A construction truck taking up not one but two wheelchair parking spots when there were plenty of spaces on the road.
In fairness, when we found the driver and asked him to move, he did.
This is a huge pain in the ass normally. You find people using the wheelchair spots if they're just "popping in" to a shop or you will often see taxi drivers treating them like ranks.
As well as a wheelchair user, I'm a driver. So if a wheelchair parking spot isn't available, it's not that easy to find an alternative place to park, especially in town.
There aren't enough wheelchair parking spots in Dublin to cater to the amount of people with blue badges so please don't do it.
I will definitely delve further into this topic another time.
What is also just as bad is when people park in front of the dips in the pavement thus preventing a wheelchair user (and those with prams etc) from easily getting onto the street. Luckily this doesn't seem to happen too often to my wife and me.
ReplyDeleteIt's really annoying, isn't it? Another thing that bothers me is when there are poles placed by Dublin City Council right at a wheelchair spot and people can then lock their bikes to them.
DeleteOh yes, that's happened too, but luckily I can move those out of the way for my wife (who is in the chair). Cars on the other hand not so much, no matter how hard I try! :)
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ReplyDeleteHeya, I came across this recently when I was trying to source parking for a wheelchair using student and it really doesn't appear to be common knowledge.
ReplyDelete"Where a disabled space is unavailable, a Local Authorities and Public Bodies extend parking of the vehicle transporting the (permit) holder in general parking, at parking meters and in disc parking areas without charge and without a time limit."
You COULD read this as a) where there are no disabled spots at all OR b) where the disabled spots are all used/blocked. Either way, it looks like you should get some free parking!
http://www.ddai.ie/index.php/services/parking-permit/when-and-where-can-i-use
Cheers
Bob
Hey hey Bob,
DeleteThe thing with wheelchair parking is that a lot of those spots have more space to get a wheelchair in and out of a car so it's more to it than whether it's free or not. Although, it is a nice silver lining...
Thanks for this - good to think abut all the actual reasons behind provision of a service - see my post below also.
DeleteCheers
Amy
Hi Louise,
ReplyDeleteSaw you on TV3 and looked up your blog. Good blog, enjoying reading it.
This post about disabled parking spots got me thinking about something else and I'd love to hear your thoughts:
Disabled toilets!
While I would never use a disabled parking spot - because I completely understand the need for a wheelchair user to have additional room to manoeuvre - disabled bathrooms are something I think about a lot.
My sister and I went to a public convenience where there were two bathrooms - one disabled and one non-disabled (double negative??? is that even a word??). Anyhoo we both used the toilets at the same time - her into the disabled. Afterwards we discussed and we felt that this was "okay". That had a wheelchair user came along that obviously they should get priority for the only bathroom they can use, but at the same time if there was another wheelchair user in there they would still have to "queue".
Oh dear, I don't know if I am wording this at all very well but what I am trying to say is that it seems to be a mad situation that a disabled bathroom should sit there unused for that one opportunity when a user comes along, while a big queue develops on the other one. I am of the opinion that it should be like the system on the bus e.g. more of a "you need to give this spot/toilet to disabled user if required".
Have I made any sense at all?? What are your thoughts? (I'd love to hear from the "horse's mouth" as they say to either affirm my theory or at make me question it more...or even debate a little if we are at odds with each other)
Regards
Amy
http://amydublinia.blogspot.ie/
Hey Amy,
DeleteI personally have no problems with people using wheelchair bathrooms but in the cases of big bars, restaurants or venues where they only have one wheelchair bathroom to 5 or 10 regular bathrooms, it's poor form to use it.
I don't mind people using them but when there's only one wheelchair bathroom and people are using it, they should let the person in a wheelchair/on crutches etc. skip ahead.
Wheelchair bathrooms are (well, should be) located in a spot that's easy to get to and if you're using one, which is totally fine in my eyes, just be aware that someone may need to use it when you're in there and there may not be another toilet that they can use nearby.
Thanks for reading Amy!
Well I think from what you have written (and I hope from what I have written) it seems that we are both of the same mindset: that a little bit of common sense (and common courtesy) goes a long way.
DeleteWhat you says makes absolute sense it is bad form to hog the wheelchair bathroom if there's loads of others..
I think you're right also "be aware"...if you are using one think of the person who cannot use any other and just get IN and OUT.
Thanks so much for your (quick) reply.
Happy blogging.
Feel free to follow mine if you are interested
http://amydublinia.blogspot.ie/
Amy
Ps. I didn't want to mention in my first post because I felt it was irrelevant to my points but both my sister and I have stomach issues that mean when you need to go, you really need to go...
But that aside, courtesy and common sense by us ALL should abide, I feel.
And for parking spots: think about WHY a wheelchair user or a person with a specific special need might need it, and why you don't..
Thanks again for replying.
I was actually going to use a pregnant woman who really needed to pee as an example! Everyone has their reasons sure.
Delete