On-street handicap parking - what to do? (Huntersville: subdivision, live)

[superk]

Once a day, I usually drive myself and my wife, who is handicapped, over to the Torrence Creek greenway in Huntersville so I can walk (and she can scoot) for an hour or so along the greenway path. We park at the entrance to the Greenway on Bradford Hills Lane.

Now, when I'm parking on a street, I usually pull to my LEFT and park the car facing oncoming traffic. This way, she has room to get out her door, and I can bring here scooter around, without a curb in the way.

I almost got a parking ticket this weekend for parking this way. I didn't know that it's a city-wide ordinance in Huntersville that you must park facing the same direction as the traffic. When the HPD officer saw me and her and realized why I was parked the way I was, he ripped up the ticket he had been writing. Had we not been there right then ...

Anyway, what am I supposed to do? Park on the right, but leave a 3-4 foot gap between the car and the curb? I don't suppose I'd be ticketed for that also, huh? It seems as if the only option is to stop, turn on the emergency flashers, let her out and get her on the scooter, have her move out of the street and onto the walkway, then go park the car normally?

[SunnyKayak]

Originally Posted by superk

Once a day, I usually drive myself and my wife, who is handicapped, over to the Torrence Creek greenway in Huntersville so I can walk (and she can scoot) for an hour or so along the greenway path. We park at the entrance to the Greenway on Bradford Hills Lane.

Now, when I'm parking on a street, I usually pull to my LEFT and park the car facing oncoming traffic. This way, she has room to get out her door, and I can bring here scooter around, without a curb in the way.

I almost got a parking ticket this weekend for parking this way. I didn't know that it's a city-wide ordinance in Huntersville that you must park facing the same direction as the traffic. When the HPD officer saw me and her and realized why I was parked the way I was, he ripped up the ticket he had been writing. Had we not been there right then ...

Anyway, what am I supposed to do? Park on the right, but leave a 3-4 foot gap between the car and the curb? I don't suppose I'd be ticketed for that also, huh? It seems as if the only option is to stop, turn on the emergency flashers, let her out and get her on the scooter, have her move out of the street and onto the walkway, then go park the car normally?

Huntersville is real strict on parking in the direction you travel. You can read it weekly in the Huntersville Herald about such tickets given.

Your option you mention in your last paragraph is your best option.

They use to have parking on the left side facing Gilead across the gate but it was mostly grass. That would be perfect spot to pave and turn into Handicap Parking ONly.
It is at a beginning of subdivision and not really a desinated park per say.
Avoid this area on Sunday Mornings due to the Church traffic across the street has a cop directing traffic and that portion of Bradford HIll gets crowed with people parking to go to church.

[Hoagie58]

Originally Posted by superk

Once a day, I usually drive myself and my wife, who is handicapped, over to the Torrence Creek greenway in Huntersville so I can walk (and she can scoot) for an hour or so along the greenway path. We park at the entrance to the Greenway on Bradford Hills Lane.

Now, when I'm parking on a street, I usually pull to my LEFT and park the car facing oncoming traffic. This way, she has room to get out her door, and I can bring here scooter around, without a curb in the way.

I almost got a parking ticket this weekend for parking this way. I didn't know that it's a city-wide ordinance in Huntersville that you must park facing the same direction as the traffic. When the HPD officer saw me and her and realized why I was parked the way I was, he ripped up the ticket he had been writing. Had we not been there right then ...

Anyway, what am I supposed to do? Park on the right, but leave a 3-4 foot gap between the car and the curb? I don't suppose I'd be ticketed for that also, huh? It seems as if the only option is to stop, turn on the emergency flashers, let her out and get her on the scooter, have her move out of the street and onto the walkway, then go park the car normally?

Actually, I believe most municipalities prohibit parking against the flow of traffic. Might I suggest the Mallard Creek greenway as an option? It's relatively close to you, has plenty of parking, and is several miles long. It's really a shame there is not more street side, usable disabled parking in the area.
Mallard & Clark's Creek

[Stripes17]

Originally Posted by Hoagie58

Actually, I believe most municipalities prohibit parking against the flow of traffic. [/url]

I wonder if there is a statewide law on this, or if it's up to the municipality?

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Originally Posted by Stripes17

I wonder if there is a statewide law on this, or if it's up to the municipality?

I've never lived where it WASN'T against the regulations but it is very rarely enforced. We think one of our neighbors calls the parking police every time he sees a car parked against the traffic b/c why else would they ticket us every single blasted time one of us parks that way? Some people are just too obsessive about the appearance of the street!

[QC Misfit]

Its a statewide law.