My husband drives a car with and has a handicapped badge. He broke his ankle ten years ago and has had 4 operations. He uses orthopedic shoes and to who doesn't know him he would seem just fine but walking too much would make his ankle swell.

A few times I've seen people looking at him when he gets out the car in a handicapped parking spot but today some woman came to him saying something in german like that was for handicapped people... he just said... yes... and walked away... He heard the woman saying something like polizei... He thought ok... if she calls them she would be the idiot as the bagde even has his photo on it...

We just didn't pay attention to it but geeezzzz ... mind your own business....

Thanks for that Barbie.

Maybe the full story would make me sympathetic. Also location Netherlands? Are you on the right forum?

i kinda wish i had your problems

don't get me wrong. i'm handicapped too, but i try to laugh it off

peace

Thanks for your replies... I just moved here and just changed my profile now.

I laugh at my husband telling him that handicapped shouldn't be driving on the first place.

Some people just think that handicapped means that they have to come out in a bloody wheelchair...

I know,

I have been the driver for a handicapped person before,,, they see me getting out of the car and have to make a comment, to the effect of "what the hell!! you are taking up the space of a handicapped person!! shame on you!!!" Forget that there is the correct 'badge'...

There is automatic silence as soon as I get around the other side of the car to help my passenger out of the car,,,,, 'sans' wheelchair, as you said.

Look on the positive side tho, these people are actually speaking up for the handicapped.

In a backhanded way, maybe your husband takes it on in a positive aspect, i.e, not being automatically perceived as 'handicapped'.

I can appreciate you, as his partner getting peeved, but maybe he isn't as bothered about it as you are?!.

I really don't see this as being only a Swiss thing, I remember watching Jay Leno one night and he made the absolute same error, for which he felt it only right to bring it to light on his tonight show.

To me it just shows that many still want to protect the rights of those less fortunate,,, not a bad thing in my humble opinion.

Ros

Personally, I'd just point to the badge.
If they've then still got a problem, that's different.

i agree with what both of you - what you are saying...
to an extent...

handicapped is handicapped.

deal with it.

most handicapped people i know don't feel a need to tell other people that they're handicapped... they just get on with their lives... and deal with (it) their 'handicap'

... you should see me doin' wheelies in a wheel-chair

Looking from your other point of view... yeah... you are right... I'd be mad also if I'd find a car without badge in a handicapped spot...

dude... they're are UNhandicapped people all over the world parking in 'badged spots' - so, shit happens. me, i just drive to where my handicapped person wants to be, give 'em a helping hand out, park the car and get on with enjoying the moment

life's too short to be bitchin' about bein' in a wheel chair...

It's not just a Swiss thing. My mum back in Australia used to get dirty looks for parking in handicapped spaces despite having a badge. Like your husband she is able to work. But she has almost as much metal in her spine as bone, not to mention the missing ribs. So she needs the space to get out of the car and she can't look over her shoulder, but can only use the mirrors for reversing. But nobody can see this once she is out of the car.

She doesn't complain about it, and doesn't regard herself as handicapped. But she does appreciate having the extra space and doesn't enjoy the dirty looks.

She now lives in a small town where everybody knows her, so doesn't get the dirty looks anymore.