Handicapped Parking Abuse

It’s a fight out there trying to park your bad self. The idea of handicapped parking may have been thought of years ago (still hate that word), yet people still can’t seem to help themselves from our choice spots. Seriously, it has happened in every city, every day of the week, for decades on end, and people still don’t seem to get it.

One of the worst is when the last handicapped parking spot is taken right before your eyes (by an AB no less), but let’s not forget the unending fun when a vehicle parks too close to you, blocking you in. Does handicapped drama happen in your life too? Check out three videos on this touchy subject.

Chris Sheridan, a paraplegic and musician from Arizona, created a quite the funny video series called “Driving Me Crazy,” talking about things that annoy him (I need to do this!), and his gem on handicapped parking “Handicapped Parking Spaces,” is one of his best. He goes over every aspect of the wheelchair parking spot so AB folks finally get it, from “no-fly” zones to the deciphering the “curious hieroglyphics” lol. Watch his video

For a look at the van side of things (oh you lumbering lovable beast), the Wheelchair Sports and Recreation Association created a really cool video on why you should never park too close to an adapted van (with some funny commentary by two SCI guys). Charlie Ekizian, a quad from a diving accident way back in 1969, is the person behind this video, and the founder of this association too. Watch his straight-forward demo

And for a look at how hard it is when we are denied a handicapped parking spot, this video from the UK really stays with you. Every AB driver should be forced to watch this before getting their license if you ask me. It shows a brief interview of a woman with MS and the crazy workarounds she must go through when people illegally park in accessible spots. Watch her pour her heart out

When all else fails, don’t forget to get yourself a stack of these in your vehicle, so the next time you see someone illegally parked you can at least let them know they’ve been a jerk. I’ve used these countless times, and I believe they do help.

It’s kinda funny – people don’t want our disability, but they totally want our parking spots. If they really want our spots so bad, let’s trade ability levels. I’m down with that.

How do you deal with people blocking you in?

Watch the videos!

– Paraplegic explaining disability parking spaces to the AB masses

– Video showing why van-users need more space

– Woman talking about how hard it is when people park in wheelchair spots