jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

As I was coming home from town, I glanced over at the parking lot for the new rail trail.  I see they have handicap parking spaces near the entrance to the trail.  That's so that people who are handicapped won't have to walk far to start hiking.

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

Rail trails(paved old railroad tracks)for HIKERS, walkers, speed-walkers(racers) and bicycles, including special modified bikes for the handicapped. So, though at first glance, it might seem odd to see parking for Handicapped or to be more politically correct: special-needs folks, it’s really just being considerate to those special riders and hikers.........RJM

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Jerry Handicapped went out with the Ark...Less abled is the current buzz word or disabled.
Yes you usually put the disabled car spaces close to the entrance As the spaces are wider apart and often less used it means, when needed, emergency vehicles can also get closer to deal with any incidents.

In the UK the disability society were adamant that they did not want 'to concrete' over the countryside when in 2001 Access to The Countryside and Rights of Way Act and also the Disability Discrimination Act both became law. (footpaths on private open land which have traditionally allowed people to wander) Instead they wanted better and easier gates rather than stiles and 'kissing' gates (a triangular arangement that allows a single gate to close one opening at a time so that stock could not escape.) replaced with a standard gate.They also suggested more seating throughout the paths, a notional distance that the path takes and some 'short paths' or circular paths close to car parking areas. They were not particularly bothered about terrain or path surface as they felt that individuals could asses 'their own ability' to access paths. They wanted discretion rather than 'special' paths. Unlike car parking where the spaces are getting tighter as the cars are getting wider: often the disabled spaces are empty, thus causing 'an issue' over how many are provided.

The biggest issue they had was with mountain bike users! Yet Local Government still believe that a cycle path can be a painted line on a footpath to the annoyance of everyone.

have fun

Bob Mevis Loc: Plymouth, Indiana

I'm less abled then. I can see how it would appear odd but, most days I get a mile walk in.
But, no worries Jerry. I enjoy your sense of humor.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I suspect they are close to the trail so that the handicapped will not have to navigate through the parking lot, which is probably more dangerous to them than the trail would be.

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

I think many do not consider. TBS when it comes to some businesses and government parking I see 12 spaces for handicap parking and only two or three for the regular guy.
Most of my experience with trail heads is there are no stalls for parking the cars. If they are worried about the handicapped they should put a path in front of the cars so they can access unimpeded.

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

I think many do not consider. TBS when it comes to some businesses and government parking I see 12 spaces for handicap parking and only two or three for the regular guy.
Most of my experience with trail heads is there are no stalls for parking the cars. If they are worried about the handicapped they should put a path in front of the cars so they can access unimpeded.

madjack Loc: Far Northern Utah

I think a lot of folks here missed the irony.
Thanks for the image, I enjoyed it.
You rock Jerry!

Terrymac Loc: LONDON U.K.

Good spotting Jerry. Thanks.

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

My wife is disabled and has a placard to park in a handicap parking place. Trouble is all those spaces are usually taken, a lot of the time by people who are using grandma's placard even though she passed away three years ago.

edrobinsonjr Loc: Boise, Idaho

That does seem ironic, Jerry, but I am thankful for every day that I can't use the "handicapped" parking places.

Ed

BarneyB

I'm still wondering why the drive-up ATM at my bank has Braille in addition to the Arabic numbers.

edrobinsonjr Loc: Boise, Idaho

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

That's easy. It cost's less to put them on all machines than to only make a few. Also allows standard machine at any place.

fantom Loc: Colorado

Good point