Not DIsney related but ? about handicapped tags

[Belle1962]

Ok--after over two years since my accident I finally "broke down" and got a handicapped placard for my car. (For personal reasons I have decided to "take a break" from doctors, surgeries and pt for awhile). What is the proper etiquette for using the placard? I don't need it all the time so just park in "regular" parking a lot. And if there are two spots and one says van accesible I always use the other one (Since I don't have a van). But where I work, parking is very limited and I have a coworker who says that since I CAN park a handicapped spot I SHOULD and leave a regular space open for someone else. Also---since parking is so tight whenever we go out to lunch people now always want me to drive since I'll "always have a spot" when we return. How do I politely tell them that's not the purpose of the tag???? Even my family is getting in on it--my DS wanted me to drive to the movies the other day (we have a multi cinema with 24 theatres so the parking lot is huuuge) so we could park up close and not have to circle the lot looking for a place. (Normally he drops me off, parks and meets me inside). Any tips or suggestions? Am I being overly sensitive since this is so new to me????

 

[SueM in MN]

It sounds like you already are being a very considerate user of handicapped parking, so keep doing what you are doing.
Your friends sound like they are taking advantage of you when you go out. It might be an advantage to YOU to drive if the place you are going will be a far walk if you park in the regular parking area. So, in those cases (or if you are just having a bad day and need to be close) it makes sense for you to drive.
Just because you have a permit doesn't mean there will be a spot for you to use it in. We've gone shopping and had to come home without ever getting out of our van because there were no handicapped spots availble. Because DD has a power wheelchair, we need a van accessible spot with the access lane on the passenger side. At your workplace, someone else with a permit might park there while you are gone and then you would be trying to find a spot and maybe having a long walk at the end of the day.

If you have customers who come and go at your workplace, they might need the handicapped spot. And if you only have a few handicapped spots, you being parked there might mean they won't be able to visit your business. On the other hand, you do have a parking permit that allows you to park there.

Hope this helps you sort things out. Hopefully more people will give advice too.

 

[Belle1962]

Sue in MN--thanks. No problem here where I work----we have TONS of parking and no customers (it's a federal facility). Most of the handicapped spots do sit empty ALL of the time.

I too have noticed at the mall that THEY don't have anywhere near enough spots!!!!! And it's not even Christmas yet. Good thing I'm usually a morning shopper--at the mall when it opens.

 

[JudithM]

Belle, I also have a handicapped parking permit. When I use it depends on how I feel at any given moment. I have a knee condition - some days are better than others. I usually look for a regular spot near the entrance, so I can leave the handicapped spots for those who "really" need it that day. I am fortunate to have the flexibility; some people do not. Also, I try hard to find another spot if the handicapped one is van accessible. I agree about some places having relatively very few handicapped spots. That can be frustrating at times.

I'm just thinking ... it is YOUR handicapped permit. You should use when you feel like it/need it, etc., not when coworkers, relatives, etc. want you to use it.

 

[Nanajo1]

I know a gentleman who has HP plates on his car. His wife was driving without him so she parked in a regular spot which happened to be close to the entrance. Someone yelled at her for taking a regular spot when she "should" have used the HP spot. She could not make the person understand she was not entitled to that spot because she was not disabled. Some folks just don't get it.

 

[SueM in MN]

Yep, that's pretty sad, Nanajo.
People don't get it and a lot of people who would benefit from handicapped parking permits are afraid to get them because of the clueless people.

 

[JudithM]

I have the hanging handicapped tag not the license plates, but if there are non-handicapped spots "nearby," then I will park there. Somoene like Sue with her daughter needs that handicapped spot more than I do. However, "nearby" depends on how I am feeling on any given day . Nanajo, some days you cannot win for trying (as the saying goes).

 

[Belle1962]

Thanks all. I too have the hang tag--not plates. I pretty much do what you all do---use it when I need it, and still use regular parking whenever possible. The "newness" seems to be wearing off and things are settling down. Thanks everyone.