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kjbathe · 07-08-2007, 11:02 AM

I docked in the handicapped spot yesterday around noon and was happy to see one available. The folks waiting to dock were numerous and were like vultures waiting for a bite of a new carcass. I was happy to be able to cut the whole line and avoid that nonsense. Can folks just back off a little bit when waiting for spots -- it makes it a heck of a lot easier for you to dock if you'll actually let folks OUT of the dock first. It made Christmas parking at the mall look good, but I digress...

We pulled in, tied up and cleaned up the boat a bit when a gentleman approached my wife and me to note that the spots were intended for the handicapped, which we clearly are not. I still have no idea how we are supposed to identify "legitimate" handicapped boaters, but the honor system certainly doesn't do it as the three other boaters I saw use the spaces had no visible or otherwise apparent disability.

That being said, about five minutes before the gentleman approached us we had helped my father-in-law off the boat. The victim of a massive stroke, he has a very visible physical impairment, walks (slowly) with a cane, and needs a lot of help off and on the boat. Short of having a wheelchair, if there's a definition of a handicapped boater, he fits it. And we were happy to be able to cut in line yesterday to dock...because we were hungry and didn't want to wait for lunch.

That's really the sum total benefit of the handicapped spaces in our eyes -- they're a time saver. They're no closer to the parking lot or restaurants. They're still subject to the same wake and fluctuating water levels as the other spaces. (Note: His boating season is almost over this year because it's too hard to get in/out with the lower water levels). And if you ask me if the handicapped spots are a good idea -- as we discussed at dinner last night -- we agreed that they are not, for the very reasons I just noted. What's the other tangible benefit for the impaired? Especially when there's no established protocol or apparent enforcement for their use/misuse.

This is one view from legitimate users of the handicapped spaces: We just don't get it.

07-08-2007, 11:02 AM	#26
kjbathe Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 281 Thanks: 3 Thanked 21 Times in 11 Posts	I docked in the spots... I docked in the handicapped spot yesterday around noon and was happy to see one available. The folks waiting to dock were numerous and were like vultures waiting for a bite of a new carcass. I was happy to be able to cut the whole line and avoid that nonsense. Can folks just back off a little bit when waiting for spots -- it makes it a heck of a lot easier for you to dock if you'll actually let folks OUT of the dock first. It made Christmas parking at the mall look good, but I digress... We pulled in, tied up and cleaned up the boat a bit when a gentleman approached my wife and me to note that the spots were intended for the handicapped, which we clearly are not. I still have no idea how we are supposed to identify "legitimate" handicapped boaters, but the honor system certainly doesn't do it as the three other boaters I saw use the spaces had no visible or otherwise apparent disability. That being said, about five minutes before the gentleman approached us we had helped my father-in-law off the boat. The victim of a massive stroke, he has a very visible physical impairment, walks (slowly) with a cane, and needs a lot of help off and on the boat. Short of having a wheelchair, if there's a definition of a handicapped boater, he fits it. And we were happy to be able to cut in line yesterday to dock...because we were hungry and didn't want to wait for lunch. That's really the sum total benefit of the handicapped spaces in our eyes -- they're a time saver. They're no closer to the parking lot or restaurants. They're still subject to the same wake and fluctuating water levels as the other spaces. (Note: His boating season is almost over this year because it's too hard to get in/out with the lower water levels). And if you ask me if the handicapped spots are a good idea -- as we discussed at dinner last night -- we agreed that they are not, for the very reasons I just noted. What's the other tangible benefit for the impaired? Especially when there's no established protocol or apparent enforcement for their use/misuse. This is one view from legitimate users of the handicapped spaces: We just don't get it.