posted
The other factor that makes things worse in a parking lot is that police will rarely if ever intervene, give tickets, etc., so you're on your own to possibly duke it out with the other driver. Traffic fatalities have been reported at very slow speeds, even under 15 mph. I don't think this happens often, but even at a slow speed bad things can ensue.
Another thing I was reminded of when reading these posts - the people who have a handicapped parking permit, and therefore think they are entitled to park there because they have it -- despite the fact that they have no disability. You know who I'm talking about - they had some past medical problem that's now healed, or they inherited or borrowed it from some disabled relative or friend.
Is it legal to use these permits when you're not actually disabled, or when it's not yours?
-------------------- HA! That's so funny I forgot to laugh...excluding that first Ha. -Stewie Griffin Posts: 112 | From: Albuquerque, NM | Registered: Oct 2006
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I've known at least one person who used an older relative's handicapped hang tag so she could be lazy and park closer. That is IMHO a horrible thing to do.
However, I've known far more people who are in fact handicapped, but whose disabilities are not readily visible. They look just fine, but their disabilities make walking longer distances painful. I'm sure they get dirty looks from people all the time who just assume they are not disabled.
Just a thought...
-------------------- "How do you make chocolate? You take dark chocolate, you mix it with white milk, and it becomes a delicious drink. That is the chocolate I am talking about." --Ray Nagin Posts: 1325 | From: Missouri | Registered: Sep 2005
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quote:Originally posted by PallasAthena: However, I've known far more people who are in fact handicapped, but whose disabilities are not readily visible. They look just fine, but their disabilities make walking longer distances painful. I'm sure they get dirty looks from people all the time who just assume they are not disabled.
The very reason why this is basically unenforceable...for citizens to acost someone who doesn't "look" disabled, forcing them to reveal and prove their heart condition or arthritis to satisfy an angry parker - it's just not right. And I suppose spot checks on each handicapped permit to make sure it is being used by the driver to whom it was issued - well, when our police officers get bored and need things to do, I guess they'll start on that.
For the handicapped parking offense, I might be tempted to use the bumper sticker offense. Of course, what if the evil parker was borrowing someone else's car...
So many ethical dilemmas. I think I'll shop online this year.
-------------------- HA! That's so funny I forgot to laugh...excluding that first Ha. -Stewie Griffin Posts: 112 | From: Albuquerque, NM | Registered: Oct 2006
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I'm still new here...I need a tour guide to give me an orientation.
-------------------- HA! That's so funny I forgot to laugh...excluding that first Ha. -Stewie Griffin Posts: 112 | From: Albuquerque, NM | Registered: Oct 2006
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I'm reminded of something Ray Combs said about handicapped spots (not verbatim): It bugs me when someone who is entitled to one doesn't use it, because that's a good space going to waste. (end Combs' comment) What's worse, it means there's one less good space available to me--unless I'm a jerk.
-------------------- "Well, it looks we're on our own ... again."--Rev. Lovejoy Posts: 3572 | From: St. Louis, MO | Registered: Sep 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Buckleupp: Is it legal to use these permits when you're not actually disabled, or when it's not yours?
No. It is, however, legal for the person transporting the disabled person to use the permit. So when we take my 87YO mother shopping, we can park legally in the handicapped spot.
-------------------- How homophobic do you have to be to have penguin gaydar? - Lewis Black Posts: 8322 | From: Columbus, OH | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
Came upon a car straddling two spaces about a week ago when I went grocery shopping. The ultimate in self-centeredness IMO. Where are those fake parking tickets when you need 'em??
-------------------- Leashes?! We don't need no stinking leashes!! Posts: 4771 | From: The Berkeley of the East Coast: Montgomery County MD | Registered: Mar 2003
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quote:Originally posted by DawnStorm: Came upon a car straddling two spaces about a week ago when I went grocery shopping. The ultimate in self-centeredness IMO.
On days when I am feeling particularly persnickety, I will park in the space that is left available (so long as I won't be straddling the lines myself). It gives me glee especially when I am so close that I know they won't be able to get into the drivers side door.
But, I can be a bit of an a-hole, too, so I don't recommend that course of action for anybody else.
-------------------- "When a stupid man is doing something he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty."--George Bernard Shaw Posts: 19266 | From: Nashville, TN | Registered: Jun 2002
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posted
There are those people out there who feel that because they have spent 70k on a jacked-up, tricked-out, no option spared penis extender that they have the right to park anywhere they want and in any direction they want in order to protect their toy from coming in contact with the commoners that share the Earth with them. Last year my father-in-law was at the local mall where he encountered one such self entitled git. The guy had parked his truck sideways in a space that was marked off as a no parking area with signs and striping on the pavement. The reason that this area was marked off was that it was in a blind spot at the corner of a building and anyone backing out of the parking spaces would not be able to see if it was clear or not, as became apparent when an older gentleman backed his car into the truck. And because the truck was parked sideways, instead of hitting the high back bumper or the chrome plated grille guard, the older gentleman backed into the side of the truck.
-------------------- You've got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know... morons. -Blazing Saddles Posts: 1074 | From: High Level, Alberta, Canada | Registered: Mar 2006
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quote:Originally posted by DawnStorm: Came upon a car straddling two spaces about a week ago when I went grocery shopping. The ultimate in self-centeredness IMO. Where are those fake parking tickets when you need 'em??
In my younger years, when I had more energy and usually traveled with a notepad, I would periodically leave notes on such cars' windshields stating, "I fail to see how your car is more important than mine, justifying special treatment."
Too bad I'm sure the owners completely and totally didn't care.
-------------------- Bender: Oh cruel fate, to be thusly boned. Ask not for whom the bone bones, it bones for thee. Posts: 1170 | From: Iowa | Registered: Aug 2004
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posted
The holiday season brings out my least favorite people: the parking stalkers. Now, if I'm driving down a row, and I see someone obviously about to pull out, okay no problem. Look, I'm killing two birds with one stone by a) being polite enough to let them pull out and b) scoring myself a space.
The parking stalkers are the people who follow people down the row to their cars and then WAIT. When I'm stuck behind one of these guys, they're invariably waiting for someone with three kids and 10 bags. It's going to take her 10 minutes to get in the car! Just go!
Yesterday I got stuck behind one. Again, waiting for someone that was obviously going to be several minutes before they were able to pull out. Since there was room and I wanted to get up to the second level of the garage (where, incidentally, there were dozens of empty spaces), I began to go around the blocking car. Whereupon, the car spotted someone two spaces further down actually pulling out, and lurched forward to steal THAT space, blocking me once again from forward progress.
I've been yelled at by parking stalkers for going to return my cart while they're waiting. I've been yelled at even more for dropping off a package in my car and returning to the mall. Just because I'm at my car, it does not require me to instantly vacate the space for g-you.
Heck, a few weeks ago I pulled INTO a space, and before I could get out of my car, someone pulled into the row and sat behind me waiting. I just got here! I'm not leaving! And the driver glared at me and peeled out when I got out of my car and walked away from it!
Whew I'm so glad I got that off my chest. Better to rant here than to go postal on the next one, I guess.
Edited for spelling and to clarify: by "obviously about to pull out" I mean in the car with the engine running and the backup lights on.
-------------------- "He feeds the sparrows of the field, but He doesn't sit there and cram worms into their mouths." -- Mouse Posts: 396 | From: Pasadena, CA | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
Reindeer, a good illustration of the true problem - it's not a certain type of people, it's a universal lack of patience. You're impatient not to wait behind the person waiting for the space (after all, the car behind might not be trying to get around, but trying to get the same space). Even with kids and bags, we're talking a few minutes at most. If they settle in for a nap first before pulling out, then that would be different.
Those people yelling at you for returning your cart are guilty of the same offense - impatience. Which of these two offensive situations would you think is the worse? We all have our good reasons, we all know our specific situation is justifyable.
-------------------- HA! That's so funny I forgot to laugh...excluding that first Ha. -Stewie Griffin Posts: 112 | From: Albuquerque, NM | Registered: Oct 2006
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quote:Originally posted by UrbanReindeer: The parking stalkers are the people who follow people down the row to their cars and then WAIT. When I'm stuck behind one of these guys, they're invariably waiting for someone with three kids and 10 bags. It's going to take her 10 minutes to get in the car! Just go!
One of my former bookstore coworkers would deliberately walk up the neighboring aisle to his parking space just to thwart parking stalkers.
I recall a comedian joking about having lost his car in the lot at the mall and having a parking stalker following him adding to the pressure!
-------------------- So many books, so little time. Posts: 1192 | From: McDonough, Georgia | Registered: Nov 2005
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quote:Originally posted by UrbanReindeer: The holiday season brings out my least favorite people: the parking stalkers. Now, if I'm driving down a row, and I see someone obviously about to pull out, okay no problem. Look, I'm killing two birds with one stone by a) being polite enough to let them pull out and b) scoring myself a space.
The parking stalkers are the people who follow people down the row to their cars and then WAIT. When I'm stuck behind one of these guys, they're invariably waiting for someone with three kids and 10 bags. It's going to take her 10 minutes to get in the car! Just go!
Yesterday I got stuck behind one. Again, waiting for someone that was obviously going to be several minutes before they were able to pull out. Since there was room and I wanted to get up to the second level of the garage (where, incidentally, there were dozens of empty spaces), I began to go around the blocking car. Whereupon, the car spotted someone two spaces further down actually pulling out, and lurched forward to steal THAT space, blocking me once again from forward progress.
I've been yelled at by parking stalkers for going to return my cart while they're waiting. I've been yelled at even more for dropping off a package in my car and returning to the mall. Just because I'm at my car, it does not require me to instantly vacate the space for g-you.
Heck, a few weeks ago I pulled INTO a space, and before I could get out of my car, someone pulled into the row and sat behind me waiting. I just got here! I'm not leaving! And the driver glared at me and peeled out when I got out of my car and walked away from it!
Whew I'm so glad I got that off my chest. Better to rant here than to go postal on the next one, I guess.
Edited for spelling and to clarify: by "obviously about to pull out" I mean in the car with the engine running and the backup lights on.
Boy, remind me never to step foot in Pasadena, CA. We have plenty of parking stalkers here, but none of them are anywhere as rude as you describe them to be. Yelling? Glaring? Seems to me that the real problem here is the rude behavior, not the stalking behavior. The most I have been able to get out of parking stalkers is a smile and a shrug
-------------------- Nico Sasha In between my father's fields;And the citadels of the rule; Lies a no-man's land which I must cross; To find my stolen jewel. Posts: 4912 | From: VA | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
I've noticed it a lot more since I moved here, in all honesty. Perhaps it's a "city" thing Although the "town" I moved from has approximately the same population as the "city" I'm in now, I guess we're all closer together here.
Buckleupp, I'm going to say that my sin of impatience is the lesser one. When I return my cart, the only person I'm inconveniencing is the person who is choosing to wait for me, rather than look for a space further down the row (and I have indeed had people wait for my space when there are spaces 100 feet further along). In addition, my returning the cart causes several people to be less inconvenienced.
The person waiting, however, is inconveniencing anyone else who is trying to go through that row. Now, I'll avoid going down a row if I see someone waiting, but I can't always see them. Ever been stuck in your space because there's a line of cars in your row stuck behind a waiter? I have.
I don't mind having to wait for things. It's the unnecessary waiting that bothers me. I just want to park, really, the end of the row is fine with me.
-------------------- "He feeds the sparrows of the field, but He doesn't sit there and cram worms into their mouths." -- Mouse Posts: 396 | From: Pasadena, CA | Registered: Jan 2006
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quote:Originally posted by DawnStorm: Came upon a car straddling two spaces about a week ago when I went grocery shopping. The ultimate in self-centeredness IMO. Where are those fake parking tickets when you need 'em??
No, no, the ultimate in selfishness was the asschapeau I saw at the Chinese restaurant, who had parked his brand new Lotus across three parking spaces, because he's too good to park like the rest of us, because HE bought a LOTUS.
As he was standing in the doorway (I saw him get out of the car, I knew he was the driver), I turned to Mr. K and said, "Nice car, but only an asshole parks like that."
I got a dirty look, but at least I made my point.
Jerks.
Edited because I forgot, in the hurry I was in, to point out that one of the three spots was a handicapped spot.
-------------------- Beware corporate zombies! They will purchase your brain on E-Bay! Posts: 2310 | From: California | Registered: Jul 2003
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And on behalf of myself and all others who've had carts slam into our doors, thanks for returning your cart.
-------------------- HA! That's so funny I forgot to laugh...excluding that first Ha. -Stewie Griffin Posts: 112 | From: Albuquerque, NM | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
My personal favorite happened at Fry's Electronics . . . Guy in an Escalade pulled so far into the space that he strattled the one in front of his too. I guess he didn't want to risk anyone parking across from him and dinging his bumper. Huge store with a miniscule lot, parking is at a premium. Leaving the store, we saw someone in a Mini Cooper was able to squeeze into that slot just behind him. I was praying for another mini to box him in on the other side, but I doubt it happened.
-------------------- "Tout le monde est fou, sauf vous et moi." Posts: 47 | From: California | Registered: Jul 2005
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Okay, Mad Jay, E_E, we need to meet up at the Best Buy in Reston over the weekend, just to mess with parking stalkers (and so I can get my stereo )
-------------------- My mom, about my nervousness with Jeopardy!: "Don't worry about it. Just get drunk and you'll do fine." Blog Just call me Mickey 2 Posts: 3295 | From: Radford, VA/Herndon, VA/Orlando, FL | Registered: Jan 2006
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Urban, I used to work in the local mall. I was a baker at the time so I got to work before anyone was at the mall, my choice of spaces. I generally chose a space at the end of the row, closest to the side where my shop was. No, it was not near the entrance but it was nearest the workers only exit to the bakery. At Christmastime mostly (when the mall lot would be full) I would acquire stalkers in the two minutes it took to get to my car. For these people, I would get in my car, start the engine, light a cigarette, and sit. I would sit for ten minutes if that's how long they sat there. Simply put, I wouldn't move until they decided to move on and then, in view of them but by the time they were too far up to do anything about it I would pull out. This was doubly amusing if another someone just happened to come in at the time and get the spot. I got many dirty looks for it. One time someone actually stopped and got out of their car, blocking the way for others, and yelled at me. I rolled my window and replied calmly that I was waiting on someone. Technically I was. I was waiting on the idiot to leave.
In retrospect, I don't know why the stalkers pissed me off so but they did. They still do, though SO doesn't like me to rile things up when we are out together and won't let me taunt them.
-------------------- "Silly customer, you cannot hurt a Twinkie." -Apu (The Simpsons) Posts: 2026 | From: 10 miles South of Boston | Registered: Oct 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Mickey is a Hanukkah Bush: Okay, Mad Jay, E_E, we need to meet up at the Best Buy in Reston over the weekend, just to mess with parking stalkers (and so I can get my stereo )
I need some CD's anyways and there is a bookstore next to the Best Buy. AHH sometimes life is good.
-------------------- "Taking all the pain I give you Loving blindly in return And I need you more than ever" WWW.Myspace.com/E_E2000 Posts: 1243 | From: Northern VA | Registered: Sep 2003
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I work with a girl who is in a wheelchair, along with having another job in a bookstore. Her mother occasionally takes her to visit me while I'm working at the bookstore, as she loves to read and see me. The last time her mother had the hardest time getting in as she had to unload her and her wheelchair in a regular spot (which obviously doesn't have much room) and bring her across a crowded parking lot, since BOTH of the handicapped parking spots were filled with cars without permits. Incidentally, we also have a Starbucks right beside us which attracts these kinds of selfish "just for a minute" kinds of people. I was furious...in retrospect, I should have asked my manager if I could go outside for a minute to copy the license plates down and report them to mall security. Think I will if I'm aware of it again...
Posts: 35 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
My ex-roomate parked in the handicaped spot in front of our building and was shocked and angered when she recieved a parking ticket. Her reasoning? "Other people do it all the time and don't get a ticket. Someone in the hall hates me so much they called me in." Great. Selfishness and a persecution complex.
Edited: In front of "our" building. She may have done it at "your" building too, but I wouldn't know.
-------------------- "I will take the Ring," he said, "though I do not know the way."
"Doesn't 'Frollo' sound like a delicious hobbit chocolate?"--Amanda F. Posts: 107 | From: Kansas | Registered: Mar 2006
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posted
One time I called a business and reported their driver parked their marked vehicle in a handicapped space. He was young and had quite a spring to his step, I'm resonibly sure he wasn't handicapped and just happened to be without his hangtag.
-------------------- Assume that all my posts will be edited at least once. Dyslexic -- can't spell, can't type, can't proofread. Posts: 8317 | From: Reading, PA | Registered: Mar 2004
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I still remember my dad laughing when a healthy man's car broke down in a handicapped spot at a restaurant we were eating at. The policeman there refused to help him start his car.
-------------------- So many books, so little time. Posts: 1192 | From: McDonough, Georgia | Registered: Nov 2005
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That drives me nuts. It did even before my mom's health deteriorated, neccessitating her need for a HC parking permit. I love the story Sparklygirl posted!
-------------------- "Seize the day! Make your lives extraordinary!" -John Keating, "Dead Poets Society" Posts: 2861 | From: New Jersey | Registered: May 2004
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quote:Originally posted by UrbanReindeer: The parking stalkers are the people who follow people down the row to their cars and then WAIT. When I'm stuck behind one of these guys, they're invariably waiting for someone with three kids and 10 bags. It's going to take her 10 minutes to get in the car! Just go!
I call these people parking vultures. They just circle endlessly waiting for the coveted door spot to open so they can swoop in for the kill.
For non-handicapped people in handicapped spaces, I like what comedian Jeff Dunham said (I'm paraphrasing):
"I saw a guy park in a handicap spot and he gets out and there's with nothing wrong with him. Don't you hate that? So I ran his ass over. I made an honest man out of him."
-------------------- "Tis too much proved that with devotion's visage and pious action we do sugar o'er the devil himself." - Hamlet Posts: 344 | From: Pittsburgh, PA | Registered: Jun 2006
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quote:Originally posted by DawnStorm: Came upon a car straddling two spaces about a week ago when I went grocery shopping. The ultimate in self-centeredness IMO.
On days when I am feeling particularly persnickety, I will park in the space that is left available (so long as I won't be straddling the lines myself). It gives me glee especially when I am so close that I know they won't be able to get into the drivers side door.
But, I can be a bit of an a-hole, too, so I don't recommend that course of action for anybody else.
I've done that, too, especially if there were no other spaces around. Moreover, my car is small enough (Chevy Nova/Toyota Corolla) to use a vestigial space and old enough (1988) that I wouldn't notice a ding.
Nick
-------------------- Don't forget to register for the New ULMB.
posted
I have a small car, too, so it's easier to find parking.
Yesterday, I had the worst experience with parking. The mall I work at is about 20-25 minutes away from home. So I leave 45 minutes early to give myself parking time. This woman and her teen/young 20s age daughter indicated that they had a parking space in one of the compact car zones. I'm like "Score! And it's right by the entrance!" So I waited. For, oh, 7 minutes? When she came to my car and said "I'm sorry, we have to arrange some stuff." So I wait another few minutes. See another car pulling out, and take that spot instead.
Seriously, unless you have some huge, heavy boxes, how long does it take to arrange packages? I usually just put them in the back however it'll fit.
So which is more inconsiderate in that situation? Sitting there and waiting for 10 minutes for a space that someone indicated I could have, or the person indicating I could get their space and then taking what felt like forever (I had to call my store to tell them "I found a space, I'm just waiting for the people to pull out of the space" because I was going to be a couple minutes late if they'd pulled out as I was on the phone) to rearrange packages?
-------------------- My mom, about my nervousness with Jeopardy!: "Don't worry about it. Just get drunk and you'll do fine." Blog Just call me Mickey 2 Posts: 3295 | From: Radford, VA/Herndon, VA/Orlando, FL | Registered: Jan 2006
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If a lot is full, like it usually is at this time of year, I don't mind people waiting on me to leave a parking space. There is one mall that has so few spaces that they fill up completely, even into the overflow parking that seems like it's a half mile away from the stores. At that place, I always give a little congratulations to whomever gets my spot, especially if they didn't follow me from the door.
My bad parking experience: Last summer I was getting ready to leave a (very good) parking spot in a garage, and the girl who was looking for a spot didn't see me until she was already blocking me in (she was on her phone, no less). She stopped and motioned me out. Did I already mention she was blocking me? I gestured at her to back up, but she already had a line of cars behind her. Rather than giving up and continuing on, she backed up a couple of inches. I still didn't have enough room to get out. I gestured again (a sort of "what do you expect me to do" shrug) and she inched back a little more and waited. I was so tempted to just shut off my car and get out and go back to the store (if there's a next time, that's what's happening, for sure). By this time she had managed to stop up the entire garage, since I was on the main floor, just one aisle from the entrance, and cars were out on the street trying to get in. After backing up and going forward and backing up and going forward (rinse and repeat 3 more times) I finally got out of there. I haven't been back, now that I think about it.
posted
Just found this thread, and it reminded me of a time I went to Olive Garden and, in the process of locating a parking space, I saw someone parked the wrong way (perpendicular) across three handicapped spaces!!! I told the hostess/greeter chicky about it when we went in and she said, "Oh, I know who that is. He works here. He's just getting his check or something."
WTF?
Not that I would EVER advocate parking in a handicapped space unless you are authorized to do so, but I would rather some asshat parks illegally in a single handicapped spot rather than string their car along three spaces!
-------------------- They just don't make crazed, beserk robots like they used to. --Sheen Estevez, Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius
If I manage to post something swipe-worthy that you would like to make your sig, you may do so with my blessing. Posts: 2486 | From: East Stroudsburg, PA | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
Oh, Purple Iguana, that's terrible! When I saw a glimpse of your post in Active Topics, I thought you meant a handicapper was parked across three spots and I was all set to present you with a possible scenario. But, an able-bodied person tying up not one but three? Grrrrr.....
quote:Originally posted by frogpond: One of my former bookstore coworkers would deliberately walk up the neighboring aisle to his parking space just to thwart parking stalkers.
I do that all the time, particularly this time of year. I won't be pressured to hurry up and put my bundles in my car, get in, and pull out, by someone that's too lazy to find a vacant spot.
Either that, or I'm just wandering the aisles because I've forgotten where I parked again....
-------------------- Explore, enjoy and protect the planet --- AAMAH Posts: 8532 | From: Michigan | Registered: Mar 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Lonely Mountain: For non-handicapped people in handicapped spaces, I like what comedian Jeff Dunham said (I'm paraphrasing):
"I saw a guy park in a handicap spot and he gets out and there's with nothing wrong with him. Don't you hate that? So I ran his ass over. I made an honest man out of him."
I believe that Walter was the one that said that, not Jeff Dunham.
-------------------- IIRC, it wasn't the shoe bomber's loud prayers that sparked the takedown by the other passengers; it was that he was trying to light his shoe on fire. Very, very different. Canuckistan Posts: 3694 | From: Arizona | Registered: Aug 2005
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