Harleycapped

[desmoquattro]

Walking through a mall in suburban Phoenix today I noticed this:


Thank goodness for phone cameras 

Possible explanations:

• He owns a hardley...he must be mentally handicapped.
• His saddle bags are handicapped...they require wheels to get around.

Any others?

[mostrobelle]

I went to the grocery store a few months back and parked (illegally) in this kind of no-man's-zone near a curb between two parking spots.  The striped area in which I was parked was actually the unloading zone for vehicles sportin' that special blue tag.  However, I felt it was "OK" that I was doing it because it was only going to be for a few minutes and it was not really in a usable part of the unloading zone.  There's like 1,000 of these spaces where I was parked, too, so I justified it mentally. 

So I come outta the market and I see some jack-off parked IN the effin' handicapped spot next to me.  Not a little bit.  All the way.  He's got East Bay Rat stickers and crap all over his ratty bike, and although I have no ill will against this club in particular, I've seen some of their antics on the road and know that they don't really hold law n crap in all that high esteem.  I'm feeling a bit guilty at this point because I think that I've set a bad example:  "Hey not only can you park in the little striped area, but you can park your whole bike in a handicapped spot."  I was angry at myself and angry at the other rider for abusing the parking spot. 

Just as I'm about to take off I see the Rat come out of the store.  He's got a cane.  He's limping badly.  The cane looked old, as did the injury.  He was maybe in his late 30's.  I looked at his bike and he was completely legal.  Blue sticker on his license plate; the plate tucked neatly between his tank and bars...Special little home-made-lookin' bracket to hold his cane.  He said nothing to me and just gave me a little head nod as he rode off.  I think you could smell the shame coming from me. 

Maybe your guy was legal, too? 

[desmoquattro]

Maybe your guy was legal, too? 

No placards or tags. And he walked right up to it and got on.

[mostrobelle]

No placards or tags. And he walked right up to it and got on.

He's a rebel, man, a rebel...

[desmoquattro]

He's a rebel, man, a rebel...

Rebel without a clue

[Spidey]

When I'm driving around with my brother (he's usually driving), we always get the stinkeye when we pull into a handicapped spot.  I mean, people really look at us like we're scum of the earth.  He usually has his shirt off, sunglasses on, window down and is blasting the radio.  By all appearances, he's a typical young punk.  I've even had a coupla people come over, obviously intent on telling us what douchebags we are for parking in a handcapped spot.

Then I get outta the car and pull out his wheelchair for him.  Oops.  The onlookers always get exactly that same look of shame you're describing 'belle.

[ro-monster]

Not all disbilities are visible either. My friend has a handicapped placard for his car because his Crohn's disease sometimes makes it difficult for him to walk very far. But to look at him, you'd never know he was ill. He does own a motorcycle too, though he's not healthy enough to ride it very often.

[desmoquattro]

There are definitely some riders out there with legitimate disabilities. It's very cool that they still ride

This guy had no placards though, and clearly wasn't disabled

[r_ciao]

Don't judge a book by its cover.

[desmoquattro]

Don't judge a book by its cover.

I wouldn't do that. This is more like judging it by the table of contents and liner notes

A friend of mine who lives here mentioned that people park without placards in these spots all the time. No matter: it was just funny to see a Harley in one of those spots.

[Desmostro]

I wouldn't do that. This is more like judging it by the table of contents and liner notes

A friend of mine who lives here mentioned that people park without placards in these spots all the time. No matter: it was just funny to see a Harley in one of those spots.

I think this thread was started on the basis of the pun, "Harleycapped" you wet noodles. 
Though some of these stories are interesting side notes on public sentiment surrounding such an issue. cheers.

Some of the newer parking lots in places like PHX have absurd numbers of handicapped spots. Rows of them in fact. Usually all empty. Not sure of the laws around this. It's kind of weird, as if there's an expectation of 35 handicappeders to show up at Home Depot all at once.
Scary to think if there was such a need. Hopefully not someday soon.
I think people start rebelling and parking in them. Or may be they're just Harleycapped.   

[ROBsS4R]

Walking through a mall in suburban Phoenix today I noticed this:


Thank goodness for phone cameras 

Possible explanations:

• He owns a hardley...he must be mentally handicapped.
• His saddle bags are handicapped...they require wheels to get around.

Any others?

At least he parked a little to the left so we can squeeze another bike in there 

[mostrobelle]

At least he parked a little to the left so we can squeeze another bike in there 

  good point...

[MendoDave]

I get the look too when I have to drive my mom around. I'm jumpin out of the car and running all around like an able bodied person, but its the look of shame when the wheel chair comes out of the trunk...

[desmoquattro]

Some of the newer parking lots in places like PHX have absurd numbers of handicapped spots. Rows of them in fact. Usually all empty. Not sure of the laws around this. It's kind of weird, as if there's an expectation of 35 handicappeders to show up at Home Depot all at once.
Scary to think if there was such a need. Hopefully not someday soon.

It's to accommodate the morbidly obese suburban US population...some of them need wheelchairs to get around.

KFC...it's a disability, you know.