Privileged parking for fuel-efficient cars?

[Nitrous]

The problems with any "Privilege" are twofold; first, they are abused (take handicapped parking as an example) and than they go from privilege to entitlement.

spelling - lack of coffee

One of my friends in high school was in an accident and lost her leg, above the ankle. She had a handicapped tag but did not park in a handicapped spot. People got mad at her for that (taking up their precious, non-handicapped spots), as well as parking in a handicapped spot then walking (no limp) to the store. The handicapped people I knew, in college never parked in the handicapped spots. They are required to be there (the spots) by the gov't.

I also hate lever door handles.

 

[RHRanch]

One of my friends in high school was in an accident and lost her leg, above the ankle. She had a handicapped tag but did not park in a handicapped spot. People got mad at her for that (taking up their precious, non-handicapped spots), as well as parking in a handicapped spot then walking (no limp) to the store. The handicapped people I knew, in college never parked in the handicapped spots. They are required to be there (the spots) by the gov't.

I also hate lever door handles.

Handicapped spots are really important to those that really need them. (And you can't always tell who needs them just by looking) My bf is physically very disabled and in a wheelchair. It is a lot of work just to get in and out of the van and we need the extra space for a ramp. He is also physically delicate and needs to stay warm, is easily chilled, in bad weather he needs to get inside very quickly, so we use the handicapped spots.

 

[OldGuy43]

Handicapped spots are really important to those that really need them. (And you can't always tell who needs them just by looking) My bf is physically very disabled and in a wheelchair. It is a lot of work just to get in and out of the van and we need the extra space for a ramp. He is also physically delicate and needs to stay warm, is easily chilled, in bad weather he needs to get inside very quickly, so we use the handicapped spots.

My problem is not with those who use them as was intended. Your BF is an example of one of those. My problem is with those who park in a handicap spot with the proper documentation, and than jump out of the car and sprint into the store. Another example would be a woman of my acquaintance who got a handicap placard because she had hemorrhoids. I have no problem with that per se, but the fact that she had them because she was a bit shorter than myself and weighed over 400 pounds does make me wonder about the criteria for getting a placard. (And no, she did not have a glandular condition or other medical reason for being overweight.)

Limping should not be enough reason for using a handicap space. Heck, I walk with a limp, and some days it's even painful. That does not mean I need/deserve a handicap spot, does it?

 

[RHRanch]

My problem is not with those who use them as was intended. Your BF is an example of one of those. My problem is with those who park in a handicap spot with the proper documentation, and than jump out of the car and sprint into the store. Another example would be a woman of my acquaintance who got a handicap placard because she had hemorrhoids. I have no problem with that per se, but the fact that she had them because she was a bit shorter than myself and weighed over 400 pounds does make me wonder about the criteria for getting a placard. (And no, she did not have a glandular condition or other medical reason for being overweight.)

Limping should not be enough reason for using a handicap space. Heck, I walk with a limp, and some days it's even painful. That does not mean I need/deserve a handicap spot, does it?

Well isn't the problem really the doctors who are willing to certify someone as disabled when they might not actually have a serious enough disability to warrant a handicap placard?

 

[RHRanch]

Well isn't the problem really the doctors who are willing to certify someone as disabled when they might not actually have a serious enough disability to warrant a handicap placard?

And yes, sometimes I look at the folks who have just swiped the space my BF and I need and wonder about thier disability when they leap put of the car and run into the store... But I try to give even them the benefit of the doubt. I have to hope they are not abusing the system.

 

[Ferrret]

As far as I have seen, hybrid parking only spots have also had charging terminals in place so that a person can charge their vehicle while they are shopping or at work. It would be awfully rude for someone with a non-hybrid to park there out of spite, much like someone in an all electric car parking in front of a fuel pump and leaving their car there.
Setting up hybrid only spots may also be an attempt to get people normalized to having hybrids parked there so they can put in charging terminals at a later time.

 

[OldGuy43]

Up near the front, just past the reserved parking spaces for handicapped drivers, are spaces with signs declaring they are for fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles ONLY.

Quote:
I would agree with Ferret if it weren't for the "Up near the front, just past the reserved parking spaces for handicapped drivers" from the original post. If the goal is to provide charging stations I would put them somewhere that already had electric service, say clustered around the light poles. No, I think this is just another PC, Gore Green move.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

As far as I have seen, hybrid parking only spots have also had charging terminals in place so that a person can charge their vehicle while they are shopping or at work. It would be awfully rude for someone with a non-hybrid to park there out of spite, much like someone in an all electric car parking in front of a fuel pump and leaving their car there.
Setting up hybrid only spots may also be an attempt to get people normalized to having hybrids parked there so they can put in charging terminals at a later time.

Why are hybrid drivers getting spaces that also supply free, untaxed fuel to them?

I am required to buy a taxed fuel for my car. Why are they not only exempt from the road tax, they are getting free fuel on my dime?

 

[OldGuy43]

Quote: Here in Austin the charging stations will cost $2.00/hr. Of course, what the powers-that-be don't tell you is that there are currently only about 50 vehicles that will make use of them. Now there's a minority group for ya.

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/austin-says-car-charging-stations-will-be-ready-1691774.html

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

The ones talked about in earlier posts were free.