I Was Trapped Because Someone Was "Only Five Minutes"

"Just five minutes." It's something we all hear. Sometimes we've probably even said it ourselves. But when you rely on accessible spaces to simply go about your day, those five minutes can leave you completely stuck.

Recently, I found myself trapped because a van had parked across the accessible space outside a shop. I've chosen to blur the business details in the photo because this isn't about naming and shaming or sending hate towards the company involved. The purpose of sharing this is to raise awareness, because I don't think many people realise just how much of an impact these situations can have.

The driver had popped into the shop next door to look for Pokémon cards and planned to be "just a few minutes". Unfortunately, those few minutes meant I couldn't leave.

There was no turning circle, no passing space and no safe way around the van. As a wheelchair user, I couldn't simply squeeze past. I could have risked scraping my wheelchair down the side of the van, but then I'd likely have been the one blamed for damaging a vehicle that was parked where it shouldn't have been in the first place. So instead, I sat there and waited, completely stuck.

Eventually, I had to ask the manager of the shop I was trying to leave for help. They kindly went next door, explained the situation and found the driver, who came back, moved the van and apologised. I genuinely appreciated the apology because I don't think there was any malicious intent. They probably didn't think they were causing a problem.

What I think people often miss is that accessibility matters all of the time, not just when someone expects to be there for a long period. It matters during the "I'll only be five minutes" moments just as much as it does for an hour. This kind of thing happens to me far more often than people realise. Most of the time, I don't have a photo because I'm too busy trying to find another route, asking for help or simply wanting to get home after another exhausting barrier. This time, I happened to be able to capture it, giving me the chance to show the reality that disabled people face every day. It isn't a one-off experience. It's part of everyday life. We constantly have to adapt to obstacles that shouldn't exist, and each one chips away at our independence. What might seem like a small inconvenience to someone else can completely stop a disabled person from carrying on with their day.

But that's exactly why I'm writing this.

Accessibility shouldn't depend on someone returning quickly. It shouldn't depend on whether a member of staff is willing to help or whether the person who blocked your access is understanding enough to move when asked. Accessible spaces only work when people leave them accessible.

A huge thank you also goes to Warrington Cycle Hub, who quite literally did the legwork I couldn't by going into the neighbouring shop to find the driver. Without their help, I honestly don't know how much longer I'd have been waiting.

What many people don't realise is that blocking an accessible space isn't just inconvenient. It can be embarrassing, frustrating and physically painful. I was left sitting outside in direct heat while my symptoms were already being aggravated by the weather. With my disabilities, spending longer than necessary in that heat wasn't just uncomfortable. It made me feel worse and drained the little energy I already had.

People often think, "It's only five minutes." They're thinking about their own day and their own errand. They're not thinking about the disabled person who now can't leave a shop, can't get to their car, can't continue their journey or is left relying on strangers for help.

For many disabled people, we already spend so much of our lives depending on others. We rely on carers, family members, shop staff and complete strangers far more than we'd like to. Moments like this take away even more independence. Something as ordinary as leaving a shop suddenly becomes something you need help to do.

That's why accessible parking bays and access routes matter so much. They aren't a convenience or a luxury. They're there because without them, many of us simply can't access the world in the same way everyone else can.

If you ever find yourself thinking, "I'll only be five minutes," I hope you'll remember this story. Those five minutes might seem insignificant to you, but to somebody else they could mean being trapped, missing an appointment, worsening their health or losing the independence they're trying so hard to keep.

Accessibility only works when it's kept accessible.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If sharing experiences like this helps even one person think twice before blocking an accessible space, then it's worth telling.

Thank you for reading,

Faeryn

📸 Instagram:

[Main account] - @FaeQuirky

[Side Account] - @Faeryn_Tales 

🎬 TikTok: @FaeQuirky

Media kit: https://beacons.ai/faequirky/mediakit