Posts Tagged ‘Handicap Parking’

Addendum Techncal Aids Tips and Tricks XLIX

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012

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I am always happy when my blog is not only read, but if other tips are sent to me as well.

In my blog of 04.02.2012 I described (see older blogpost), how fast the disabled parking permit escapes in the car at forceful braking and vanishes into the ventilation slot of the windscreen.

A citizen from Potsdam involved in the problem has given some thought and developed a

Parking Permit Holder

.
This object is great and is awarded after a long-time test for several weeks by the unbribable (except for fresh nut slices), independent Rollinator test team, with the new founded

Roll-On Innovation Award on the Silver Axis

for technical aids. The parking permit holder is a holder made from Plexiglas in which the conventional disabled or resident parking permits can be inserted.

The holder has a dovetail on the lower part with which it can be put in the much dreaded ventilation slot. Thereby the construction turns upwards, so that the permit clamps in parallel to the windscreen.

The permit thus will be seen very well, but can be removed any time “tetra easily” from the holder.

It is a well-thought new technical aid which is not only functional, but has a reasonable price as well.

For more information see www.parkausweishalterung.de

Translator BL

Perceived two hundredth handicap parking story

Monday, March 5th, 2012

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One of my regularly visited supermarkets is the HTI and the do-it-yourself-store IBO (or something like that…), with a big shared underground parking lot.

There was not a single designated disabled parking place, so that I made it to my “mission” to change it over the years and to go on people’s nerves a little bit.

You don’t make yourself necessarily popular in a highly frequented parking lot if you put your car on two parking places at the same time. Then you quickly have a nice modern stripe pattern from a key in your car paint, or you are declared to be a woman.

A service counter in a supermarket is something quite nice.

Since 2009 I am asking every couple of months, how about a disable parking spot down there?

Exceptionally I didn’t take out the big “cudgel” but started the project “let’s see who has the greater staying power” with an inner smile.
I was irritated a little by the permanently changing staff at the service counter, I always heard that there was something in progress… the facility manager etc…!!

Last time the service clerk immediately got her boss, she remembered a wheeler with the same request.

About a year ago I incited a rolling fellow whom I met in this parking lot to bother the service staff as well a little bit.

When the boss came he told me he knew the problem, there were difficulties with the owner because designated disabled parking places would decrease the total amount of parking places in this underground parking lot.
Yeah, sure, I wanted to leave the cudgel in the sack and didn’t want to talk about laws and directives.

I already kept an eye on a special parking place all the time.

The boss immediately liked the idea to declare this parking place to a disabled parking place and wanted to take care of it.
Well, let’s wait and see, I’ll be back ;-)

On Friday I was again in this underground parking lot after around five weeks and was happy to have found quickly a suitable parking place.

After the groceries I took a photo of the possible future disabled parking place.

When I took a closer look to the pictures on my PC yesterday I almost couldn’t believe it, there is actually a wheelchair symbol hanging on the wall.

I couldn’t see a floor labelling, but we are starting from scratch. I am curious if I will have the pleasure to park on this VIP parking place this year, or if I only get upset about disabled parking place occupiers.

I keep you up to date!!!

Click on tag Handicap Parking to read other nice stories (will be translated step by step).

Translator BL

Technical Aids Tips und Tricks XLIX

Saturday, February 4th, 2012

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I heard that disabled parking permits can virtually vanish into thin air and can’t be found in the car anymore.

They possibly fall into black holes. Partial drifts in the space-time continuum are nothing unusual anyway.

Everybody knows it when you are looking for something, can’t find it, and suddenly it is back again.

As rumour has it, the permits are also stolen at night by SUV and cabriolet driving pedestrians.
But there is also the variant that the permit has never left the vehicle.

The permit is not gone, you just don’t see it any more…!!!

The permits are laminated in plastic foil and therefore quite slippery. Apply the brakes forcefully a couple of times, and the parking permit vanishes rapidly between front screen and dashboard like in a letter box.

Then a good fisherman or the new application for the VIP permit is required!!!
I can’t advise the extraction of the car dashboard to anyone, something is always creaking afterwards.

It’s absolutely clear that most of the people with walking disability have fixed their parking permits in their cars in some way.

But if you are regularly taken along by different people in their cars the parking permit should stay removable and can’t be fixed with a “final solution”.

OK…, it could…!!!

As “final solution” I recommend to adhere the permit to the windscreen with a special glue which hardens under ultraviolet light (the sun will help), e.g. Loctite 30xx.

A theft of the parking permit is only possible including the screen then. ;-)

If I am on the road with a friend in his car, I made the experience that the dashboard jump for my permit is nothing unusual.

The easiest way is to stick some self-adhesive rubber pads or non-slip mat underneath the permit, or to put it like in the picture below in a thick cover.

The non-slip mat is available in the do-it-yourself store around the corner in car accessories or from the company Dycem, (see older blogposts Technical Aids for Quadriplegics Part I und Part IV), who makes very good technical aids which I have tested myself.

This special English disabled parking disc is good for maximum 3 hours parking, presumably like in Germany in restricted parking zones, is new to me.

I am currently thinking about illuminating my disabled parking permit with a LED matrix as you can see on television if a new CD is presented.

Click on tag “Handicap Parking to read other nice stories! ;-)

Translator BL

Eigude Shame Part XX

Monday, December 19th, 2011

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What is an absolute “must” just before Christmas?

Of course a visit to the premises of the nearest post office. Because a queue down to the street needs to be anticipated winter clothing is advisable. It was unbelievable, but after a bit of honking even the second handicapped parking space was free and I had the pole position, see Opel Astra on the left.

I even was a bit disappointed, no queue in the cold, and I was so heavily dressed…!!!

After 20 minutes I was outside again, ran over nobody’s feet and didn’t exchange any business cards, that was quicker than in the summer!!!

It would have been almost a perfect mail collection day if they didn’t have had this stoned construction engineer who designed the ramp without barriers, but not without joints (in the meaning of gaps). This drip moulding has a great design :-(

It is quite special if you get stuck in a gully hole on a

stroller-and-wheelchair ramp

and hence break your second leg.

Do I have to present a petition for “jointless drip mouldings on wheelchair ramps” to the German Bundestag (parliament)???

Translator BL

 

A wonderful day!!!

Saturday, December 17th, 2011

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The day before yesterday I went to have an x-ray of my

Fracture of the shin-bone

Yet there was a vacant parking place for disabled persons.
Next to my car a minibus was parking. If you want or if you don`t, automatically you take a look at the windscreen and you search for the

“blue parking permit”

(blue-coloured parking permit for disabled people)

What a pity, like very often a driver forgot to place the parking permission. Ho, ho, ho… I do believe in Santa Clause again!!
Just as I got off my car, and was sitting in my wheelchair, a lady came on foot in a distance of 30 meters in my direction.
I spent my loveliest and a bit malicious grin to the lady.
I really don`t understand it completely myself, but this lady didn’t have her best day this day. First she harassed the sliding door of the bus, then she jumped on to the driver’s seat, went into reverse gear and then attack…
The sad aspect in this story was, that a few meters behind her instead of me there was a not to be scoffed concrete pillar. She managed to nudge it to the ground nearly. My grin spread much wider when she repeated this action for a second time. ;-)
My new friend, this

concrete pillar

Her front bumper now looks a bit like a cat scratch pole.
She’ll ever remember this parking place for disabled.

Fracture of shin-bone

My fracture from September 4th slowly heals up – anyway, my day was saved.

Translator Teo

Insider Tips for Disabled Parking Place Occupiers

Friday, December 2nd, 2011

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It happens again and again that a normal ignorant disabled parking place occupying pedestrian is verbally dissed by some random hobbling or wheelchair driving disabled people, only because he is parking with his Land Rover or Cabriolet on a disabled parking place.

They shouldn’t make such a fuss, they are almost all retired anyway, are paid by the general public and have enough time to look for another parking place.

To avoid such disputes in the future and keep on pursuing his God-given right to unchallengedly park on a disabled parking place, the association of

“European Disabled Parking Place Occupiers”

has released some internal tips for the procedure of

“Blue Parking”.

1. You need a disabled parking permit.

The copying of valid permits should be avoided due to falsification of documents. Laminating of blue papers or blue student ID cards didn’t show the desired success.

It is the easiest to look for a senile relative. If you unfortunately don’t have an ideally comatose granny, a visit in the nearest nursing home is necessary. There you are looking for an inhabitant in a wheelchair with Oldsheimer, for whom you become the so-called disabled parking partner. The necessary handicapped ID with the walking disability entry usually lies in the left drawer of the cabinet. Let the person sign the in the download area available application form, or sign yourself. After approximately 4 weeks you receive by mail a blue valid “parking permit for disabled person”. Then the first step is completed.

2. The correct leaving of the car

When you have parked quasi “legally” on a disabled parking place, you shouldn’t jump out of the car like an 18-year-old and walk away. It all depends on the correct technique in leaving the car, as not to be revealed as non-disabled. Always carry a sad face, or best the model: I am displeased with the whole situation!

How to leave the car “not in perfection” can be watched in the following video from our American member Homer.
He is still getting off too fast, his timing is not right yet. His wailing look in connection with the quite good hobbling appears a bit overacted. This can be improved with a little bit of practice. The variant to park like Homer on several disabled parking places at the same time increases the credibility that one is disabled, but can lead to misinterpretations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWpPUVF5JvU&feature=youtu.be

If all these tips are taken to heart, parking in front of the opera or the town house should always be possible, if not another member of the association is already parking on it.

Translator BL

It happens again and again that a normal ignorant disabled parking place occupying pedestrian is verbally dissed by some random hobbling or wheelchair driving disabled people, only because he is parking with his Land Rover or Cabriolet on a disabled parking place.

They shouldn’t make such a fuss, they are almost all retired anyway, are paid by the general public and have enough time to look for another parking place.

To avoid such disputes in the future and keep on pursuing his God-given right to unchallengedly park on a disabled parking place, the association of

“European Disabled Parking Place Occupiers”

has released some internal tips for the procedure of

“Blue Parking”.

1. You need a disabled parking permit.

The copying of valid permits should be avoided due to falsification of documents. Laminating of blue papers or blue student ID cards didn’t show the desired success.

It is the easiest to look for a senile relative. If you unfortunately don’t have an ideally comatose granny, a visit in the nearest nursing home is necessary. There you are looking for an inhabitant in a wheelchair with Oldsheimer, for whom you become the so-called disabled parking partner. The necessary handicapped ID with the walking disability entry usually lies in the left drawer of the cabinet. Let the person sign the in the download area available application form, or sign yourself. After approximately 4 weeks you receive by mail a blue valid “parking permit for disabled person”. Then the first step is completed.

2. The correct leaving of the car

When you have parked quasi “legally” on a disabled parking place, you shouldn’t jump out of the car like an 18-year-old and walk away. It all depends on the correct technique in leaving the car, as not to be revealed as non-disabled. Always carry a sad face, or best the model: I am displeased with the whole situation!

How to leave the car “not in perfection” can be watched in the following video from our American member Homer.
He is still getting off too fast, his timing is not right yet. His wailing look in connection with the quite good hobbling appears a bit overacted. This can be improved with a little bit of practice. The variant to park like Homer on several disabled parking places at the same time increases the credibility that one is disabled, but can lead to misinterpretations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWpPUVF5JvU&feature=youtu.be

If all these tips are taken to heart, parking in front of the opera or the town house should always be possible, if not another member of the association is already parking on it.

Translator BL

 

3 Handicap parking stories in one day!

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

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Today no complaints!!!

Yesterday I was positively surprised that I actually could get hold of one of the 6 disabled parking places in front of the hospital for my X-ray appointment.

A black „mobile home“ with a star on the front was standing next to me.
Because SUV drivers often forget to display their disabled parking permit I made small labels which I put on their cars.

Furthermore I have fixed my new wheelchair parking sign on the window (see older blogpost), which unfolded its full effect after the car parking next to mine had changed, so that I really had enough space for getting into my car. Great thing.

When I wanted to back into my disabled parking place in front of my house around 6 o’clock, it was already dark, a woman on a bicycle was just passing by.

She stopped, came to me and friendly pointed out that this was a disabled parking place. In this moment she saw my wheelchair and parking permit.

I thanked her, she thought probably that I hadn’t seen the labeling in the dark.

I think her behaviour is exemplary and absolutely worth mentioning!

Translator BL

 

Technical Aids Tips and Tricks XLV

Sunday, October 23rd, 2011

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I am coming back again to my favourite subject,

Handicap Parking

(See older blogposts).

I have already experienced the “Worst Case” several times, that somebody parked his car in that way next to mine so that I wasn’t able to open the driver’s door completely any more, what is a “must” for me and my wheelchair.

To draw the attention of the other road users to it I have fixed a sign 15 cm x 15 cm with the text: „Please keep distance“ at the inside of the door, which is however still “not seen” by some people.

The CBF (Club of handicapped and their friends, Darmstadt), sells for little money a

yellow sign, “Please keep distance!”,

which one can fix to the window of the driver’s door, like the flags from the football world cup. This sign can’t really be overlooked any more.
I think this is great and ordered it immediately. Due to my broken leg with hospital stay a long time test could not be executed yet.

Source of Supply:
CBF Darmstadt e.V.
Link: www.cbf-da.de

There you can also order the handicap toilet key (see older blogpost).

Who still parks his car too close to mine then, I declare handicapped as well, i.e. blind, chronic off road dementia, or an incurable psychic disease.

Addendum:

A guarantee can’t be provided, teehee…read Robo’s comment :-)

Translator BL

Designer Handicap Parking Place

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

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For me the opinion has manifested that the planners of disabled parking places are taking stronger pills than me which would be an achievement in itself.

A big retailer for consumer electronics with the orange planet in Frankfurt has a more than mentionable disabled parking place in its underground parking lot.

You follow the quite good signage and go around in circles into the deep to the lowermost parking level which reminded me of the novel “Journey to the center of the earth” by Jules Verne.

You don’t need to worry about a possible evacuation of your wheelchair because you are the only human being down there, and the ramp to the saving lift can’t be climbed anyway by most of the wheelers due to its steepness. To drive up the car ramp of course wouldn’t be difficult for any Paralympics participant.

Next time I will stock up with enough water and food, just in case.

Although it is quite right that wheelers hardly reach 150 cm sitting, this has little relation to the height of the cars that we drive.

Porsche, Ferrari and Maserati cabriolets are rather uncommon hand throttle cars for wheelchair users unless you are not patient of the employer’s accident insurance.

Although you have a complete parking level available to park your car, there is only one labelled disabled parking place with a partial ceiling height of only approx. 1,60 m.

Conclusion:
The attendance of the underground parking lot is quite charming due to the ambiance. However you should refrain from it if you would like to enter the store as wheeler by yourself.

The disabled symbol is very creditable and radiates certain cheerfulness with its design.

Translator BL

Complaining is worth it! Simply Great Part V

Monday, August 29th, 2011

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I have already often reported about my handicap parking safaris (see older blogpost).

The discounter with the big “L“ on whose parking lot the most beautiful stories have happened, has relocated the disabled parking place sign on my proposal.

Especially worth mentioning is the reanimation of the wheelchair symbol on the ground.

The labelling is top!!!

A little e-mail with pictures to the head office, a very kind callback on the phone, and it was taken care about the issue.

I know, penned by me it sounds a little paradox, but don’t just always complain, raise the issues at the appropriate positions, often it is quite simple to change something.

However I have to mention that I kindly announced to an approximately 30 year old driver of a car with a star that he would be standing on a disabled parking place when I came out of the supermarket. He apologized several times, he hadn’t seen it. This partial blindness seems to be wildly spread. I believe in the Easter bunny and Santa Claus, and now him as well…

Translator BL

Special Edition!!

Wednesday, August 17th, 2011

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Collective suicide of the disabled parking place labels!

The silver-coloured car on the first picture has a parking permit, the driver of the black car is suffering from the widely spread chronic “Offroad Dementia”.

Translator BL

Please park all on disabled parking places, then I can discontinue my blood pressure pills!

Monday, August 8th, 2011

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I probably get on your nerves with my handicap parking stories in the long run, but I can’t hold back this “fairy tale”, once again on the parking lot of the supermarket with the big L, from you.

The front two of four opposing disabled parking places were occupied by DPB’s*. I parked my car with appropriate distance, so that I could open the door completely, on the next parking place. So far, so good.

When I came out of the supermarket with my wife, my blood pressure raised rapidly. While I was doing the groceries someone squeezed his matchbox car next to mine.

The front car was gone in the meantime, however this didn’t help me on any further. It was a

DĂ©jĂ  vu

(see older blogpost).

My wife stowed the groceries into the trunk while I drove quite rapidly into the supermarket again and announced the number plate of the vehicle in barker style.

When I arrived at the cash desk after my lap of honour I saw two guys in their early twenties standing next to my new favourite car, who were “instructed” by my wife.

They seemed understanding, but when I approached them I couldn’t suppress to ask them loudly about the “whistling” of my recently passed away “pig“ (translator’s note: German idiomatic expression for “Blow me down!”: “I think my pig whistles!”)

For the driver the situation was apparently unpleasant and he apologized several times, which slowly made me feel uneasy. He said he hadn’t seen that he was parking on a disabled parking place. I criticized the bad labeling already a couple of weeks ago, and it was promised to me to change it (see older blogpost).

I believed him.

For me the small dispute was long settled when he opened his trunk, took out one chocolate and one vanilla pudding with cream and absolutely wanted to give those to me as apology.

Of course I denied it, I was embarrassed and I felt already sorry for complaining.

The two guys drove away, and what was put on my rear window shelf,

2 cream puddings.

One minute later an around 45 year old guy parked his black “mobile home” (SUV) directly in front of me on the opposing disabled parking place. I asked him if he knew that this was a disabled parking place. He confirmed this and said that he was disabled. Then he grumbled and drove away again when I asked him about the parking permit.

Does anybody have an idea which handicap he could have had?
Write a comment.

*Disabled Parking Blockers

Addendum 13,08.11: “Pudding booty” tasted good! ;-)

Translator BL

Eigude Shame IX

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

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Does this international hotel chain want to address especially wheelchair users?

Promo vehicle

Original text of the e-mail to the company on the driver’s door:

Dear Sirs,

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that this kind of “promotion” (see photos) is not well received by us wheelchair users, especially because your vehicle is blocking two disabled parking places at once.
When your vehicle arrived I was in my wheelchair getting into my car on the next parking place!

Click on tag handicap parking to read other “nice” stories.

Translator BL

Recently in front of the supermarket with the big “L”

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

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Legal traffic regulations are applied on this parking lot!!!

There are 4 designated disabled parking places at the entrance. 2 opposing on each side.

After the groceries, I was parking without bad conscience on one of these parking places, I was rather astonished.

Somebody managed to park with a “Smart” on the opposing 2 disabled parking places in such way that both places were blocked. This was a real effort, remarkable.

Unfortunately I was too slow, the creative parker just came out of the supermarket when I was still digging for my camera. Unfortunately I was already sitting in my car, what a shame, or luck for the lady!!!

My wife asked the lady why she was parking on disabled parking places?

These parking places would be for people who cannot “walk” and not for people who cannot “park”!!

She replied where this was “standing” that this would be a disabled parking place???

I just shouted from the car: You are “standing” on it!

She was standing with her feet on the

Wheelchair symbol!!!

I have to admit, the symbol is really a bit “scraped off”.

I have informed the company L. concerning this matter. They answered by phone and convincingly assured me to renew the symbol as soon as possible and improve the signage so that nobody would park again “by oversight” on a disabled parking place.

The company L. had already 2 years ago removed a curb and raised the walkway after I pointed that out to them.

Very customer oriented, a very commendable company in this regard.

By the way, visually impaired are entitled to park on disabled parking places, but they are usually not the driver.

Link: Old, but unbeatable!!!
Pedestrians are parking on a disabled parking place!!!
They get involuntary help in leaving the car by Theo West (RTL, German TV).

Translator BL

Eigude Shame XVIII

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

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Today some innovative ideas of my city Frankfurt/Main!!!

Gully cover

in road construction usually are built kindly with “slots” in travel direction. In this case so that the wheeler can drive into the slots with his front tyres and doesn’t roll away when he is waiting for the lift. Unfortunately it was forgotten to illuminate the “waiting gully”, but this will certainly be realized in the next few days.

We wheelers are happy about every piece of cobble stone. It is better for us than some medication. The jolting supports the digestion at its best.

Thus especially commendable is this

“New Disabled Parking Place”

It was designed according to the latest findings from the handicap area. Please note the joints between the stones which probably were not closed on purpose so that the wheelchair doesn’t roll away when getting out of the car. After getting out you keep “standing” safely next to the car. The different heights of the stones facilitate the car-floor-transfer, because the wheelchair is standing ergonomically on 3 wheels. Especially commendable is that the curbs are on grade neither to the street nor to the pavement, so that curb jumping can be practiced.

The width of the joints exactly match the size of the wheelchair tyres, somebody really took great efforts.

Thank you road traffic department Frankfurt, I am proud of you!!!

Translator BL