Okay, I’m not trying to be ignorant, but I’m just wondering if anyone else thinks that there are too many handicap parking spaces? Whenever I go places there are always SOO many not being used.
Also, with the risk of pissing a lot of people off, I would just like to say that if they can’t walk across the parking lot, how are they going to walk across a shopping mall?
Does anyone agree?
It’s not that I’m lazy, I’m actually in really good shape, but I just don’t understand why in huge stores like Walmart or sears, there has to be 10 designated parking spaces for handicap people at the front of the store, when they are going to be walking around inside.
If you can’t walk across a parking lot, don’t walk around for hours inside.
Personally, ever since I paid hundreds of dollars to repair a ding on my car, I’ve been parking far away from the building.
I never park near the entrance, but I have noticed more and more cars parking near me, while the empty handicap spaces lay there, a total waste of real estate and resources. —I love to walk
This article appears in Mar 20-26, 2014.
If you love to walk so much, why does this bother you so much? Those extra parking spaces will move you a whole *gasp* two or three spaces away from where you’d normally be. Is this something that makes your life difficult?
I figure there might be some Bi-Law requiring there needs to be so many per size of the store and how many spots they have in their lot, not sure just a guess.
As someone who is about to have double knee surgery, my time in stores is very limited because of my mobility. Ten minutes on my pins and I’m ready to crawl back to my vehicle. I’m thankful for those damn parking spots.
I hope you don’t take your ability to walk for granted – just remember, it could all change in a blink of an eye – then, who’ll be looking for a handicapped parking space?
OB’s level of ignorance is startling. Some people require the use of a walker to get around. While they can go great distances, they are not able to so quickly. The spaces keep them safer than having to walk through a traffic filled parking lot without the ability to move out of the way quickly if they were to be hit by a car. Same with a person in a wheelchair. Because they are lower to the ground, an inattentive driver could back out of a spot without seeing them if they are not high enough to be seen over other cars. Clearly it does bother the OB or they wouldn’t have posted. There is no hope for the direction the world is going.
Ever notice those motorized carts inside stores? They aren’t for able-bodied people. Ever think that just navigating inside the store is so exhausting for some self-mobile people that not having to walk across a huge parking lot afterward is a huge blessing?
Isn’t it interesting how non-disabled people find it necessary to comment on something that has zilch to do with them instead of counting their lucky stars they are not so unfortunate with their health that they require an accomodating parking space. Here’s something to think about before making these types of comments: every single person who uses those spaces would rather have their health.
I was a very active person before my knees keeled – Nordic walked 5-7 km a day at my peak (about five years ago) – then one knee went, shortly followed by the other. I found myself virtually hobbled overnight, walking like my mother when she was in her 80s. This is why this bitch honks me off so much – never, ever take for granted your mobility.
You are not being ignorant. Try dictionary.com….
“never, ever take for granted your mobility.”
Or be critical of those whose mobility is compromised. That’s just low.
Sorry to hear that T.T. Fonebone. Well said about people taking things for granted. We are living in an ungrateful, unthankful, selfish generation. I’ve said it many times. This is a me, myself, and I world.
Yours truly.
Thanks, Wheels. Similar thing happened to my partner. He was on a camera shoot, was walking across a field in rural Cape Breton, caught his foot in a hole and had a massive fall – virtually overnight, he went from a healthy, active guy to using a walker full-time, which he still uses a decade after that incident. Fucking morons, such as this poster – they have no idea that their tickity-boo lives could change in a matter of seconds.
OP, you will be very thankful that there are handicapped parking spots, whether used or not, if ever you find yourself disabled.
Ummm… For ease of getting wheelchairs and such out of a vehicle, so they don’t have to roll as far in snow and traffic where they are hard to see…. So people with dificulty walking can manage to get to the store easier because walking is difficult and slow and they don’t want to be in te elements or traffic.
So blind people can navigate easier and be safer, so parents and friends can easier take their handicapped kids/friends out and better their quality of life… There are more reasons I am sure
Oh for fuck sake.
Wtf? Blind people get their own parking, too?
GV, yes they do, I do volunteer work for the CNIB, and my client has a sticker. Try navigating from a ‘regular’ parking space at WallyWorld a day after a snowstorm when the remaining snow is frozen solid and it’s slippery under foot, with your eyes tightly closed, then get back to me.
If your post was meant to be witty or whimsical, it failed.
The number of barrier free parking spaces are determined by local by-laws. Variables determining the exact number include the building type/function, occupancy, location, total number of parking spaces and the gross floor area or regularly occupied floor area. The location of barrier free parking spaces is mandated to be as close to the entrance as possible.
Building owners may install more BF spaces than required, but I would doubt if any ever would. BF parking spaces are wider than a typical space, and require greater clearance on either side and therefore have a higher cost per unit.
Don’t kid yourself. BF spaces are necessary. But a big FU to anyone who abuses this system. Kudos to OP for not being afraid to use her/his own two legs to walk a few extra metres.
Yes, congrats to OB for doing the walk from the no ding zone. The more people doing this, the less people would eventually need handiparking due to obesity related degenerative conditions.
Also, congrats to OB for raising the point of waste. Waste is a separate issue than need. We certainly need handiparking, but we don’t need so many spaces that the spaces are continually empty. IMO, any spaces that show an ongoing trend of non-use, should revert to special parking for mothers with baby carriages. Ofcourse, a handicapped person would still be allowed to park in the space.
This guys simply an asshole.
no, you are not trying to be ignorant op. you are succeeding wonderfully.
I really liked this Bitch. I would definitely like to read more of your ideas.
Side note: The only place I’ve seen those motorized carts is Walmart. I’m not trying to stereotype either but I’ve only ever seen overweight people using them. The handicapped people I’m familiar with already have motorized wheelchairs.
Nukka I’ve seen people with casts on their legs using the motorized carts…..The bigger Superstores have then as well.
I’d just like to note that when my dad had his temporary accessible parking decal, most of the time he wasn’t able to get an accessible spot. He doesn’t go to walmart, ever, but he did spend a lot of time going to the hospital, and with his sepsis and subsequent pneumonia, he would have to be wheeled around if he didn’t get a close spot. He also had a cast/boot on his ankle (site of the initial infection) and was ordered to stay off of it as much as possible to avoid a subsequent infection (which would’ve meant amputation).
So fuck you, OB. If you park so far away from the entrance, why the fuck do you care if there are spaces for people who can’t get around so easily?
Also: you people bitching about fat people getting decals — ever think that MAYBE these people are obese because they are disabled and unable to exercise? Assholes.
Sobey’s has motorized carts too. Some stores are just too big for people with mobility challenges to be able to navigate. I know someone (not obese) who uses a cane who would not be able to shop there or other stores otherwise.
“Also: you people bitching about fat people getting decals — ever think that MAYBE these people are obese because they are disabled and unable to exercise? Assholes.” -Exactly.
Alsox2: people with mobility issues still have to shop for items like food and toiletries and whatever the hell they want.
Shopping at Walmart or the mall or wherever isn’t reserved exclusively for the 100% able-bodied. Jerks.
What some people don’t seem to understand is the amount of disabilities that may require a closer parking spot not just because of the walking distance. I for one have a disabled parking it is not because of the walk. I have a parking pass because my child is Autistic. As such I have the pass because they are labeled as a ” flight risk”. Those spots give me a better chance of getting them into the store safely. In the store they are fine and safe. So please think before posting as 10 spots or 20 spots out of 300 spots is not that many.