When you take someone in a wheelchair
along for a trip in your own car, parking in places that are
convenient can be a bit of a hassle. You probably don't have a
handicap parking placard yourself, and if your friend or relative who
uses a wheelchair doesn't drive, they won't have a placard, either.
Without a valid handicapped parking decal to display in your window,
leaving your car in the slots that are designated for handicapped
parking will gain you scorn – and quite possibly a pricey ticket to
pay.
Many co-travelers pack a lightweight
portable wheelchair ramp in case they have to park their car at the
far end of a lot. When you end up parking way out in Timbuktu, the
ramp makes it easy for the person in a wheelchair to roll up onto a
sidewalk or path, away from other traffic that may be cruising
through the lot. The ramp is also useful if you end up parking on the
street quite some distance away from a curb that is designed for
mobility access.
Other travelers on a road trip use an
available handicapped parking space for temporary parking, staying in
the slot only long enough to unload the wheelchair so that their
traveling buddy can get situated. The handicapped spaces have the
advantage of being wider than other slots, so it is easier to
maneuver during the few minutes it takes to get securely seated in
the wheel chair. As soon as everyone is settled, the driver leaves
and finds a regular parking spot elsewhere as the person takes
advantage of the curb ramps that are typically located near
handicapped parking spots.
Do not abuse the places that are
designated for those who have legitimate parking placards. In many
areas the penalty for unauthorized parking carries a stiff fine with
it.