<p>My wife, who is disabled, recently found herself in a crowded parking lot. There were only two spots left, a handicapped space and a non-handicapped space immediately adjacent to it. Knowing that she could handle the extra five feet if she chose to park in the regular spot, she wasn’t sure of the right thing to do. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>There’s nothing ethically wrong with your wife taking the handicapped space. However, it is more courteous to take the space adjacent, working under the assumption that someone more needy than she would benefit from the space five feet closer.</p>
<p>In an earlier career I was involved in commercial real estate development. Many handicapped spaces are designed specifically for people who use wheelchairs. These spaces are wider (to allow transition from car to WC), and intended to be proximal to a ramp. Certainly people with varying degrees of disability can use handicapped spots, but it’s probably good to consider one’s comparitive degree of disability before occupying one of them. Not so much a matter of ethics as consideration. It can be quite a process to transition from vehicle to wheelchair, and then make one’s way into a building, even with an assistant.</p>
<p>Couldn’t a utilitarian argue that it’s ethically preferable to take the handicapped space, assuming that the chance of of doing good–or being courteous–is enhanced by leaving the space open that so many more people are eligible to use?</p>
<p>Well, spoonyj, if you want to make the utilitarian argument, you need to calculate probability. Simply put, you would balance the chance that a handicapped person would come along when all spaces are taken (do you live in Florida?) with the chance that someone who would “need” the normal space (a mother with infants, perhaps) would come along. Also consider the chance that a lazy person (who might benefit from the extra exercise of walking further!) might take the space. </p>
<p>Were all handicapped spaces taken? Did that space have special room for a wheelchair van? </p>
<p>Ultimately, your wife is, in my opinion, morally entitled to park in either space. I was being somewhat sarcastic in my first paragraph; she really shouldn’t expend too much energy deciding the “worthiness” of those who could use the other space. It’s all probability of who comes along - it’s not like she can, by not taking the space, reserve it for a non-lazy, “worthy,” non-handicapped person. I do not think that there is one “right” choice as a general rule - you’ve mentioned nothing about busy shopping seasons or a dearth of handicapped spaces, either of which would give adequate guidance to a considerate person.</p>
<p>You are joking, right? Well, I found your wife’s ethical dilemma humorous!</p>
<p>Here is how a nondisabled person handled a similar problem, and how he was dealt with. </p>
<p>My family was staying at a hotel where I noticed a Corvette parked in the parking lot. The owner obviously thought his Corvette was a very special vehicle and he parked across 2 spots diagonally so nobody would be able to park too close to him. It didn’t seem like a big deal because the parking lot was less than half full. The next morning we left our hotel room and found the parking lot completely full, and someone had written on the corvette window in soap, “small *****”</p>
<p>oh dear, I guess i am not allowed to write that word. oh well, I think you can guess. It’s not really a “bad” word.</p>
<p>When my parents first got their handicapped sticker for parking and I was the driver, they had a sense of guilt. Not anymore! I never understood the handicapped stuff until I have been dealing with my two 96+ year old parents. One uses a cane and the other a walker. Neither moves very fast. Going shopping for them is not an option really anymore. When I drive them, they have the blue sticker to be able to park in handicapped places. But doctor’s appointments happen all the time. And some places still have stairs and o.k. they may have a ramp but have no comprehension of what that means for a person who uses a walker. This is in Ca. Thankfully, many doctors are beginning to reinstate “house calls.” Bless them.</p>
<p>two 96+ year old parents = excellent DNA! Kudos to you for choosing your parents so wisely - also for being the person who helps them get back and forth to their appointments. Transportation for the frail elderly is a major unaddressed need. It’s fortunate when family is around to help out.</p>
<p>I would consider the OP’s wife entitled to the handicapped spot. I’m impressed that she’d consider leaving it for another person whose needs may be greater.</p>
<p>I do the summer and Christmas duty and my sis does the rest. She is a dear and has a little grandson who needs lots of time right now as well. For that reason, I am moving home & packing up my job “overseas.” It served its purpose for my son. Time to complete the cycle. And for those of you with a family history of long livers and there will be more and more of us, get thee close to home. And for everyone, leave those parking spaces clear.</p>