Comment by EliRivers | Hacker News Reader

Comment by EliRivers | Hacker News Reader

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I'm replying to this comment only because there are numerous other comments talking about the use of this for people who are in some way physically impaired.

What's the state of designated parking spaces for such people? Just yesterday I crossed the parking lot at my local supermarket and passed a dozen extra-wide spaces right by the door, all marked with the generic symbol, painted in blue, and clearly marked for use by such patrons only. As it was most of them were empty, but that's good; every shopper with that need, currently at that store, had been able to park right by the door.

A short way beyond those spaces, are spaces marked for those shepherding children, which is less vital but still helpful.

So what's the state of this facility - extra wide designated spaces right by the door specifically intended for the people who need it - across the US and other countries? If it's being done, then this "smart summon" seems more of a gimmick. If it's not being done, it feels a little like an unnecessarily high-tech solution to a low-tech problem.

In the U.S., there are laws that determine how many such spaces must be designated in parking lots, based on the size of the parking lot and/or venue.

I have a friend who is physically handicapped and very much needs to park in these spaces. The only problem he has ever told me about is finding a spot to park at work. Apparently it's somewhat common where he lives for middle-aged women (his description) to game the system and obtain handicapped placards. He says he knows they are not really handicapped because he sees them walking briskly through long corridors at work without distress. Sometimes too young people will borrow an older relative's placard to park in those spaces.

Incidentally, he would never be able to afford a Tesla. He buys three- to five-year-old Hondas and drives them till they can't be fixed.

While I can't comment on the exact instances of people using handicapped placards, I would like to bring up the existence of invisible disabilities [1]. These are disabilities that are not immediately obvious to onlookers. For example, people with xeroderma pigmentosum[2] have a very severe sensitivity to sunlight (sunburn within a few minutes, vastly increased risk of skin cancer). A handicap space would be needed to minimize time spent in the sun, but no issue would be present walking inside a building.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisible_disability

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xeroderma_pigmentosum

Also, appropriate accommodation for a handicap helps keep one more functional. So when one gets appropriate accommodation, one can appear more or less "normal" for short periods, such as time spent in public spaces. Take away that accommodation and life can come apart at the seams.

> In the U.S., there are laws that determine how many such spaces must be designated in parking lots, based on the size of the parking lot and/or venue.

> I have a friend who is physically handicapped and very much needs to park in these spaces. The only problem he has ever told me about is finding a spot to park at work. Apparently it's somewhat common where he lives for middle-aged women (his description) to game the system and obtain handicapped placards. He says he knows they are not really handicapped because he sees them walking briskly through long corridors at work without distress. Sometimes too young people will borrow an older relative's placard to park in those spaces.

Firstly, it's very possible to be handicapped at any age, so this "too young" idea is pretty disgusting.

However, if people are using the placards of others, and if this is in the US, your friend should report these people to the police. The placard also comes with an identification card with the person's information on it, which can be used to verify their disabled status.

so this "too young" idea

He left out a comma.

Yes, sorry, and I'm usually a pedant regarding commas.

My friend has been handicapped since he was a child, incidentally. I'm well aware that some people have an entire life filled with difficulty.

My apologies for misinterpreting!!

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