Have you ever come out of a store or movie etc. only to find you were not able to get in your vehicle because another vehicle was blocking your access?! This happens frequently to those of us who have mini-vans with a wheelchair ramp that comes out on the side. Yeah, um the stripes in the Handicapped Parking areas have meaning!
Handicapped Parking
The striped lines next to a “handicap parking space,” is called the GORE. I prefer to use the term “accessible parking space.” I actually find it funny the term Gore was chosen to define this striped area. The Mrs. has to keep me under control so I don’t make things GORY when this happens!
Wheelchair Accessible
So allow me to explain why this striped area exists from a wheelchair users point of view. This area gives room for a wheelchair ramp to deploy from a van; which in-turn allows the wheelchair user to exit and enter their van making it wheelchair accessible.
When a car parks in this striped area or GORE to run in somewhere, or to wait for someone, or when you whip into the space next to the striped area and the car is over the line or half way in the GORE – THAT driver and THAT car is preventing me from entering or getting out of my van. The lines are part of the handicapped parking spot!
Prior to becoming a dad this would annoy me, but it didn’t really bother me that much. Now, that I am a dad it REALLY annoys me!
One, as a man, I don’t like my son to see his dad “weak” or “helpless.” Second, it’s not fair to my son to have to wait for Daddy to be able to get the van open. Third, on 
a funny note, if it’s raining I really don’t want 2 drenched people riding in the van!
5 Cool Things About Having a Dad in a Wheelchair
Handicapped Parking Traffic Cone
I came up with a solution! I had a traffic cone made-up with the wheelchair symbol and the word RAMP under it. Hello, wheelchair accessibility.
I put the cone out when the space is tight or I anticipate a possible issue. I wanted a pet bear to sit in on the striped lines, but I figure animal control would not find this humorous. 😉
Please don’t be THAT driver! If you are interested in the cone please use the contact link on the top of my page and I will send you the details.
Want to read more of wheelchair users pet peeves? Don’t miss this post.
Do you have a crazy handicapped parking story?
Share your story in the comments below! 🙂
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Also, it’s been driving me nuts when shoppers find the gore to be a convenient place to pile their shopping carts. God give me strength.
I was using a walker, parked properly in handicapped space (placard, lines etc.) and made it into grocery. Unfortunately, gore on my drivers side wasn’t marked w stripes!
Motorcycle not only parked there, but right across my driver’s side door…as in completely blocked it! The bright yellow cycle was too heavy to move. I couldn’t climb into drivers seat from passenger side, because I couldn’t maneuver around gearshift.
Turns out she was sitting not 10 feet away nonchalantly quaffing coffee! Only came to move bike AFTER I burned my calf on her exhaust pipe. Started crying, which got her caffienbe cortetie’s attention! Or I’d prolly still be there!