Handicapped Access Ramps

[Cobweb]

We have people who love to park in them. I don't mean the handicapped parking slots, I mean the actual ramps up to the sidewalk. Security has given me leave to put notes on the windshields of vehicles parked in these spots to make them aware of how difficult they are making life for those of us of the wheeled persuasion :) Some folks just really don't realize that. I was wondering if anybody had a sign like that, or could help me phrase one, because tact is not my best thing. My usual response would be, "Move it, moron!" and I feel that might not be helpful.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

You should just have them towed.

[wheeliesurfer]

I would write that parking in the crosshatch is NOT a legal space and is intended for disability access. Take this note as a warning that next time I won't be so nice and will have your car ticketed/towed.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Wow. Inconsiderate has reached a new level.

I kind of like "Move it, Moron!" in large type, on laminated cards duct-taped to their windshields :)

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

Parking in the painted areas are just as illegal as in the spots themselves. Escalate it to management, and if they don't resolve it, just call the police to ticket them each time you see it happen.

why isn't security addressing this issue themselves?

[enuf_already]

Dear driver,

Your car is parked violating handicapped ramp accessibility. Further violations will result in fines, towing, or both.

Move your car, moron! ;-). (Okay I would leave that part out)

Security should take down their license number. If you have an overhead paging system, attempt to page them to move their car. If they do it more than once, bye-bye car!

This is a safety and security issue and should be dealt with by that department even if it involves calling the local police. There should be zero tolerance for blocking accessible ramps because I'm sure this is affecting more than just you.

[OCNRN63, RN]

Parking in the painted areas are just as illegal as in the spots themselves. Escalate it to management, and if they don't resolve it, just call the police to ticket them each time you see it happen.

why isn't security addressing this issue themselves?

It's been turfed to nursing's responsibility. Didn't you get the memo?

[enuf_already]

It's been turfed to nursing's responsibility. Didn't you get the memo?

Oh yeah, we forgot. When no one else wants to do it, it becomes nursing's responsibility. The nurse can take care of that while he/she is making sandwiches for guests, swapping out magazines in the waiting rooms, mopping the floors, scrubbing the toilets... Did I forget anything else?

I'd just call the police saying the ramp is blocked if your security won't take care of it. It's illegal and OP you don't need to risk confrontation with a driver.

[wheeliesurfer]

Having been faced with this issue multiple times myself (wheelchair user for a SCI), it doesn't always occur at a location equipped with security. If I can squeeze through the space left in front of their car to access the curb cut (no possibility of wheelchair lipo, LOL) I will go into whatever business I am patronizing and inform them of the issue. Sometimes the person is there and able to move their car. In all the times that I have tried to call local law enforcement due to not being able to access a business, the police have always taken too long to show up to ticket/tow the car and the handicap access aisle violator is gone by the time police arrive. I would never put myself in the place of having a confrontation with the other driver and possibly getting into an altercation.

With that said, there have been a couple times where I have parked in a handicap space and someone promptly pulls in next to me, therefore blocking me in (I unload/load my wheelchair through the drivers side door, so if you park in the aisle close to my drivers door I can't transfer into my car and load the wheelchair until you leave). When this happens and I am still close (aka I see you park there) I will *kindly* inform you that you are not parked in a legal space (even if you have a handicap placard or plate displayed), that you are in the handicap crosshatch and that the area you occupy is meant to allow a person with an assistive device the space to get into and out of their car. When I have taken the educational approach with drivers in the past they have always been grateful and have promptly moved their car so that 1) I have access to my car again 2) they don't risk getting ticketed or towed for not having a handicap placard/plate and 3) they don't risk getting ticketed or towed for being parked in a handicap access aisle.

[amoLucia]

IMHO, Wheeliesurfer's response is the better of the responses posted here. Yes, there ARE morons out there who will not take the hint because they ARE just that, morons. And they will continue their ignorant behaviors. But I think 'guilt-tripping' others is a far better approach.

I speak from experience as I have the blue placard. I have difficulty walking long distances. One night, I forgot to put my card on my dash/rear mirror. In the morning, I found a nasty note on my windshield. I continued to park in that parking spot regularly, but I never again forgot to put out my placard. I can only hope that MR/MS Nasty Note got a bad case of the 'guilties' if they ever saw my car there again. Also I'm glad no one decided to slash my tires or take a key to my car's paint.

Just no accounting for some rude people ...

[wooh, BSN, RN]

If I was left with the responsibility, I'd need a short note because I don't have time to be verbose when I'm keying a car.

One might forget their placard when parked in a SPACE but if you park in the hatches, you're just being a moron.

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

I agree wooh. Slashing tyres doesn't take a note either.