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Hey, lazy! Get outta the disabled bay!

<b>WIDER BAYS, BETTER ACCESS:</b> 'Disabled' bays are made wider to accommodate wheelchair access - as in this case. Just because your Hummer fits nicely doesn't mean you can use it. <i>Image: Shutterstock</i>
<b>WIDER BAYS, BETTER ACCESS:</b> 'Disabled' bays are made wider to accommodate wheelchair access - as in this case. Just because your Hummer fits nicely doesn't mean you can use it. <i>Image: Shutterstock</i>

JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng - With the Christmas upon us and many shoppers on holiday able-bodied people are again parking illegally in bays allocated for the physically impaired, especially in shopping malls and business districts.

Therina Wentzel, national director of the National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in SA, said: “Many cases of illegal parking in the "accessible-parking" bays are being noted. We are pleading to the public to recognise that these bays are there for a specific reason."

WHY THE BAYS ARE WIDER

Wheels24 says: "And it isn't to save Harry, Thabo, Izak, Koos or even the unfortunately-named ban k customer Steve from walking a few metres!"

Wentzel believes many abled-bodied people do not realised that those bays are wider than normal parking slots to allow wheelchair access to their doors and for people on crutches or wearing any kind of leg brace to "swing out".

The space also allows for space to “swing out” legs if a person makes use of crutches or calipers.

PLEASE OBEY THE LAW

Wentzel emphasised: “The specific requirements for the accessible-parking bays are also there to protect other vehicles from damage when opening doors and it is to allow for easy transfer for persons with disabilities.”

Wheels24 add: The South African public should obey the law where special-needs bays exist. Not to do so simply displays - variously or together - ignorance, poor manners, arrogance and sheer laziness and those guilty of it should be politely challenged.


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