends to accommodate us. We have to come out and make them count us! Clearly there weren't people who use wheelchairs on those committees when the ADA penned the Handicapped Parking regulations for Van Accessible spaces. People in wheelchairs would not allow the negligent action of ruling that cars can park in Van Accessible spaces. No way!

This post has been edited by Enabled1: 02 July 2011 - 06:55 AM

[KayDub]

BeWheeler2, on 01 September 2010 - 08:55 PM, said:

Hi All,

I drive a wheelchair van and have for many years. Is it just me or does everyone have a disabled placard now AND is everyone using the Van spaces? In order to shop I have to be at the grocery store prior to 8:30 or there are no van spots left. Most of the time they are taken immediately by compact cars with drivers who don't use mobility equipment. I can go to Costco and every Van spot is full with little cars and all that's left are regular disabled parking spots.

Is anyone else having this problem? Are there any solutions? Do you have any ideas?

I've given some talks around this area about disabled parking and no one realized that I actually NEED that spot! Somehow the information is not given to drivers with disabilities - I sure wish it was!

Would love to hear your ideas, I plan to contact the legislators around here and try to get something done, but not feeling very hopeful.

Bea

In Colorado it's super easy to get a placard. And I get just as annoyed as you when you need to find a spot. Though I'm lucky and don't need a van, my manual chair is foldable, I still need a spot with enough room for me to open the door as much as possible so I can transfer.

I can't tell you how many times people park in those spots and run off (one lady did it AT THE GYM yesterday, I glared at her getting into my chair and then she started "limping" and stopped after she looked away). It's people who are too lazy to walk and a lot of them just use their elderly relative's placard. My fiance says not to worry about it but I do! Handicap spots are near ramps too! Nothing makes me more upset when I have to park across the way to have enough room to get out of my chair and then wheel myself further because it's all curb just because some suburban housewife in her SUV just couldn't wait to get Suzy from swim lessons or whatever it is they do. Today I got caught in a rainstorm trying to get out of my car and wheel across the building just to get to the ramp because people parked in handicapped spots with no placard.

I also remember in grade 8. It was long before I was sick but my best friend has severe MD. Her mom drove the van with us in it to school and she ended up missing the first half of the day while some guy finally came outside and hopped into his truck and drove off. Grrrrrrrrrrrr.

I think having special van/chair ONLY spots would be good and they'd require a different placard and would be entirely different spots. Because some people will use all the van handicap spots too leaving the regular sized ones open. Of course people would take advantage of them too. Yesterday all the handicap spots were full at the gym and I was the only wheelchair user in the whole place. I think too many AB view handicap spots as "just being closer", not providing other accessibility. I think an awareness campaign of some sort would help with that. I don't know much about disability rights activism but I think this is a good case. But at the end of the days jerks will be jerks.

[PhyliisT]

I think most people think that a handicap parking spot is a handicap parking spot, that there is no difference. I think they need to make handicap signs that say 'wheelchair vans only' or something similar. I also think that they need to educate those who get handicap placards about the different types of handicap parking spaces and how there are ones for wheelchair accessible vehicles that they shouldn't park in unless they have a wheelchair accessible vehicle. I think most owners of a handicap placard are probably senior citizens who are capable of walking from a few parking spots down from a handicap van spot.

[allis53ca]

we have "van" spots here, always a car in em

[madhouse73]

allis53ca, on 26 July 2011 - 10:48 PM, said:

we have "van" spots here, always a car in em

Ah in uk you just get disabled parking and is akward as van is bigger than the space often enough .But then saying that sometime s use a disabled space when my mum has go my daughter out and have come in for abuse about using the space without a wheelchair and have been known to point out that while she has no obvious issues as in wheelchair .But her lung condtion can leave her very short of breath and if they go on have been known to yell well give it another 10-15 years and she be dead so they can have the space then( obvipusly not in her hearing , but she does know what it means to her ) and admit at that point they shut up and slink away

[norma]

GGgrrr...could go on and on with this topic....what about the walking folks that park at the front door spots and then walk all around Walmart or Costco.....but can't walk more than 20 feet to park!!!!

[Dorothy]

I am a single mother of a profoundly disabled and mentally retarded 10 yr old little girl. (disabled since birth). Anyway, we have encountered individuals parking on the striped line next to my van. Once I was with a friend and he backed up the van so we could let down the ramp. My most recent experience, it was just me and my daughter. I had no way to get my daughter in the van. I couldn't leave her in parking lot while I went and backed up my van. So I went in the store to request assistance. The customer service clerk was worthless. She wouldn't call security, she just acted lost. After about 20 minutes, the driver moved her car but I couldn't get back out there fast enough to approach her. UGH.
Dorothy

[Enabled1]

Dorothy, on 03 August 2011 - 12:15 AM, said:

I am a single mother of a profoundly disabled and mentally retarded 10 yr old little girl. (disabled since birth). Anyway, we have encountered individuals parking on the striped line next to my van. Once I was with a friend and he backed up the van so we could let down the ramp. My most recent experience, it was just me and my daughter. I had no way to get my daughter in the van. I couldn't leave her in parking lot while I went and backed up my van. So I went in the store to request assistance. The customer service clerk was worthless. She wouldn't call security, she just acted lost. After about 20 minutes, the driver moved her car but I couldn't get back out there fast enough to approach her. UGH.
Dorothy

Hi Dorothy: My heart goes out to you because what you experienced is awful. You have so much more than "regular drivers" to deal with; and to find that some idiot has blocked your access to load your daughter into your van is far beyond being inconvenienced. Your situation helps prove that the ADA regulations fail to accommodate persons who must offload wheelchairs to/from vans. We are more vulnerable than the other drivers, due to the greater challenges we face! We must have adequate space, and focus our attention on operating mechanical equipment in order to transfer our wheelchairs in and out of our vans safely. We should be not only accommodated--we should be protected! You had to return to the store for help, and got no relief, just like many of us. You had to wait for the other driver to return and move her car, again, a typical situation for many of us! At home just yesterday, August 7, 2011, I had to back out of where I had straddled two parking spaces, into the parking lot, in order to extend my six-foot ramp from my van, and load my wheelchair. Though a sign is on the window, warning drivers to leave 8 feet clearance for wheelchair loading equipment, a car had squeezed in and blocked my access. Why was I there? Because cars were occupying the two so-called "Van Accessible" parking spaces. Now that's just messed-up!