Wuan and I do not go to Amcorp Mall often. The only two attractions there for us are the BookXcess for books at bargain basement prices and J One Camera for reasonably priced cameras and accessories. We usually park at the open air car park which has an accessible parking that is just across the driveway from the main entrance.
Accessible parking at Amcorp Mall open air car park.
The few times that we were there, it was occupied although some of the vehicles do not have the wheelchair logo on the windscreen. To give the drivers of these vehicles the benefit of the doubt, I usually assumed that they carried disabled passengers. If not, may these inconsiderate drivers soon experience what I have to go through all the time.
The last time we went there to get a replacement for a faulty dry cabinet power adaptor at J One Camera, we found that a very conspicuous signboard was erected on the kerb of the accessible parking with the word “Physically Challenged Only”. While I appreciate the management’s effort in ensuring that undeserving people are reminded not to abuse the parking, the language used could be improved.
Parking for “Physically Challenged Only” at at Amcorp Mall.
A “physically challenged” situation in this context is manmade. Disabled people are physically challenged only when there are no accessible facilities or such facilities are abused and disabled people denied usage. A more appropriate phrase would be “For Disabled People Only”. However, I believe the intention of the sign was to specify that the parking is reserved for wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments only.
Anyway, I have digressed. Amcorp Mall should be commended for considering the needs of disabled people. Perhaps, they can make it even more convenient by adding another one or two accessible parkings. One lot out of the entire car park is grossly insufficient. Better still, make these parkings sheltered all the way to the main entrance. Open air parking is an incovenience for disabled people when it rains. I am not sure if there are any similar parking spaces in the basement though.