Handicapped Parking

I had to run out to the grocery store last night, in the cold for the first time in six months. I was going to be there for only a few minutes, so I just had on jeans and a coat over a t-shirt. I wasn’t very uncomfortable, but the cold combined with my hurry led me to notice something about the layout of the parking lot.

The shopping center has seven stores, one of which is the grocery store. In front of the stores are seven double-rows of parking spaces, and each of the seven has four handicapped parking spaces — the first two of every row. That’s 24 handicapped spaces.

I’ve never seen more than one or two cars parked in the handicapped spaces, and easily half the time I see someone getting in or out of their car in those spots, they have no wheelchair, walker, cane, or even a limp. What’s wrong? Do I just not shop at the times that handicapped people do, or are the parking lot designers really over estimating the number of disabled in our town?

I see far more moms and dads with small children in need of close parking than I ever see truly handicapped people. They should take away at least three of those seven groups of handicap parking and make them spots for shoppers with small children. Or, hell, just make the spots open for anyone. That would at least let everyone park two spaces closer. I have no problem with some young guy parking in the first space to run in for two minutes to buy a loaf of bread. It’s a stupid waste to take up two dozen parking spots for what probably isn’t necessary for more than two people at a time.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com