Accessible spots are only for truly needy
Selfish use of special parking zones is an abuse, writes
When I wrote a top 10 parking violations column, I was taken to task for leaving out the most grievous one. That was intentional, because it deserves a column of its own. And I saved it until now — the festive season — probably the best time of year to bring out the worst of the worst.
Accessible parking zones are those big, handy, clearly marked spaces right near the doors of every building. You may have even noticed more of them lately, as accommodating an aging population while encouraging a more inclusive society allows more people to participate in more activities. This is a very good thing; this is an encouraging thing; this is a vital thing.
What is less good, less encouraging and less vital is some selfish dolt deciding his or her immediate concerns trump all of those real reasons.
There was a time when users had licence plates with a wheelchair logo on them. Those designated areas were called handicapped parking spots. As time evolved, it became clear that some nuance was useful: a person with mobility issues might not always be riding in one specific car, thus a portable sign made more sense. It also became clear that while some disabilities were permanent, many were not; a medical professional could issue a temporary permit, usually valid for two to 12 months, and all of these would be reviewed and renewed at certain intervals.
A funny thing happened on the way to the parking lot. People realized that those portable signs meant you could use grandma as a placeholder, leaving her in the car while you went shopping. Or you could lend, borrow, lose, steal or counterfeit those portable signs.
What a wonderful cross section we are: those who follow the rules and those who thumb their noses at them. There are also those who believe they are merely bending or extending the rules. Sure, the person who requires this pass isn’t technically with me, but I’m doing errands on their behalf, so close enough, right?
In most jurisdictions, a valid accessible parking pass allows you to park in many areas for free and in many no parking/ no stopping zones for a period of time. For those with mobility issues, it’s a deserved freedom.
Consider the eligibility guidelines laid out by the ministry of transportation in Ontario:
You can’t walk without assistance of another person, brace, cane, crutch, a lower limb prosthetic device or similar assistive device or require the assistance of a wheelchair;
You suffer from lung disease to such an extent that forced expiratory volume in one second is less than one litre; Portable oxygen is a medical necessity;
Your cardiovascular disease impairment is classified as Class 3 or 4, to standards accepted by the American Heart Association or Class 3 or 4 according to the Canadian cardiovascular standard;
You are severely l i mited i n the ability to walk because of an arthritic, neurological, musculoskeletal or orthopedic condition;
Your vision is 20/ 200 or poorer in the better eye, with or without corrective lenses, or the greatest diameter of the field of vision in both eyes is 20 degrees or less; or
You have a condition or functional impairment that severely limits your mobility.
Provinces vary, but all eligibility requirements hinge on an ailment or injury that compromises the holder’s mobility.
Not all of these issues may be obvious to a casual observer, though blatant abuse has turned many into fuming vigilantes. Someone is always watching, and many of us wish it were someone who could slap you with fines that can go up to $ 5,000.
The CBC recently reported permit issues have risen by 64 per cent in Ontario over the past five years. In 2013, the number of permits issued hit 179,632, about 1.3 per cent of the population.
If I’ve deciphered the Ontario building code correctly, the mall nearest me, with 2,861 parking spots, should have 39 marked as accessible. It has 97, or about 3.4 per cent. As I waited to pick up a kid from work there last week, I watched two of the four accessible spots I could see repeatedly filled by people either waiting, like me, or running into Starbucks. My unscientific observation can’t relay how many people who had a legal right to those spots were inconvenienced, only that none should have been at a facility that is providing nearly three times the accommodation the law requires.
I take issue with other designated parking spots. Being pregnant is not a handicap; your doctor can issue temporary permits if required. Having young children is not a handicap ( though, many times I might have argued that one differently).
Unlike designated accessible parking spots, those pink placarded ones are not protected by law. They’re a courtesy of the mall where you’re shopping, but if that’s the case, I’d like to see them extend the courtesy a little further.
I’d like designated spots for people who take up two spots, and I’d like a section for people who can’t open their car doors without an almighty bang that dings up the car next to them.
I’d like an area for people who get in their car, start it, and proceed to do their makeup, talk on their phone or read their owner’s manual, all while a chain of people are waiting for the spot. These areas could all be in the back 40 of the lot.
The list of requirements to have a valid accessibility permit is easy to understand.
Designated spots should be — and usually are — clearly marked.
So don’t use someone else’s permit, don’t continue to use a permit you no longer need, and maybe more importantly, don’t think your overblown sense of entitlement outweighs someone else’s real human rights.