Imagine going to the store or a venue and having to drive around the block in an attempt to find a place to park where you could actually get out of your vehicle, and not take the risk of being run over while making your way to your destination. This is a daily challenge for many of my friends.

Have you ever been a passenger in a wheelchair lift equipped van? Many are the times I have rode shotgun in my friend’s van. We would be out enjoying the day, having an afternoon or evening out on the town or simply running errands. Upon arriving at our destination we would look around for a parking spot that would accommodate his wheelchair lift…. and there were none. Unfortunately this is a far too common occurrence in the life and times of a wheelchair user such as my friend. It is a frustrating, difficult and many times unnecessary detour in getting from point A to point B.

I’d like to update the directions that came with your Handicapped Parking Placard.

In a parking lot that has designated Handicapped Parking there are usually two types of parking spots reserved for recipients of those placards. They consist of the traditional non-crossed hatched spots, and the ones with the cross-hatched lines, parallel to the parking spot, oftentimes near a ramp that leads to a sidewalk.

The crossed hatched areas were designed to provide enough clearance between vehicles to allow a user of a lift equipped van to lower his/her lift, extend it, and get in and out of his/her vehicle safely. Additionally, the ramp is placed there so that the wheelchair user does not have to wheel around behind parked cars to gain access to the sidewalk. A wheelchair user is nearly invisible to a driver who is backing out of his/her parking spot.

Too many are the times I have observed a driver of a non-lift equipped vehicle pull into Handicapped Parking spot with the cross hatched area next to it, even though there was an available non-crossed hatched parking spot nearby. Or even worse, a regular parking spot next to it! Through my treks with my friend I have come to realize just how lazy and inconsiderate some folks can be. Or perhaps they just don’t realize it. So I am doing my part to shed some light on this wonderfully touchy feely subject.

Just because you have been issued a Handicapped Parking Placard doesn’t mean you HAVE to park in Handicapped Parking spots, especially if others spots are available within close proximity to your destination. If you have a Disabled Parking Placard you may still be able to walk the few extra steps that it would take to leave a cross-hatched Disabled Parking spot open for one who needs it even more than you.

Remember that old adage, “Use it or lose it.” Well, doesn’t apply to your Handicapped Placard!

Who knows, another step or two might be just what the Doctor ordered. But if you can't make it... by all means go ahead and park.

** By the way if you are one of those folks who finds it necessary to park in Handicapped parking spots when you aren’t disabled, or worse yet blocks off the cross-hatched area with your motorcycle, bicycle or other vehicle….

Watch out because we are turning you in.

Check out http://www.handicappedfraud.org