Expectant Mother Parking and Bike Lane Construction

[Superman]

Let's just see how selfish folks are, how much they hate regulations and how married you guys are to "pay as you go" commerce.

I've heard of Expectant Mother parking spots in good locations like the handicapped ones. Whaddya think?

Also, bikes don't pay gas tax or licensing fees sufficient to pay for the pathwork and street lane space with paint striping that we give them. You can just get on your bike and pedal to work if you want, and pay essentially no user fees. Isn't this just wrong? We're subsidizing them.

[RallyJon]

Bah--when my wife was pregnant all we saw were "parent with small child" spaces. Now with the kid, all we see is "expectant mother" parking.

How about a catch-all: "Crippled, Old, Fat, Lazy or Otherwise Slow and Irritating Parking"

But pay as you go commerce could have something to add here. With Bluetooth and RFID, you could price parking spaces individually. Would you pay extra to park closer? Depending on where and when, I sure would. Poor and handicapped folks can get Medicaid to pay for theirs.

[vash]

i am all for bike lanes. hell, i have added plenty onto my bridges. as for giving them free to the pedalers. no prob, just like the free sidewalks. both are neccesary to keep the tree huggers out of my way

i dont know about expectant mother parking spots. at what level of pregnancy? the first three months, a healthy pregnant woman can push her own cart. the last tri-mester? then if the doc says so, maybe a temp handicap decal. no sense making new signs. altho i would love to see what a pregnant parking sign would look like.

[legion]

Originally posted by Superman
Also, bikes don't pay gas tax or licensing fees sufficient to pay for the pathwork and street lane space with paint striping that we give them. You can just get on your bike and pedal to work if you want, and pay essentially no user fees. Isn't this just wrong? We're subsidizing them.

Bike lane? Never heard of not seen one. Must be a left-coast thing. No subsidizing here.

The only time I have ever seen expectant mother parking is at grocery stores and baby stores. In those cases, the stores own the parking lots, and have a right to do with them as they choose. They obviously think having such parking spaces are good for business.

[Drago]

I've heard of Expectant Mother parking spots in good locations like the handicapped ones. Whaddya think?

Also, bikes don't pay gas tax or licensing fees sufficient to pay for the pathwork and street lane space with paint striping that we give them. You can just get on your bike and pedal to work if you want, and pay essentially no user fees. Isn't this just wrong? We're subsidizing them.

No on the first.

I hope to shortly begin taking full advantage of #2.

[VaSteve]

Originally posted by Superman


I've heard of Expectant Mother parking spots in good locations like the handicapped ones. Whaddya think?

It's too bad that there is usually only one of these spaces per lot. It should be extended to any parent with a toddler or "hand carried" baby. Mine is 8 months old and at 18lbs, wriggling he's a handful. Carrying stuff and the baby makes for a challenge.

If you can walk you should. Unless it's cold or raining. I hate the cold.

[TerryBPP]

I saw these the other day infront of a ice cream shop. Being a CE and designing 100's of parking lots I don't understand why the dmv doesnt just issue expected mothers 9 month temporary handicap parking passes. Its not a County or State law requirement here yet, but if it becomes one I cant imagine how many they will require you to have in ratio to the total # of spaces required. For frame of reference its a 5/100 ratio for handicap.

[Superman]

Well I guess I'm unique because I'd rather just part in the first spot I see and walk, than cruise through a parking lot looking for the closest possible space. I'm darned spry for my age.

And I'd prefer that there be no barriers to folks who want to pedal to their destinations.

[vash]

Originally posted by TerryBPP
I saw these the other day infront of a ice cream shop. Being a CE and designing 100's of parking lots I don't understand why the dmv doesnt just issue expected mothers 9 month temporary handicap parking passes. Its not a County or State law requirement here yet, but if it becomes one I cant imagine how many they will require you to have in ratio to the total # of spaces required. For frame of reference its a 5/100 ratio for handicap.

i just ran this by my office full of CE's. somebody brought up a good point that there will be a lawsuit, claiming that a pregnant woman isnt a handicap. they would instead need their own spot. IMO, just another avenue of parking spot abuse.

[juanbenae]

Originally posted by vash
at what level of pregnancy?

when here belly button becomes an outtie?

[widebody911]

Originally posted by Superman
I've heard of Expectant Mother parking spots in good locations like the handicapped ones.

No; if they really want to park in the front, there's already a process whereby they can get a temporary disabled placard. Otherwise we'll just have fat chix glogging up the front spaces rushing to get to the next sale on bacon.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by VaSteve
Mine is 8 months old and at 18lbs, wriggling he's a handful. Carrying stuff and the baby makes for a challenge.

Give him (her?) a shot of NyQuil before you go shopping. Or to the movies.

Please?

Pretty please?

[id10t]

Bike lanes add a LOT of life to a road, especially up north. So on that basis alone, they are worth it. Added bonus in keepign the spandex commandos off my hood...

As for expectant mother parking, I'm for it. Although part of me asks... whats the difference between these 2 - both require a wheeled chair type thing, and someone else to push. Occupants are 6 months (and its a stroller) or occupant is 20something and in a wheel chair. So yeah, I think people with kids in strollers need to get a temp handi permit.

[pbs911]

NO MORE TAXES! Geez.

And handicapped people should have to park in the rear of the lot. They need more exercise, and block traffic in the high traffic areas by loading and unloading their handicapped paraphernalia.

[Superman]

I guess I'm a bleeding heart liberal and it's nice to see folks agree. Lots do, particularly here in Seattle. I'm all for pregnant women and folks with heavy kids in tow to have convenient parking. It moves me a little farther into the lot, but I'm healthy.

And bikes are a good thing for all of us.

If we were to operate on a pay-as-you-go survival of the fittest basis, then operating a bike would be fairly expensive and handicapped people would be SOL. Some folks might call that "fair." Those who do, I call "conservatives."

[TerryBPP]

Originally posted by vash
i just ran this by my office full of CE's. somebody brought up a good point that there will be a lawsuit, claiming that a pregnant woman isnt a handicap. they would instead need their own spot. IMO, just another avenue of parking spot abuse.

Yep, the ADA loves to sue. But if they could make it a Federal mandate there is nothing they can do about it.

[legion]

Originally posted by Superman
If we were to operate on a pay-as-you-go survival of the fittest basis, then operating a bike would be fairly expensive and handicapped people would be SOL. Some folks might call that "fair." Those who do, I call "conservatives."

Huh? I was just beating some homeless people with a bag of puppies...

Here we are talking about relatively marginal additional costs. To think that this also applies to massive entitlement programs is where you go wrong.

[dhoward]

I'm with Thom.
On both.
although I did like the "bag of puppies" scenario...

[dad911]

Originally posted by id10t
Bike lanes add a LOT of life to a road, especially up north. So on that basis alone, they are worth it. Added bonus in keepign the spandex commandos off my hood...

How do they add life to a road?

Bike lanes, sidewalks, walking paths in this area (semi-rural NJ) go unused. Waste of $$$.

Very few use bikes for tranportation in this area.

I would rather see the money spent to upgrade parks and recreational facilities.

[Superman]

Legion, you're an idiot but you're smarter than most. I'm not asking about massive entitlement programs in this thread nor am I asking where I've gone wrong, though I understand why you'd want to move the discussion in that direction. I usually use a bag of kitties. Not as solid, but far scratchier

SoCal, I'm not okay with killing fetuses either, but nice try. Turn the a.m. radio talk show feed back on to be reassured once again that liberals like dead babies. Again, I understand why you'd want to change the subject also.

Have you been sued, Terry, by the Americans with Disabilities Act?

pbs, I hope you're not serious.