If I keep noticing motorcycles in the spots (seen them there at grocery stores too) I think I will send a letter to the newspaper.

I didnt go to the gym this weekend, too busy, but am planning on going there this afternoon if we dont have a massive tornado or something. (bad weather coming) I'll have to see if the motorcycle people are still doing it or not.

I rolled down my window today and nicely asked a man that was parked 4 feet over in the h/c spot at the hardware store if he could move over between the lines in the non h/c spot so I could use the h/c spot. He fumed and roared over to another spot without a word. Giving me room now to park in the spot and get my door all the way open so i could get out. Of course when I came out another huge truck was parked so close I had to load from the rear of my vehicle. Luckily I have an SUV with an electric lift gate. Of course this means I can't back into my garage and must unload from further away. Today I had help so I was lucky.

There are stickers that I see on vans mostly that ask PLEASE PARK AT LEAST 4-6 FEET AWAY. That did make me take notice years before I had a h/c placard. Maybe that might help some of you with ongoing issues. I might look into one myself. I believe most people just don't think or believe the spot won't be used....then there are the really lazy ones who need something more.

Upon leaving, the big parker almost backed into me and I beeped my horn. He slammed on the brake, scared he almost hit me, lurching his truck. Then realizing it was me he just went nuts. It makes me wonder if a nice lady asks you to please move your vehicle over between the lines so she can use the clearly marked h/c spot and you go ballistic what in the world is wrong with you. I see this as their problem so I don't let it bother me. I have no intention of hauling around other people's garbage.

I am tired of having cars parked so far over in the cross hatch area that I can't load my car or get in. I have less issue with bikes and such. Most of the stores here label the cross hatch areas NO PARKING. That seems to work VERY well. It might be worth asking the store or gym to label the lot NO PARKING in the hatched areas as this leaves no room for misunderstanding.

I shall ask the local PD what to do about the violators. The policeman that came to my house after a rash of obscene phone calls with a CALLERID told me they had very little to do here. Although the phone calls were nothing they wanted to do b/c there were no threats. Since they have so little to do I might inquire about the h/c parking and press them into service to help with the situation at places I frequent. The h/c spots are usually FULL since there are apparently a lot of us here. Maybe a request of store management or asking friends or customers to sign a petition would change things on marking the spots.

Getting tickets surely will control where people park quickly. There might be more h/c ticket patrols in some cities as noted in a previous post. Calling the local DMV or Police would surely point us in the right direction. Nobody likes to waste money these days. Hitting the wallet always works. The newspaper is also a good idea. Education is always a good thing.

Went to the gym yesterday, and after not seeing any motorcycles in the crosshatches for a week or more, guess what? Saw another one! (emailed the manager with a picture)

I was on the treadmill when I saw someone walking out carrying a helmet. Yep, sure enough, it was the moron who parked illegally. Big muscle bodybuilder type. (Maybe he's done too many of the wrong steroids and it fried his brain??) He sure didnt look like he needed to park his bike in a handicap spot to be closer to the door. Seeing as how I'd seen him over on one of the other treadmills, doing sprints, and also saw him lifting the really heavy weights.

I think it's time to find the email for the handicap parking enforcers and give them a nice tip for where to get some income for the city.

I'd say you are right. I bet it won't take more than one ticket to change things.

You go girl! I'll bet the reason they park their "babies" up front and close to the door is so they can see them.....and also hopefully nobody will park close enough to them to knock the bike over. Maybe if it got towed they'd change their tune.

One of the worst offenders I ever saw was a guy that parked beside me. I had just had knee replacement and was parked and gathering my stuff to go to a doctor appointment. In zoomed a car and out bounced this guy wearing a white doctor coat. He sprinted across the parking lot while putting a stethescope around his neck. I slowly made it out and up the to the doctor's office. To my surprise there was the guy in the ortho's office. He was doing a fellowship there. Nothing wrong with him except being late for work and using someone elses placard and taking up a space needed for a medical building parking.

Oooooo...I would have busted him in a second! He's the one person who should know better.

I can't believe the guy at the gym. Ugh! I would have the ticket patrol on him in a nanosecond. As with scooter-person and all of them. I get very tired of weaving around all these impediments to me getting in places enough as it is. Forced thinking might be just the ticket (forgive the pun).

After reading this and talking of taking action I complained at the hardware store where the jerk sped off in his truck after I nicely asked that he move over a bit. If I get one of the two h/c spots I never get the entire spot. And their lot is NEVER full. Given the nature of a DIY hardware store, like the gym, I figure the people without h/c placards are very capable of walking a few extra feet.

I was nice but explained that I often had to park in the cross hatch zone just to get out of my car. This would make it difficult if anyone had a van ramp (I always check to be sure not). I suggested taking out the next regular parking spot and hatching it so that the problem happen EVERY time I go there which is several times a week for organic gardening supplies.

We'll see what happens. As much money as we spend in these places, like a gym, our voices are just as important. If no stripes appear I'm very willing to call the police who have nothing to do.

I'd definitely bring it up to the management/front desk at the gym. I'd also check into local ordinances. I voluteer at courage center here in my town and NO ONE would park a motorcycle in the access spots. That's just clueless!!

If it were me, I would go in and announce loudly, "who parked the motorcycle in the disabled spot without the sticker?"

I think it would be the last time it happened if they were embarrassed. And I would say it loud enough that they would be. "Oh, YOU are the disabled person, Mr. Muscles???" Can you make it out to your moped all by yourself? Or do you need me to help you carry your weights?