Question?

[Heady]

Hi everyone that has got a specially adapted car, I pick up mine on Tuesday! A Peugeot Partner Teepee. Box on wheels, in other words!!! Not very glamourise, are they?

My question, where do you park? I have just come back from the supermarket and if I park in their disabled bays, I will block the whole car park, while I unload S from the back! All disabled bays are, rightly so, by entrances, but equally, that's where all the cars pass, so how can you pull the ramp down and winch the wheelchair off the car?

Lots of love

Heady

[Georgepa]

Hi Heady , I find in supermarkets it is often easier to park in a normal slot and unload from the back- you sometimes take your life in your hands and your partner's but hey ho all in a days work .

[Heady in reply to Georgepa]

That's the conclusion I was coming to. The furthest place in the car park. Still I suppose it will be quiet. I was just getting use to having that lovely wide spot to swing into! Instead I have gears and hand breaks to worry about again.

Lots of love

Heady

[abirke]

Nice looking car. Sorry I can't help you with your question since ya'll drive on the wrong side of the street anyway! hahaa

[NannaB]

I've had two cars drive over the corner of our ramp. Both of them were parked next to us and swung out at an angle. One was in the hospice car park! I started putting a reflective triangle at the end of the ramp but then in Lidle's they had a magnetic battery light that flashes in 8 different ways. I stick it to the ramp. I should have bought two, one for each side. Some car parks do have a marked pedestrian path behind the cars. If they do, I park up close to the front of the space, letting the ramp down near or over the path. No one has shown any anger for me blocking the path as it's not for long.

Enjoy your new van with Windows (as my grandson's call ours).

X

[Robbo1]

Heady, I got the same WAV as yours a year ago. Van really, but I love it! My worry was parking , but it is quite neat for a big car. The shops I go to have enough room to get the wheelchair out and for a car to pass by. You need less room than you think. If there is insufficient space, change your supermarket! We recently moved to another church and they installed a disabled parking bay. as I had been parking outside on the road. The car is an aid as it shows people that you may need a bit of help or consideration. It also has six gears so on a long journey it shoots along! I know it seems like a big challenge to take, but it really isn't when you get it. It changed our lives for the better. Good luck. Happy driving! XX

[Heady in reply to Robbo1]

I'm sure I will be fine, ONCE I get use to it. I have a large car now, so that won't worry me, only its automatic with no handbrake. All these things to come to terms with again. At least S will not be giving me, lots of "useful!" advice, on how to drive the car. Every cloud, as they say!!!!

Lots of love

Heady

[Amilazy]

Hi Heady it takes time but you will get used to it. Probably being a cantancorous guy I lower the ramp then take as much room as I can swinging the wheelchair down the ramp other cars beware I have been hooted at only once by a big guy in a large Merc who I then deliberately manoeuvred the chair in front of him slowly and took a bit of a pantomime to raise the ramp, he got the message.

I use disabled parking bays but drive fully into the bay very slowly until either bump the front bumper to the barrier or wall or tyre the pavement. I avoid hitting other cars but get very close. This usually gives enough room at rear for ramp to be lowered into the bay or the hatched pedestrian way behind. I have hung floressent tapes from the edge of the rear door as a eye catcher for cars passing too close after ramp attacks will investigate the flashing light NannaB mentioned.

I use the disabled bays so that I have space each side of the car to get M in and out of passenger side when she is feeling like a stand up rather than seated in the wheelchair in the back. If disabled spaces are full or look tight I go to the far end of car park or empty area and park over 2 bays to give space. I have found hospital car parks are worst always full and lines very narrow.

Persevere with the vehicle Heady you will get used to it and more confiden with the ramp. PS one advantage I have found is the extra height gives me a better view of the road. Best wishes Tim

[Heady in reply to Amilazy]

Thanks Tim, I suppose I have the added advantage, "woman driver" what can be worse than that!!!!

Lots of love

Heady

Ps. Reading between the lines, you sound a lot calmer and less stressed these days. That has got to be much better for M!

[Amilazy in reply to Heady]

M was a better driver than me so I always believe women drivers have better skills than us poor opinionated men.

M is settling in but I still miss her being around all the time, I suppose less sleep deprived and more me time does lead to calm, but still not fully into sleep routine still once or twice a week wake up suddenly at 03:00 listening but can roll over once woken up to fact M is not here. As someone said having driven myself into the ground caring for M it takes a lot of time to regain (if possible) my own routine.

Anyway Heady enjoy getting out with S as much as you can now you have the wheels.

Best wishes Tim

[Heady in reply to Amilazy]

Thanks Tim.

Lots of love

Heady

[Katiebow]

Best of luck with the new car Heady, I'm not there yet but I'm the most useless parker of our large Honda CRV, inherited from Ben when he stopped driving. I had a little town car before so could easily negotiate parking etc.

Kate xxx

[Heady in reply to Katiebow]

I'm like that! I rarely drove before S gave up driving, except to work or the supermarket. Like everything in our lives, we are all learning new skills!

Lots of love

Heady

[Debbieann in reply to Heady]

I'm taking all this on board, not there yet either, but know it's going to happen, probably sooner rather than later, but yes which vehicle!

Love Debbie

[Heady in reply to Debbieann]

I have only chosen Peugeot because they contacted me! Although have since noticed that all the taxi drivers at the hospital, were using the same vehicle.

Lots of love

Heady

[mthteach]

We are just now starting to have problems getting my guy in the car. I have to push on his butt to get it on in the car. He does not have strength in his arms to help lift or push over. I guess that I could put a drop sheet on the seat and go to the other side and pull him in.

[Heady in reply to mthteach]

It's hard isn't it? If you left him to go around the other side, you know full well he will fall! Don't think there is anything easy that we can do, to help our loved ones. Except give in, but who's prepared to do that????

Lots of love

Heady

[goldcap in reply to Heady]

Heady, Congratulations! Getting an accessible vehicle changed our lives. Before, I rarely took him anywhere other than necessary doctor visit's (which often feel like a waste of time right?!). I had the choice of getting one that was back or side entering. I chose side as the passenger seat is removed and he can ride up front next to me. Often the van accessible handicapped spots are taken by people who are "moderately" handicapped who are the driver of have no need of a ramp. It is very frustrating when this happens as I have to unload him, then park. I have been honked at, then get embarrassed looks when they realize why I am obstructing traffic in a crowd parking lot. I had a woman fighting me for a spot. As I was trying to explain why I had to have it another person offered her their spot as they were leaving. After she parked she came around to give me more grief (she was walking perfectly normal mind you) she saw the ramp come down and hung her head and walked away. But other than this it is amazing as you only have to put them in the chair when you leave the house and when you get home. I used to have to get him in and out a half dozen times or more from the chair and load and unload the wheelchair from the back as well. This would have not worked when he was in his angry stage as he used to grab the steering wheel at times. If I had purchased this then his butt would have definitely been in the back -HA!

[Heady in reply to goldcap]

Getting very nervous now! I know it WILL be alright on the day, (tomorrow) it's just new things isn't it! Never was very good at them, old age makes it worse, now exhausted beyond words, I have no chance. As for people being kind, I know most are, the ones that aren't, our PC world takes care of those! It's, I can't bear being a nuisance, stupid I know, so I probably will park the furthest point from anywhere, so I don't block the car park. No doubt by the end of Wednesday, it will be a completely different story. Hope so, don't fancy the long walk, when it's raining!

Nice to see you hear from you, Goldcap!

Lots of love

Heady

[Doglinton in reply to Heady]

Good luck. Personally I now am stressed and find myself crying easily ! I can imagine in a car park just crying !!! However it gets a response.

love, Jean x

[DenB]

Just park wherever you have to.I don't worry if I should be parking in disabled bays,or a normal bay because, hey, you have to do what you have to do.People seem to be extra patient, as I would be, when they see me unload my husband from our Citroen Burlingo. It is a bit of a perlaver and I suppose it looks as though I am struggling, as every time we are out, someone always asks if I need a hand. People can be so kind.

Just the other day, a dear lady, asked if she could help me and when we started to chat, she told me that she had bad arthritis in her hands so she knew how much it meant to her when someone asked to give her help, as she was struggled at times.

So don't worry too much about where you think you should park.........there are enough other things to worry about.

DenB X

[Nanny857]

Hi Heady, good luck and happy motoring in your new car. Sorry can't advise on parking. Lots of love Nanny857 xx

[Doglinton]

Sounds great. Not there yet but won't be very long.

Regarding parking I find being more assertive in general it carries through in other areas of life.!!!

love, Jean x

[vlh4444]

Glad you've got your new car Heady. We find ours essential, although it is a bit of a beast to drive and park. We opted for the VW Caddy because you still have the rear seats when the wheelchair is loaded in the back. This does make it very long though and the ramp does stick out in most car parks. I can't do it quickly as the ramp is very heavy and all the straps are not very easily accessible. Wouldn't be able to go out without it now though and most people are patient.

V x