36 replies to this topic

[Millard]

I just posted this on another forum but thought maybe it would be enjoyed here also...

I thought people here would like this.

A friend of mine, Kevin, with Spina Bifida came out of a convenience store and saw a large, burly guy parking in a Handicap Parking space. He confronted the guy and advised him he was depriving someone of a parking space that they may need. The guy grabbed the sign and folded it in half and said, "Ain't Handicapped Parking no mo'!"

Kevin called the Police and they arrested the guy for criminal damage and parking in a handicapped parking space.

Congratulations to Kevin!

[edlee]

The truly remarkable part of this is that the guy stuck around long enough to get himself arrestted. As Forest's mom used to say,, " stupid is as stupid does".
ed

[DannyR]

Run Forest Run!!!!
Where I live they probably would have arrested the guy who called them. I see people in them all the time and they don't get tickets.

[Tetracyclone]

The big guy must be trying out for a TV show. Hilarious.

[tyvin]

So my son and I go to the movies the other night and lo and behold all the companion seats are full (no wheelchairs in sight) so I look and there is this young couple, very healthy sitting on the end one where a wheelchair is suppose to go. I wheel over there and I look at the chick who looks at me with the snottiest attitude and I say these seats are for disabled people. She proceeds to tell me that the chairs are actually for the companions. Daaaaaaaaaaaa.........uh where is your handicapped friend that your are accompanying I say and she looks at me and before she could get it out the boyfriend looks at me and says so what do you need a seat?

I say yes I do and please vacate 1 seat for my companion. They moved but the attitude; when they saw me and my son they should have got up but no; they thought I would wait or something I don't know. It was ridiculous.

Then the next day my son and I are in this well known vegan store/restaurant and there's this table at the end of the salad bar that says "for our disabled customers only"..........all right. So I proceed to clear the table; it had a few items on it that I thought the store had just put on it. Anyway lo and behold as we are eating this older lady comes over and says that it's her table. Oh really; I say so what is your disability. She replies that she has trouble getting up and down her stairs at home.

I was going to give her the table on the grounds that she was mentally disabled but I invited her to sit with us. She did and we all had a good time. I find people in handicap places all the time but they always give it up as I always call em on it in a civil manner.

[dangerousdave]

The point is Tyvin - you shouldnt have to
For people to consider themselves disabled is no differant to being able bodied, and thier action is condesending and disgusting
To have a bad back or such is an annoyance, not a permenant, never better, no hope, disability
Its like shopkeepers having a disabled loo and using it as a stock cuboard, the famous just a minute parking bay, the pushchair in a wheelie spot on the bus or train
When will ab's realise we are around, and we never know when we'll be around
Trouble is - we are the educators - so don't be afraid of confrontation

[edlee]

On the other hand,,,, if there is only one truly disabled user in any given week,,,, why shouldn't someone else get the use of these tables,, bus spaces,,, or anywhere else as long as they are willing ( and hopefully, pleasant) to move. Why should these things be empty,, just in the hope that one of us should show up?

Now I am not talking about parking spaces,, (unless the driver stays with the vehicle) I do tend to get a little crabby about that,, even tho all of the problems I have personally encountered have been with other disabled drivers parking illegally.

Just seems wasteful to me, is what I'm saying.
ed

[dangerousdave]

On the other hand,,,, if there is only one truly disabled user in any given week,,,, why shouldn't someone else get the use of these tables,, bus spaces,,, or anywhere else as long as they are willing ( and hopefully, pleasant) to move. Why should these things be empty,, just in the hope that one of us should show up?

It would be OK if it were to happen, I personaly have had many arguments with buggie users who will not do that
I also see no need for special seating ares in a eatery so long as staff are prepared for our arrival and needs, which in my case is a tray so i can get my selection to a table
Another point being that other customers must be prepared to make room as I wheel by as i'm 3 feet wide, not 6 inches, something that only happens occasionaly in this unfair country of ours
In USA, France, Spain - I have never had to ask someone to move

[Wheelsonfire]

There have been times when I have been verbally abuse for being parked in a disabled parking spot.
Twice in the same spot on different days.
One woman just said "oh, you look very disabled" said in a sarcastic way and just walked off.
Another dude nearly pulled me out of the car because I was laughing me ass off at him while he was reading the riot act.
I left him finish and then pointed to me chariot in the back seat.

Print up some "stupidity is not a disability, so park elsewhere" stickered prints and just bang one on the driver side window of the car.
The dude who ripped up the sign, a quick punch to the side of the knee dislocating his knee cap and from there ya can practice doing bunny hops in the chair on his ass...

[jenny407]

I find all that kind of behaviour of people quite shocking and disgusting. I don't see a point in people being total idiots - but it happens. It seems to me it doesn't happen so much over here - my friend doesn't actually complain much, parking spaces are usually left to the people they are for. And I think most people get up without problems when they should.

Is that perhaps a plus side of that terrible tendency in Germans to follow the rules? This pedantic attitude does get on our own nerves, but perhaps it has its advantages.

Seems there are more problems here with public transport (buses) - too cramped.

WOF: hm. But then she probably meant it. Guess it is a compliment of sorts - but still just plain stupid.

[dangerousdave]

Thankfully all new buses in europe have to be designed with wheelies in mind, so things will be getting better

[jenny407]

dangerousdave, on 01 December 2010 - 02:52 PM, said:

Thankfully all new buses in europe have to be designed with wheelies in mind, so things will be getting better

I meant something else. While my colleague usually goes by car, TB on here mentioned that - whereas all / most (?) German buses are designed well enough - lots of young mothers occupy those spaces with their pushcars. And aren't really willing to leave. I don't know myself. I rarely take any buses these days.

Not design, dave - the human factor, as so often.

[dangerousdave]

I do wish we would go back to the good old days when you couldn't take a unfolded push chair on a bus

[LeahC]

Wheelsonfire, on 28 November 2010 - 04:27 PM, said:

There have been times when I have been verbally abuse for being parked in a disabled parking spot.
Twice in the same spot on different days.
One woman just said "oh, you look very disabled" said in a sarcastic way and just walked off.

That gets me, I always see people looking at me (usually old farts) when I park disabled and I can tell they think 'she doesn't look disabled'. How exactly does one look disabled? They look away quickly when they see me getting the wheelchair out but that's not the point.

[Wheelsonfire]

Very true Leah, I often thought of doing the whole downs thing at times when people pass so it gives the whole "disabled" image, then again, they might want to come over and pat me on the head and tell me I'm a good boy for driving all by myself(If she's good looking I won't mind or even what head she pats)......

[Soryfam]

Wheelsonfire, on 01 December 2010 - 05:12 PM, said:

Very true Leah, I often thought of doing the whole downs thing at times when people pass so it gives the whole "disabled" image, then again, they might want to come over and pat me on the head and tell me I'm a good boy for driving all by myself(If she's good looking I won't mind or even what head she pats)......

LOL. Woofy, you make me laugh every day. Thanks!

Sandy

[Mern]

Ahh the driving space thing really gets to me...It seems that staff see them as staff parking in some places. But it frustrates me how easy it seems to be to get a blue badge. I went to the cinema the other day and parked in one of the disabled spaces, then another car comes and parks beside me. A girl puts up her badge, opens the door, then walks to the back to get out a crutch then walks on the the cinema. Clearly no need for a larger space!

At college aswell there are only a few disabled spaces and only two of them are wide spaces. They are ALWAYS taken up by the rear access vehicles which don't need them grrrrr.

Buses are generally ok...apart from the one time the bus driver refused point blank to ask a woman with a pram to move. My dad loves writing letters of complaint so he was all over that one, reminding them of the sign on the bus saying 'there is room here for one buggy unfolded as long as a person in a wheelchair does not require this space'. We've found that addin his BBC email address at the top tends to encourage an apology ;)

oh dear sorry about the rant :/

[1positivethinker]

I took a 2 day trip to Tennessee, just got home last night.....the parking situation down there is RIDICULOUS! 3 times I had to park elsewhere because all the h/c spaces were taken...which a lot of times, if the lot is mostly empty such as at the mall, I will park way out yonder just for the exercise (cause let's face it, I need it lol)....but I have come close to getting run over by cars backing up several times.

We went to Outback Steakhouse - all of the h/c spots were taken...we drove around the building 3 times looking for a spot, finally saw 2 cars parked side by side backing out - so I planned to park kind of in the middle of the spaces to give me enough room to get out....I sat with my turn signal on waiting for the other cars to vacate, when 2 car loads of teenagers cut me off and whipped in taking both spots! So, I drove around the building a 4th time and finally saw a h/c spot open up - hooray! I make my move.....and BOOM...one of those fancy Escalade vehicles pops in there, slaps a placard up on the mirror and 4 people WADDLE out of the vehicle! They weren't disabled - they were FAT!!!!!

I ended up having to park between 2 vehicles back BEHIND the restaurant - and when I came back out to leave, the vehicle on my side of the car had parked over their line and I couldn't get between the vehicles. Thankfully I had someone with me who could back my car up so I could get in, otherwise I would have been screwed! This happened 2 other times - being unable to park in a h/c spot 3 times in Tennessee and not able to get back in my vehicle till it was moved got on my last nerve!

[Mern]

ergh...had the disabled space i was aiming for taken off me yesterday by a car cutting in front, luckily i found an end space with enough room...but then I see a mother and son walk outta the car that cut me up. they had a blue badge but there was no sign of even a waddle! I just sat and watched in amazement.

[airart1]

get used to it, anybody can get a blue badge anymore..... i got to where i ignore it, i'm not fighting or hearing there lame excuse anymore, its always some lame crap they throw back at u too if u say anything.......

Edited by airart1, 05 January 2011 - 07:31 PM.

[MTB John]

My wife and I where at the mall the other day, found a park no problem. I went for coffee and she went for a quick shop. When she came back I was still enjoying my coffee so suggested she put her shopping in the car and then we could do a little window shopping together. Good idea says the wife and off she goes. Then I start to think that that was probably a bad idea.. Sure enough she returns complaining of the guy who was looking at her in disgust and shaking his head at her for parking in a handicapped space. This guy was sitting in a nearby car with his kids so I finished my coffee then we did a couple of loops around the car. The guy managed to look everywhere else expect at us - great fun!!

My other great issue is wheelchair taxis. They have a lift at the BACK of the van, what do thy need an extra wide park for??

[1positivethinker]

airart1, on 05 January 2011 - 07:29 PM, said:

get used to it, anybody can get a blue badge anymore..... i got to where i ignore it, i'm not fighting or hearing there lame excuse anymore, its always some lame crap they throw back at u too if u say anything.......

Every year it gets worse....more placards are handed out to those who don't need them but they think they do, leaving those of us who DO without a place to park.

I just realized you're from Clarksville - I was in your fair city when my frustration took place last weekend lol

[Kayak Girl]

It does seem like anyone can get a placard nowdays. It's frustrating, especially when it is raining, then those who do not usually use them are ALL using them. Last weekend we saw one lady park in a handicapped space (there are 2 or more in front of each building) hang her placard then walk (unaided, no obvious problem, no need for extra space) 3 buildings away?? Wouldn't it make more sense to park in front of the building you are going to in a regualar spot?

Because we put my boyfriend's chair in the trunk I am always the first one out of the car and am used to the dirty looks I get now. I always look them in the eye and smile at them as I am taking the chair out.

The funniest is when we have the kayaks on the car! One time we walked out of Walmart as this guy was walking towards the store and passing our car. He was looking from the handicapped sign to the kayaks to the handicapped sign... He looked confused. Then as we approach the car he was looking from my boyfiend to the kayaks to my boyfriend and he just could not comprehend! The look on his face caused me to actually laugh out loud.

Another time we were on our way to the bay to go kayaking and stopped at a gas station to use the facilities. We parked in the only available handicapped space. Just after we pulled in an older man pulled in a couple spaces down. He kept glaring at us and giving us dirty looks. He made a HUGE show of displaying his handicapped placard and putting it up even though he wasn't in a handicapped space. Then he got out the car, walked around it, and proceeded to use the windshield cleaning supplies from the windshield washing station that he parked DIRECTLY in front of. He washed all of his windows and left?? Ummm.. ok?? So he'd rather park 3 spaces away from the water and squeegie because he is entitled to park in the handicapped spot?? I just don't get it.

Edited by Kayak Girl, 06 January 2011 - 09:38 PM.

[edlee]

Hey guys,,, never get upset because someone shows displeasure when they think someone is abusing the handicapped spots. I just wish everyone would do it,, even to me,,, if it would help others remember what the spots are for,,,not who they're for.

I have found more abusers among those with placards than those without. Once given the little blue sign,, some think parking laws no longer apply to them.
ed

[Kayak Girl]

Good point Ed!

[dangerousdave]

I have a disabled parking disc and i do ignore all parking regulations - as they dont apply to me
I not going to go into all the reasons - lets just say
I only have 1 entrance
I never know how well or how ill i will be upon leaving said vehical
Sometimes i do have to park right where i want to get out
That negates all the rules

[ClaraTaylor]

I've been rejected for a blue badge and are therefore bitter to the lot of you who can park where you please.

Because I am too mobile on a good day (aka can walk with my funky sticks for miles) this wipes out the fact that on a bad day I can't get to the boot of my car to get my chair out (instead I am destroying my dashboard trying to lift it over from the passenger seat - if anyone could tell me how to do this and still look lady like I'd be grateful because I keep hitting the horn with the brake lever and my car has a very loud horn!) So there you go... not everyone can get a blue badge that is so open to abuse.

I love the comment about the kayaks on the roof (I've been told I'm too young to be in a wheelchair, peopel are most spekial sometimes!) How in a world so full of the internet and television with the news of awful injuries soldiers get and general social interaction can we be so uneduated in cripples by now? Surely the freak show tent appeal has long gone.

My soapbox and I are going.

[HiltonP]

We had a bizarre incident happen here on Wednesday, outside the Newlands cricket ground where SA were playing India in the 3rd test match.

Short story . . . a woman arrives at the ground to pick up her 50 year old son and his friend (who has an injured leg) and parks in the
handicapped parking bay, as she's collecting them a traffic policeman stops them and wants to fine her for using the handicapped parking
illegally, a scuffle ensues when her son starts arguing with the policeman (he has a questionable history), he smashes the policeman up
against another car, the policeman shoots him . . . dead.

I guess she won't be using handicapped parking bays again in the future . . .

[airart1]

wow, pretty drastic for a handicapped 25 buck fine.....

[Soryfam]

Our blue badges are good for three years. Mine expires at the end of this month and I forgot to have the doctor sign the form last week. The next day I received a renewal form in the mail, from the county recorder, without even asking!! I don't even have to get a doctor's signature. I'm glad it's so easy for me, but wow, it means that it's easy for anyone! (P.S. I think the fine here is $125.00)

Sandy