Disabled parking spaces. Do you..

kneemos

willowthewisp wrote: »

The Gaa heroes are the worst ....

In Longford?

ButtersSuki

This drives me crazy and I admit to going out of my way to highlight this behaviour when I encounter it. After checking for a disc, a firm but polite "you do realise that's a disabled parking bay you've just parked it?" normally shames most people into moving. I say normally but not always. 2 of my favourite non-compliance stories follow:

Ok, some background here to give this context. I'm 6'6" barefoot and make. I'm not built like a brick sh*t house but I did play sport at international level and still work out to the post whereby I'd be physically intimidating to most people to the point where they would likely think this is not worth arguing about! That said, I've never actually been in a fight as my height and build almost always gets me out of potential trouble. Until one night after training I decided to pick up a cd in the old HMV in the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, not somewhere i'd admittedly normally go but it happened to be on the way to my next destination. after i parked and was making my way to the entrance a young "gentleman" took a corner practically on 2 wheels in an X5 an proceeded to park in the disabled bay closest to the door. I'd say he was about 25 max (i was older at the time of this incident). After checking to see did the vehicle have a disabled badge (on the offchance that he was collecting someone) I was about a third of the way through my "you do realise......" speech when he went for me with several punches and a barrage of insults. He was approximately a foot SMALLER than me so this must have been quite a sight for anyone watching it. After failing to connect with any punch he waddled off with his hands in the air like he was a champion boxer or something. It was truly bizarre. I won't lie, I was a little scared, partly due to the shock of actually being potentially assaulted for asking someone to move from a disabled bay. As I walked into the shopping centre, I approached a security guard who had seen the whole thing. I asked him did he see what had happened and he said he had. I asked him was he going to do anything about it and he asked me was I joking and did I know who that was? I didn't of course, Nor didi ask. I then asked was he going to clamp the jeep? He again said "are you joking?". I went to he customer service desk and complained and was told that they don't actually clamp cars that park in disabled bays as they have no clamps, just signs! Wowzers. I have often wondered since whatever happened to that Nidge-wannabe. :rolleyes:

Second one was just last week. I arrived at a Tesco Express at approx 5 PM and there was just 1 other car in the car park. I parked up and went in and got my bits and pieces and was out in less than 3 minutes. As I was leaving the store, a woman parked in one of the 2 disabled bays at the front door. I again got my pre-rehearsed speech out to get the following reply barked out at me:

"I'm parking there so I can see my children when I'm in the store, and anyway, I'll only be a minute."

There were only 2 kids in the car, both of whom had the local secondary school uniform on, one senior cycle and one junior (they have different colour uniforms for each cycle). I asked her did she not feel her teenage children would be safe parked in a regular parking bay esp. as she would only be a minute. She then just walked away from me. Charming.

timthumbni

dark crystal wrote: »

It's not just fancy two seater car drivers, it's generally just people who don't give a rat's fart how awkward it is to manoeuvre a small infant/child seat/buggy in and out of a car. They'd be the first to complain if you scratched the paintwork on their cars, though.

I've often seen seen people on here whine and bitch about how unnecessary parent & Baby spaces are, usually because they've never had to use them. Consideration for others is a foreign concept to some.

I used to complain about parent and child spaces. Then I had kids and realise how blooming hard it is to get a child into a child seat without adequate room. You really need to be able to face directly into the seat. Some of the narrower spaces it is almost impossible. The parent and child spaces are a godsend.

The retailers obviously realise this hence why they are provided. I know that a lot of people without kids park in them anyway with the argument that its their choice to have kids etc. That argument falls down quickly with disabled spaces.

RaRaRasputin

fussyonion wrote: »

I have a family member who has a badge, is not wheelchair bound, but has chronic arthritis in her ankles and knees, can walk about 10 yards before stopping to rest.

She applied for the badge, received it, is entitled to use it and you should hear the people who question her when she parks in a disabled bay. "What's wrong with you, you're not in a wheelchair!"

Sorry, but you don't have to be wheelchair bound to have a badge and I wish people would mind their own fcuking business when they see someone WITH A BADGE parking in the space.

That person's disability is none of your business and if they have a badge, it's because they were entitled to one.

If you park in a disabled bay and DON'T have a badge, you deserve to pay a hefty fine.

I also hate when someone without a badge parks in one and when questioned, says "My mother here can't walk".

SO WHAT? Tell her to apply for a badge, ffs!

Yeah can only agree, it's the same story when we park somewhere because my wife is sick and therefore has a badge, and people shout at her that she shouldn't have it if she's able to walk. I think many people just think of the spaces "only" being there for wheelchair users (who in all fairness need the extra space far more), probably because of it being the symbol for disability. Problem is just that if you tell them they are too embarassed, stubborn or stupid to admit their hotheaded behaviour and march off triumphantly

Chris Ryan

Senor Fancy Pants wrote: »

Nope and I think anyone who does is a Cnut.

What if they're disabled? :P

Frosty McSnowballs

Chris Ryan wrote: »

What if they're disabled? :P

Pfft, sure all disabled people use the parent and child spots!

Mr McBoatface

Senor Fancy Pants wrote: »

Pfft, sure all disabled people use the parent and child spots!

Next time I catch one doing that I'll let the air out of their tires.... That'll teach the bastards.

Frosty McSnowballs

jobyrne30 wrote: »

Next time I catch one doing that I'll let the air out of their tires.... That'll teach the bastards.

You go Jo!

Chancer3001

If they're not painted blue they are fair game.

Mr McBoatface

jobyrne30 wrote: »

Next time I catch one doing that I'll let the air out of their tires.... That'll teach the bastards.

Senor Fancy Pants wrote: »

You go Jo!

Got one

Grandpa Hassan

Finding the level of vitriol on display here quite amusing tbh. Disabled spaces in car parks are nothing more than bits of paint on the ground intended to encourage people to be nice. And some people are more considerate than others. That's life.

I wouldn't park in one myself (I have no such qualms about parent and child spaces), but, geez, is it worth getting this worked up about?

Duck's hoop

Yeah. It's a bit like the paint on the roads, continuous white lines, hard shoulder and the like. It's just a gentle encouragement.

Who really cares if people do what the hell they like as long as it suits them?

woodoo

Northerners are forever at it when they come down here.

darced

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ButtersSuki

darced wrote: »

That wont end well for you someday,why bother when it is really none of your business,I often would use one at Tesco's if there are plenty free and I'm in a hurry.
I would piss myself laughing if a jobsworth approached me about it to be honest.

Yeah, you're right. I'm the asshole.

Grandpa Hassan

ButtersSuki wrote: »

Yeah, you're right. I'm the asshole.

Maybe not. But you're getting way too stressed about it!

Knine

Grandpa Hassan wrote: »

Finding the level of vitriol on display here quite amusing tbh. Disabled spaces in car parks are nothing more than bits of paint on the ground intended to encourage people to be nice. And some people are more considerate than others. That's life.

I wouldn't park in one myself (I have no such qualms about parent and child spaces), but, geez, is it worth getting this worked up about?

Yes if you are the parent of a disabled child like me and you can't find a disabled bay to park in due to ignorant people, it can mean the difference between parking your car or having to head home with an upset child. The ignorance I have come across in the last few years is astounding and if you don't live with disability you would simply never understand.

For most of us life is tough enough with many challenges but being able to park your car should not be one of them. If you think there are plenty of empty disabled bays, try driving to your local Tesco on a rainy day.

leck

timthumbni wrote: »

It's a term to describe a girl or female. It's not used that often now but I think it's a nice word. (I'm from Northern Ireland btw so maybe its only a local thing)

No idea of its origin but I'm sure someone on here might.

I thought the word was cutty. In Donegal they use wee cutty to mean a young girl.

Fred Swanson

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joe stodge

The tesco in Clare hall has a fair few. they always have transits with orange beacon lights on them nd never a blue pass in the window.

Wouldn't say anything to the drivers in them about where they are parked.

Ghost Buster

darced wrote: »

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Knine wrote: »

Yes if you are the parent of a disabled child like me and you can't find a disabled bay to park in due to ignorant people, it can mean the difference between parking your car or having to head home with an upset child. The ignorance I have come across in the last few years is astounding and if you don't live with disability you would simply never understand.

For most of us life is tough enough with many challenges but being able to park your car should not be one of them. If you think there are plenty of empty disabled bays, try driving to your local Tesco on a rainy day.

Darced. Do you feel slightly like a scum bag when you compare your post against the other?

Days 298

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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But the social stigma and shame is killing yah

Fred Swanson

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dark crystal

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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Jaysus, that's hilarious alright!

Sure if it brings you a some small satisfaction and amusement in your life, keep on fighting the system and sticking it to the man (or yummy mummies in this case). I can only imagine the sense of enormous well being it must bring you to make life a little less easier for someone else as you snigger away to yourself at having got one up on those stoopid mothers with their dumb babies.

Ya legend.

Galwayguy35

No I wouldn't park in the disabled spaces, if I'm in a hurry though I park in the mother and baby space all right.

Optimalprimerib

I parked in one once without realising. The wheelchair symbol was very faded.

Ken.

I remember years ago in Dunnes Newbridge the guys that worked in the car park put a sticker on the car of a guy that parked in a disabled spot. The guy gave out about it but they told him to fück off. A few days later same guy same spot. He smirked at the fellas as he walked into the shop. Wasn't smirking when he came back and every window on the car was covered in the stickers. And it was those really hard to remove stickers too.

Threatened to call the cops and threatened to get the lads fired. Manager came out and said to the guy "I gave them the stickers to do it. Fück off with yourself." Took him 2 hours to clear enough to drive away.

CaliforniaDream

I wouldn't park in a disabled spot personally, but I wouldn't get worked up about someone doing it either.

To the parents complaining about people parking in the 'parent and child' spots - I presume once your baby is no longer needing a car seat you yourself don't park in those spots? If I'm reading people's posts correctly, it's so you have enough room for the car seat and no other reason?

Somehow I think my presumption is wrong.

Sunnyisland

No I would not, I am an able bodied man and I don't have a problem walking from another parking spot a few metres away.

mcko

I saw a well dressed woman in her 40s parking a 5 series BMW in a disabled spot and walking into the shopping centre, I told her that the space was for disabled people,
I am just collecting my mother was the response.
I saw her 10 mins later with three of her friends having coffee. I walked over and congratulated her on having such a young looking mother and walked off.
Should have seen her face.
Ignorance is not a disability.