Something of an 'Am I The A-hole?' question

Many of the stores in the area have cut back on their handicap accessible parking spaces and replaced them with Curbside Pickup, Fast Pickup, or Delivery service parking.

This has caused a situation where it is super difficult for me to park in a space with the room I need to get my wheelchair in and out of my vehicle. However, the pickup spots are almost always next to the handicap hash area for extra space. So I have begun using those spaces when handicap is full.

It seems like bad etiquette, but it also feels wrong that these spots mostly used by grocery delivery services have eaten away at the very necessary and already limited accessible spaces. I do have a placard and I only use them when there are no handicap reserve spaces free.

Does this seem like I'm in the wrong? Or is the situation somewhat justified?

Additional note, some of these places have sloped parking lots, so parking at the far end and hoping nobody parks next to me and doesn't give me space is not the only risk. Taking a wheelchair up even a slight incline over a long distance is rough.

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twiigss · M

Number one rule I always follow: If you're unsure about something, ask. So don't go in telling them how you park in the curbside spaces, instead just go in and ask, "Hey, I have a placard to park in the handicapped spaces but I noticed curbside pickup kind of took over some of the handicap space." "So I wanted to ask what I should do in a situation where the handicapped spaces are entirely full." "Would I be able to park in a curbside pickup space that is directly next to a handicap space?"

And see what they say. Worst thing they can say is no, that's not allowed. But I see people with no handicap tag or placard park in the handicap spaces at wally world all the time. I think you're fine to be honest, but again it never hurts to ask, hell never hurts to vent about curbside taking over handicap spaces.

NativePortlander1970 ·

@twiigss When you're disabled you should not have to ask, you just do it.

twiigss · M

@NativePortlander1970 I agree. You should not have to ask. I only suggested it because I've ran into the problem of not asking when I had the chance, and things would have turned out better if I would have asked the question. Plus, let's say he does simply do it, and his car gets towed. Maybe asking could avoid that possibility if it exists?