Dear Editor:
Hostility, vulgarity, racism and elder abuse are alive and well in West Vancouver.
Everyone who shops at Park Royal knows all about the construction and limited parking available. For the most part people are congenial and patient in finding parking.
Yesterday, however, took the cake. I was driving a 75-year-old passenger looking for a handicapped parking space. None were available. I found a spot beside the shopping cart collection point. While attempting to park, I noticed a spot coming available just ahead of me close to the door of Whole Foods, which was better for my passenger. My passenger exited to go and stand in the spot in order to secure it as the holder of the spot acknowledged it was for her. I was moving the car to make room for this lady to exit. Meanwhile a BMW passed on my left from behind to deke ahead to take the spot. She began to turn into the spot and my passenger advised the spot was taken. This prompted a slew of slurs from the 60-ish aggressive woman driver - a bully if there ever was one. She was screaming at my passenger everything from "b**ch," to foreigner, to foreigner go home. But the worst thing was that she proceeded to drive into the stall with my passenger still standing there and drove against her to force her to leave. My passenger had a cane and became unbalanced but luckily did not fall. The bully continued to push her way into the stall and my passenger had to step aside to risk being hit again or worse. The bully then came over to the car I was in and yelled and ranted about my lack of parking skills in an "entry-level Mercedes." She only succeeded in exposing herself to all who watched for exactly who she is. Verbal abuse is one thing but using your vehicle to physically force someone's exit is quite another.
Just a reminder to all who are parking in less than ideal conditions that consideration and patience are virtues - and to be on the lookout for the childhood bully who never grew up.
Kate Watson, West Vancouver
