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Yesterday I stopped by Trader Joe's on our way home and wanted to park at the far end of the lot to get some exercise, but didn't because my mother was in the car and wanted to rest. I parked her in one of the many handicapped spots available by the store so that she would be safe and able to get out to use the restroom if she needed to.

When I came out a few minutes later a woman in an SUV almost ran me down as I entered the crosswalk. I said "Thank you" a bit sardonically, and began loading the groceries into our car. The SUV whipped around and tried to get into the parking spot next to me, and the woman yelled "That's so uncool, man, so uncool, using a handicapped space while you shop." I told her that I had to park in the space to allow my mother to get out safely if she needed to, and unwisely mentioned that she had almost driven over me in the crosswalk. The woman, who took four tries to get into her very large and open parking slot, started shrieking profanities at me, so we left as quickly and quietly as we could.

I called the police to double check, and yes, handicapped people with caretakers can still park in handicapped slots. That poor woman was obviously having a bad day, and had bigger problems than me, but still, it rankled. People can be so judgmental and hostile. I wish I had been kinder to the woman, but since I had just been hit by a bad driver who totaled our car, I was a bit edgy myself.

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I'm in Australia and we have tags that are issued by the local council to hang from the rear view mirror to indicate that someone in the vehicle is disabled. I care for both my parents and my current battle is finding a "safe" parking space at the hospital where my mother receives dialysis three times a week. There's a security guard there who thinks a blue shirt with a shield on it makes him second to God and will find ANY way to put a fine on your car no matter where you park. I'm sick of having to explain a) my reasons for where I park, and b) that disabled parking isn't about proximity - it's about having ROOM to get a wheelchair NEXT to the car, and get a person safely into it. No one gets it. And then you drop off the disabled person and go back to your car and you get dirty looks because you're an abled person getting into a car in a disabled spot. People have no idea how difficult life is and just need to mind their own God@mned business. Either that or live my life for a day or two.
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OK, I have handicapped sticker for myself and my parents, and when I get those looks, I just tell them I am blind... The look is priceless!
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I have a hip replacement and, afraid of falling on ice/snow, I use the handicapped spots in winter but otherwise not. There are many who need them more than I do.
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I see so many people abusing handicapped parking spots it just makes me angry.
I see so many people with handicapped plates on their cars when their not handicapped.
I have a man the lives next door to me that has a handicapped plate on his truck.I see no reason for his so called handicap.He mows,snow blows and operates a weed eater & garden tiller.He gets around,walks just fine.I think he is a head check and abusing the system.Many people abuse the system.
We see parking spots "signs" for the handicap but,none for elderly people.Sad how this system thinks!
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I see so many people abusing the system saying their handicapped when their not!
Many if not all are really just head checks obtaining handicapped plates.Most handicapped people I see gets around just fine.The real handicapped people needs help getting out of their car or other help.
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