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Wednesday, March 23, 2011

If I write a note, then it should be okay, right?

I took the 12:38pm (Oshawa-Union) train on Tuesday.

Sadly, I don't have a photo of the note as I didn't want to risk missing the train since I needed to be at work by 2pm, but here's what happened.

Parking at the Oshawa GO lot after the morning rush is almost impossible. I got there at 12:20pm and circled the lot a few times, slowly following people who got off the train (like a manic shopping mall rat before Christmas) looking for a spot. At the north end, near the trucking company, three spots opened up. I parked and walked towards the train.

As I got near the platform entrance, a man whipped passed me in a Jeep and pulled into a disabled parking spot. He got out and began ruffling through his bag. As I got closer, he was leaning over his hood and writing on a sheet of paper. Then he stuck the paper under his windshield wiper and climbed back into his car. I stopped and walked a little closer, pretending like I was lost, and tried in vain to read the paper. The time now was 12:35pm and he hadn't left his car yet.

I could just make out the words, "Sorry I parked here ... ".

As I headed towards the train, he eventually fell in step beside me. So I asked him, if there was a problem with his car as I saw him write a note, and he says, "Nope. Just needed a place to park and don't have time to look for one... " and he scurried past me onto the train.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

At least he wrote a note.

Dakota said...

I hope he got a ticket!

Sylv said...

A ticket with a note saying "NOT sorry I had to ticket you".

Anonymous said...

Exactly!!! This isn't fair to you or others who parked legally. I can't believe the entitlement of some people.

Anonymous said...

I'm not going to defend this individual, because I don't know the circumstances.

What do people think of this scenario, though?

The last train of the morning is about to depart; the lot is full, save for a few disabled spots. The disabled spots obviously aren't going to be filled by that point, and there will be no more conceivable need for empty parking spots that day after the train leaves.

A guy whips in to the disabled spot and runs for the train. Evil or not evil?

Taylor said...

By CJ's post, she said THREE spots opened up and she took one. He could have actually looked instead of playing the lazy game.

C.J. Smith said...

I can't say for sure that he was trying to find a spot like me. I didn't see him when I was parking.

There also wasn't an opportunity to tell him his fat ass could have used the exercise. I walked my own fat ass down from the north end of the lot. I also could have easily did what he did, too but didn't need to.

So, saying there are no spots left and no one should be parking in the fire route, is it ethical then to park in the disabled spot? The guy wrote a note. That shows he at least acknowledge what he was doing.

How much is a ticket? Is it more than the gas and parking it would cost to drive to downtown T.O.? I believe the fine is $500. If it were me, I would drive rather than risk the ticket. It would take me the same amount of time (1 hour).

Al said...

Whos to say "there will be no more conceivable need for empty parking spots that day after the train leaves
"

You could not know that until afetr you parked and tied up a disabled spot,

I say Evil

Anonymous said...

I take the 8:25 train and gave up at the Oshawa lot ages ago. The parking garage at Whitby always has spots and if you're running just late enough that you can't drive around looking for parking in Oshawa, you'll still make it to Whitby in time to catch the train there.

Donna said...

Anon: how exactly do you know that a disabled individual will not come along later in the afternoon and actually need that spot?

I say Evil and Lazy. and I hope get gets a nice $500 ticket. it will serve his fat lazy ass right.

Stephanie said...

Evil. Those spots are not for people who can't find a spot, they are for people with disabilities. Writing a note does not excuse the behaviour.

Anonymous said...

"Anon: how exactly do you know that a disabled individual will not come along later in the afternoon and actually need that spot?"

Because, in this scenario, no more trains will be departing. They'll only start returning in the evening to drop people back off.

Al said...

@ Anon

Are there other businesses in the vicinity of this last train you're "Hypothecically" boarding?

What if a disabled person comes and want's to buy a ten ride pass for tomorrow. Since the station wont be busy when no trains are leaving?

Point is Evil.

Richard said...

Evil. There is never an excuse to park in a handicaped spot.

TomW said...

@Anon (8:39pm): This was at Oshawa - trains depart all day!

TomW said...

Oh, and can people post using a name other than "Anonymous". If you dont' wish to use your name, make one up.

Al said...

Problem is, Anon is not speaking of any specific incident but a "scenario" where there are no trains departing after say 9:00 only trains that return to the station at say 3:00.

Why he is using a "scenario" and considers that it may be ok to use a disbaled spot I have no idea but he is not referencing CJ's particular incident.

Jamie said...

evil

Here's A Name To Make You Happy said...

Well, when you see a row of disabled spots sitting empty, day after day, and a parking lot that is otherwise gets full well before the time of departure of the last train downtown, day after day, and you've only ever seen one person who might qualify as disabled using Go Transit (walking with a cane but it didn't stop him from moving to the back of the bus in that instance), and never on the train itself, you start to wonder.

Have I parked in a disabled spot, even so? No.

Olivia said...

what an a-hole.

Al said...

@ happy,

Was it marked with a wheelchair, and painted blue?

I can't believe I'm continuing this conversation........

Dot said...

There is never any excuse for illegally parking in an accessible spot without a permit, for any reason.