...speaking of parking spaces....

I've been meaning to ask the infinite collective wisdom of GRM for a while, but with two other parking threads I figured the time was nigh.

I was doing a secret shop at a Wal*Mart a while ago (FYI, don't bother) and noticed the odd handicapped parking spaces.

They have these spaces that are parallel to the flow of traffic in the isle. I assumed it was for vans with ramps in the side doors, then I thought maybe it was the rear doors. Either way, it seems like a terrific waste of space to me. There's one parking space in the same area that you'd find 6 standard, or 4 handicapped spaces. I'm not being critical, just curious. I'm sure somebody much smarter than me has a reason. Anybody know?

I have noticed them too.. and have no idea why

Most of the ones like that around here are labeled Van Access.

I assume they are for wheel chair ramp equip vehicles.

WalMart has the same thing here in Fl, not sure what the point is.

Have you seen the people at WalMart?

I always park back by the garden center when I go to that Walmart. There is rarely a line at the register either.

Joey

joey48442 wrote: I always park back by the garden center when I go to that Walmart. There is rarely a line at the register either. Joey

Same here, or the auto center.

I never see handicapped vans in those, but often see what I can only assume are pimpmobiles parked there.

one of the local Wal Marts has those spots.. they are big enough for a tour bus to park in, and no one is ever parked in them... it's really awesome when the whole lot is full and there are what amounts to 10 wasted premium parking spots right up front that never get used..

of course, this is the same store that will have 2 registers open and close down the "express lanes" during peak business hours and try to funnel everyone into the self service lanes, half of which are out of order at any given time..

As far as I know of civil engineering, those are unique to Wal*Mart and not a code item. I've never seen them anywhere else. I can only assume they are to stop people from jamming in next to lift-side vans and blocking the doors.

I stay away from Wal Mart. Place scares the E36 M3 out of me.

beans wrote: I stay away from Wal Mart. THE PEOPLE scare the E36 M3 out of me.

Fixed it for you.

In reply to beans:

Me too. My wife will go there, but I won't step foot in it.

http://www.ada.gov/restribr.htm

bravenrace wrote: In reply to beans: Me too. My wife will go there, but I won't step foot in it.

+1 I'll never set foot in another one.

In reply to DrBoost:

Whats really odd about this picture, is that the majority of vehicles parked in non-handicap spaces in the picture are actually inside the lines of the parking spaces......Color me shocked

yamaha wrote: In reply to DrBoost: Whats really odd about this picture, is that the majority of vehicles parked in non-handicap spaces in the picture are actually inside the lines of the parking spaces......Color me shocked

Wow, you're right! The only real offender is the dude at the top of the left-post row. Other than that, all's well.

Vans are harder to pull into and back out of traditional spots, especially with hand controls. My thought it is to make it easer to navigate to and from the mandated Van Accessible spots.

carguy123 wrote:

beans wrote: I stay away from Wal Mart. THE PEOPLE scare the E36 M3 out of me.

Fixed it for you.

I like walmart.. whenever I am down and feeling depressed.. a walk around the place always cheers me up

petegossett wrote:

bravenrace wrote: In reply to beans: Me too. My wife will go there, but I won't step foot in it.

+1 I'll never set foot in another one.

That makes 3 of us. My reason is wholly selfish- Walmart bought the property one of the last remaining MN drive in theatres stood on and is making...a walmart. We don't need another berkeleying Walmart.

The one by the house isn't bad unless it's Saturday. All the crazies go to Wally's World on Saturday apparently. Weeknights it's pretty tame.

Walmart is the devil, ruining small business since the death of Sam Walton

As someone who has spent entirely too much time in parking lots (pushed carts at Costco for two years, still dabble from time to time) I can attest that handicapped plates/hangers and poor parking go hand in hand.

Not sure it it's laziness or the feeling that nobody will call them on it, but parking between the lines isn't often part of their playbook.

mndsm wrote:

petegossett wrote:

bravenrace wrote: In reply to beans: Me too. My wife will go there, but I won't step foot in it.

+1 I'll never set foot in another one.

That makes 3 of us. My reason is wholly selfish- Walmart bought the property one of the last remaining MN drive in theatres stood on and is making...a walmart. We don't need another berkeleying Walmart.

if the free market said that the property was worth more as a drive in movie theater, then it would still be a drive in movie theater... or at least they would have rebuilt it elsewhere..

I'm going to bet WalMArt does their handicapped parking to excess in an effort to avoid litigation.

There are people who make their living by suing companies over ADA issues. I know one in my home town. WalMart has a very big target on their back. An ability to show they not only met the code but exceeded it would look good for them in court.

I doubt it is for customer convenience, and I know it is not in the code.

DrBoost wrote:

yamaha wrote: In reply to DrBoost: Whats really odd about this picture, is that the majority of vehicles parked in non-handicap spaces in the picture are actually inside the lines of the parking spaces......Color me shocked

Wow, you're right! The only real offender is the dude at the top of the left-post row. Other than that, all's well.

There's plenty of crappy parkers, including the handicap spaces: