Readers respond to illegal parkers

Dear Annie: I had to respond to the letter from “Seeing Red About Blue,” whose son is in a wheelchair. She often finds the striped area next to the handicapped parking spot occupied, blocking safe passage back into her van. I have a motorcycle. I used to park in those blue-striped areas because they were a perfect fit for my bike. I had a feeling they might not be OK to park in, but I had no idea what they were for and didn’t see any harm in leaving my bike there.

One day a woman approached me and explained that parking my motorcycle in the striped spot made it difficult for someone in a wheelchair to safely access their car. Annie, I should have known better. I didn’t realize I was causing undue hardship, and I immediately apologized and moved my bike into another spot. I will never again park in those striped areas. I appreciated being put in my place. – Found a New Spot To Park

Dear Found: Thank you for taking responsibility for doing the wrong thing and then correcting it. We hope other readers will make the same effort. Read on for more:

Los Angeles: I believe there is an easy solution for drivers who park in the striped lane between handicapped parking spots, preventing a side exit for handicapped passengers. These lanes should also have a posted sign that says, “No Parking, Handicapped Access Lane,” complete with corresponding fines. Usually, those signs are only placed in front of the actual parking spot and not the striped area next to it.

Wisconsin: I am handicapped and often see people parked in handicapped spaces when they have neither a handicapped license plate or placard. I have begun to leave notes on those people’s cars saying, “You are not handicapped. You should not be in this space.” It also might help to back into the space so that the striped area next to the ramp cannot be blocked by another car.