Wow! I started this thread Saturday, left the computer for a couple of days, and look what happened. Now, as the original poster, I've got lots of things to comment about.
First of all, nowhere in my OP did I suggest that we should eliminate specially privileged parking for the handicapped. Nowhere. I merely suggested that perhaps the need (I don't deny the need) could be satisfied with a smaller number of spaces.
I did not suggest that drivers should park in handicapped spaces if they are not so entitled, and I do not do so myself. Otherwise, I would just have just appropriated one of the blue tagged spaces and would have had no problem or complaint.
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Originally Posted by Plan9
Huh, that's funny.
Every time the two people I know (who have the right to park in said spaces) go out, they're often packed.
Let's assume that not all parking lots are laid out like Big Box stores and that many places have 2 or 4 spaces.
I have a friend who manages a Pizza Hut carryout/delivery store in a former gas station. His parking lot has 5 spaces to be shared by his customers and several delivery drivers who may come and go dozens of times a night, never there for more than a couple of minutes. He admits that his handicapped space (actually takes two spaces since it must be van accessible) does get legitimately used a couple of times a week. But he's had drivers get a ticket (a hundred dollar ticket) for being in that space for less than two minutes.
I like to blame all those jerkfaces... ya know, the ones missing limbs who have to wheel themselves around.
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Plan9 your two friends are safe from me, and I hope my four valvestems are safe from you.
And I don't blame jerkfaces. (whatever they are) The blame for the excess probably lies with some bureaucrat or lawyer (working strictly in the public interest, of course.)
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Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
You know, accusations of racism aside (and I suggest dropping the whole deal, lest we ruin the thread), I think the problem in the OP is an issue of culture and expectations.
In places such as France, say, they don't mind walking for as much as 30 minutes to get where they're going. Walking the length of a parking lot (even if it were 50 or 100 spaces) isn't a big deal. I'm guessing it didn't take you more than 2 or 3 minutes to get to the store.
Thanks Baraka, for helping to wrestle this thread back on topic after the sideline excursion through racism, natural selection, and baklava. But this was not in France, it was in Nebraska. The French are welcome to walk as far as they care to. I naturally would not expect a parking lot in Nebraska be designed to suit French culture and expectations. Sacre Bleu! This is multiculturalism run amok!
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Originally Posted by percy
I can understand handicapped parking spots available for those who need them. My question are how many are too many or too few for the area.
A little strip mall not far from my place has about 35 parking spots with one for handicapped parking. The strip mall has a store for people to get wheelchairs and other supplies for those who need them. ???
The mall a little further has a grocery store. The first 5 spots of every row (double sided), of about 10 rows has handicapped parking. The rows have about 50 cars each(25 bumper to bumper).
So out of 500 cars total in the lot, 50 are dedicated to handicapped parking. ????
I have been shopping at this mall for years and can count on 2 hands how many times I have seen anyone, handicapped or not using those spaces.
Go figure.
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Thanks, Percy for actually addressing the question in the original post! You're a hero! I do somewhat resent being made into some kind of bad guy just for asking the question. I see absolutely no value in making customers park a block from the door when there are only ten cars in the lot. where is the value in this?? This serves no one well. Are we supposed to preserve a bunch of unused spaces as some kind of "shrine" to the handicapped??
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Originally Posted by Plan9
For those without a plate/hang tag... you can always remove the valve stems of their tires while they're off in the store.
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Ah, the rational vigilante strikes again!
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Originally Posted by blahblah454
You are many things plan9, many many things...
My favourite thing to do at busy stores, other than get the hell out of there that is, is when I follow cars in from the main road. I head straight for the back of the lot with all the open spots, while the other car makes a B-line for the front row. I get out of my car and walk aaaalllllllllll the way to the store, turn around and see the car I followed in still circling around trying to find a space close enough.
Agreed. I usually don't cruise for a close in spot, it usually takes more time than it is worth. And in the OP it was only because of the foul weather.
Then because I backed into my spot, I just hop in and take off...
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Lindy