Aug
27
Handicap parking/Hybrid parking
August 27, 2008 |
Most everyone in America has been in an asphalt rectangle, delineated by perpendicular white lines known as a parking lot. And most have seen which spaces are designated for expectant mothers and people with disabilities. It makes perfect logical sense to provide a parking advantage to people that have a harder time walking than others. Also, if an expectant mother happens to be going shopping in her third trimester, then of course these little parking perks make her life easier. We have quietly accepted these social constructs and complied with the rules while we continue to seek the closest possible spot near our destination. We slowly drive our motor vehicle passed the handicap spaces down and up the many lanes searching for that perfect spot. In the end, the less fortunate ones have to suffer through the extra 20-30 yard walk to their destination.
Located in Savannah, Georgia, there is a shopping plaza called Abercorn Common. It was built by local developer, Melaver, Inc. Melaver’s principle mission is to provide us with sustainable buildings that are better for the environment. Abercorn Common is no exception, as it is the first Retail Center in the United States to become LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified through a program set up by the U.S. Green Building Council. Great, Melaver did what they set out to do.
It does not , however, make logical sense to give preferential parking to consumers who drive a more environmentally friendly vehicle. Which is what Melaver and the Abercorn Common complex did. After the recognition that the building itself received, It seems like these signs were just an afterthought. You know, just something to try and put the icing on the cake. But I think it was just too much icing. It really would be naive to think that someone driving a big SUV would drive past one of these spaces and think, “Oh, well I guess I should retire this old hog and get a new hybrid.” To them the sign is almost as ridiculous as saying, “See, people with handicaps can park here, if you disable yourself at your own expense you can park in these bright blue spots anywhere.”
I realize that it might be an incentive to show people that driving a hybrid not only saves you money on gas and is better for the environment, but you can also get parking perks at select shopping plazas. The only problem with that is it’s really not much of an incentive at all. If you remember, we have already accepted the fact that some people can park closer than others and we have dealt with the extra trek to the entrance. People in this country are so set in their ways, so stubborn, even with gas rising above $4.00 a gallon, that they will not change. They have been doing this for 50+ years and a parking space sure ain’t gonna change ‘em now. The problem with this sign is not what it is saying but how it is saying it. Because what it is saying is “Drive hybrid vehicles.” but the presentation of this statement in the context of a parking space is disheartening to think that we are resorting to things like this to get people to realize it’s time for a change.
Comments
7 Comments so far
You know these signs might actually make a lot of drivers really upset. I mean think about it, these fucking yuppie hybrid drivers get a special place to park, while I am now forced to park my honking SUV, sports coupe, or ever my fuel efficient sedan(!) an extra 2 spaces further from the door! Icing on the cake for sure. Great post Greg.
“yuppie hybrid drivers”
so people that care about the environment are yuppies? i think if anything these spots raise awareness about hybrid vehicles and that there are advantages to caring for the environment. in such dire times when massive change is so badly needed i don’t think it’s so bad to piss off a few SUV drivers and get other drivers thinking.
While the picture doesn’t indicate it in this example, have you considered that it would make perfect sense if all parking lots next to pedestrian walkways were designated ‘Hybrids Only’ as those who were walking wouldn’t have to put up with other peoples exhaust fumes in their faces? A bit like No Smoking in bars. It might convince people that walking to the shops would be a more pleasant experience. However, I agree that it won’t convince anyone to change their car.
Abercorn Common is the first Retail Center in the United States to become LEED certified. In order to receive LEED points preferential parking is given to cars that are environmentally friendly.
to random,
I’m not calling hybrid drivers or environmentalists yuppies, that’s just not what I meant. It’s not about who is a yuppie and who isn’t, if yuppies even exist. It’s about whether or not these signs really do anything, do they raise awareness? Or is it just so this facility can get enough points to become LEED certified. I know whole-heartedly that we need to care for the environment, I do what I can to reduce, reuse and recycle. But do these signs help people see that? I don’t think they do. These signs caught me off guard. Will they cause other people to perhaps change their mind about the environment? I think not. I just don’t think these signs are an effective way to raise awareness, just a lame attempt.
It doesn’t seem to make sense that preferential parking would be given to cars that are environmentally friendly. You would think that cars that are not environmentally friendly would be given preferential treatment. The sooner a big SUV parks, the less impact they have. However, if a hybrid car drives around a parking lot for 20 minutes in an attempt to find a parking space, little harm is done.
Next thing you know hybrids will be getting their own water fountains. I don’t want to see America go down that path again.