Is it alright to use a handicapped washroom if...?

Question

there is a huge line up and that is the only stall or washroom available AND if there are no handicapped persons waiting?

I was once at a bingo hall and that was the only stall available and no one with a handicap was waiting. When I came out of the stall a woman with a walker was waiting and gave me the dirtiest look and mumbled something under her breath.

Answer 1

A handicap stall is just another bathroom stall and is accessible by anyone that wants to use it.

The reason it is called a handicap stall is because it has more room, enough for a person in a wheelchair to be able to use it more readily than a standard stall.

Etiquette and common sense say you should allow anyone with a disability to use it before yourself, but if no one is waiting to use that stall then you have every right to use it and not feel guilty about it. There is no law about only disabled people being able to use a bathroom stall (unlike the handicap parking), in fact in most bathrooms you will also find that this stall doubles as a baby changing station because of the space and privacy it offers.

Answer 2

Usually the handicapped stalls are only for the disaabled, as you allready know. I wouldn't see a problem with useing it if there wasn't a disabled person all ready waiting in line. Some people will use any excuse to be grouchy.

Answer 3

Its fine by me.

You aren't a second class citizen. You don't need to waste all day just because someone handicapable doesn't want to wait behind you. There's no law against it either.

The entire cripples first campaign is ridiculous. Nobody deserves to go to the front of the line, no matter what.

In the end its all about time, because a handicap, elderly, or overweight person can wait for a parking spot up close just like the rest of the population does if they need it so bad. Seriously.

****Why should 100 people waste time and energy, so that 1 Person doesn't have to... because the fat person can't walk so far? or because the fat person doesn't have the time to wait in line like there rest?

Answer 4

I say if there are no other empty stalls and no one else is waiting then go for it---unless you think you will be in there for a while--I mean how long does it take to go the bathroom? The disabled person can wait 30 seconds or so.

Answer 5

I asked this question before. Please search for the question if you want to see my answers as well.

There doesn't even have to be a huge line. If the wheelchair accessible stall is available, anyone may use it. It is not reserved EXCLUSIVELY for people who use a wheelchair.

Naturally, if there are a group of people waiting, one of whom is in a wheelchair, everyone should let the person using the wheelchair have primary access to the approriate stall.

The woman who rebuked you in public was being rude. Ignore such boors.

Answer 6

I have an invisible disability, so I am entitled to used the handicapped stall. If I get a dirty look, that's too damned bad.

Answer 7

Yes, it's fine to use the wheelchair accessible stall. The crotchety old woman in the walker could have easily used a regular stall... She was just a mean old hag.

Answer 8

If it was say in your building at work and you know there are almost never anyone with any handicap that uses it then ok, but out in a public place no. I use the one at work because I have never in almost 5 years seen anyone who actually needed it there to use it.

Answer 9

I use it sometimes when there is nobody there, and have seen other people use it, but of course if there is a person in a wheel chair or something I'd let them go ahead.

Answer 10

in my opinion thats ok you can use it because it was urgent and you can't wait more, beside you will finish in a very short time in case if any disabled may come