darrenhillock

Member since: 10/23/2007

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Should this disabled parking be free?

4/26/2008 at 12:03 AM

disabled parking symbol on blacktop

Who doesn't like a freebie? I know I'm always appreciative. How about some free gas right now? That would go over real good.
But gas isn't what's free at Miami International Airport. Parking is what's free there, if you have disabled parking privileges.
Unfortunately, that's leading to abuse of the policy by people who work at the airport, not apparently hindered at all in their physical movements, using fraudulently obtained disabled parking credentials to skirt paying a fee and getting a nice parking spot.
I suppose the idea of providing the disabled parking free of charge was a well-intentioned idea. But it's flawed and really might be creating another unnecessary incentive for people to try to illegally park in parking intended for and needed by people with disabilities.
My own experience with disabled parking tells me that very often it's not a problem for me to find a spot in most places, like a shopping center or hotel parking lot. By now I think people generally are more respectful of parking for disabled people and there are more lots with the spots as parking regulations have caught up.
But it can be difficult in some high volume situations to his day. Medical facilities are one, believe it or not, and just a general parking garage in a metro downtown is another. The van accessible parking spots we need to get our son in and out of our van can sometimes be scarce in the big parking scenario. I've never vied for disabled parking in an airport, but I could see that being the same situation.
In the end it's pathetic that these workers saw fit to get free parking by exploiting parking for people with disabilities who had legitimate reasons for needing the access. Personally, I'm not sure the exemption for the fee was needed, and they make the disabled spots that much more enticing. It's not like people with disabilities were getting less for their parking dollar, like might be the argument at say an attraction that required some certain level of physical ability or where some aspects would be outside the realm of someone who, for example, cannot climb stairs. Parking is parking and it's pretty easy to get full value out of it if you at least find a spot. The Herald reports that no other airport has a similar free parking policy for disabled spots.
Of course I hope these people are punished. It ought to be enough that people without disabilities stay out of parking needed by those that do. But the lure of a freebie can be very strong. Maybe this is one freebie that ought to go away for the sake of temptation and even fairness.

Photo from bigfoto.com

Filed under: travel, darrenhillock, airlines, accessibility, airports

Comments

On Apr 26, 2008 lsquires said:

Free or not, able bodied people seem to be attracted to the handicapped spots. This is one of thoes unenforced laws (at least in my area).

Another issue with these is that some disabilities are not as visible as others and so the heirarchy of disabilities is displayed if not externally than most likely internally. I catch myself doing it all the time and then I try to be rational and remind myself that some disabilities are not immediatly apparent.

A solution? All parking permits must be renewed on a yearly basis! I know that it is a pain to get a Dr. note, but frankly don't most of us who have a true disabiling condition go to the Dr. quite frequently? I beleive that this would help. A very far out idea that I just had is why not make the spots gated until a bar code is scanned and the permit is accepted. I know that there could be alot of bugs in this idea, but non disabled people would not have access to the spots.

I really don't have an answer, our world is not perfect and it never will be, so we all should just keep our chins up and cope with this situtaion.
On Apr 28, 2008 darrenhillock said:

The gate idea, in this age of microchips and electronic toll etc. might not be so crazy. Maybe there's something embedded in your disabled license plate that triggers the gate. Though I suppose such technology would be prohibitive for the many modest businesses that have to provide disabled parking in their lots.