Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

OK, let me take this opportunity to vent my anger.
Last summer my niece came over to visit me in TRNC, her first time back after some 15 years. She wanted to have a quick look at Girne Old Harbour just to see if it had changed much since her last visit. She has MS and struggles to walk. We were visiting relatives in Girne and on the way I decided that as we were in town we should take the opportunity and visit the harbour. Her wheelchair was not put into the boot of the car as she didn't think that it would be needed as we were only going to see relatives. I tried to get as close to the harbour as possible, right up to where the barriers are placed. The only parking bays available were two taxi ranks. I decided to park there for just 5 to 10 minutes as both bays were empty. I had spotted 3 police officers in the area and decided to approach them to explain that I was only going to park my car there for just a few minutes just so that my disabled niece could make her way (slowly with a walking stick) to the harbour to have a quick look. Their response was NO, and that they have already called a tow truck which was on its way to pick up another vehicle. I asked again politely explaining that the bays were empty and we would be gone within 5 minutes. Again all three said NO and asked me to move the car. Just then a taxi pulled into the bay behind me and I immediately approached the driver and asked if he minded if I parked there for a few minutes just so that my disabled niece could take a quick look at the harbour. His response was also negative, stating that it was a taxi parking bay and another taxi may turn up any minute. I shook my head in disbelief, then told my niece and her partner to just walk to the harbour to have a look, I locked the car and started to make my way with them. The police saw that I was going to ignore their demands and shouted out that the tow truck was already close by. My niece asked me to get back in the car so as not to get in trouble with the police, and that we could try and visit another time. Eventually we all got back into the car, but before I drove off, I told the three policemen that they should feel ashamed of themselves, and that they lacked any form of compassion. One of them seemed like he was going to come over, I waited and stared him in the eyes, then he decided to turn and walk away.

I know I was in the wrong, but it really did make me realise that this was no longer the TRNC I once knew.

Thank you for that story, Soner. It does indeed demonstrate how this country has changed over the last 20 years, and also the problems disabled people face.

I visited the harbour a few weeks ago for the first time in six or seven years,, although I live here! A friend took me and my scooter and my friendly helpful gardener in his lorry and dropped us off and collected us an hour later. With two of them to manhandle the scooter it was still difficult for him to drive through the town and drop off and collect. When I am over the flu we will try approaching from the other direction - ie parking behind the castle.

There are several places where there might not be room for disabled parking but could still provide dropping off places with benches for those lucky enough to have an able bodied driver to help them.

I also visited the Carsamba Pazar the same way. Once there with the scooter I could probably just about have managed on my own , but it would have been difficult because of kerbs, and I probably have more general strength than someone with something like MS

And to think that 20 years ago they were advertising specialist holidays for the disabled in the TRNC

Well, if there was ever a case for the two of you haranguing the relevant Authorities, this is it!

Tourism Minister? Chief of Police? Minister of the Interior?

Why not! - Pester the lot of 'em!

Incidentally, is there a 'Blue Badge' scheme here for disabled drivers?

Keith ; I have already tried haranguing over the height of kerbs and met with a blank wall

i have been told there is a Disabled Parking scheme here and I could get a badge from the Girne Municipality. I cant park near the offices (this really does become a vicious circle) However I read in the paper that the Municipality was employing English speakers in a special section to help expatriates. I telephoned the number given and no one had heard of the new initiative. I eventually got a very charming and helpful young man with a little English. He had never heard of the blue badge scheme. He gave me another number which passed me on to another ................eventually I ended up with Vehicle Licencing, who had never heard of the Blue Badge scheme either.

A friend has printed off a badge from the Internet and perspexed it to put on my dashboard, but I have not yet met any Police to query it. So except when my kind adopted TC family help, I am stuck with the Markets and Cafes where I can park closely, or as I can get, or where I can reach with the scooter. THe latter has actually turned out to be something of a silver lining as it is a great way to see the villages and countryside.

I dont have that much time left and I want to enjoy what there is , not waste it in a single-handed battle against officialdom, nor waste my dwindling remaining savings on abortive telephone callls.

There are some spaces marked for disabled on the big car park near the exit for the square.

woodspeckie wrote:There are some spaces marked for disabled on the big car park near the exit for the square.

...but you probably need a Blue Badge to use them...

On my TO DO list when next in the TRNC. I think better to target Turkish Press for message to sink in.

Keithcaley wrote:

woodspeckie wrote:There are some spaces marked for disabled on the big car park near the exit for the square.

...but you probably need a Blue Badge to use them...

but how then do you get out the car park?
1) down the steps leading to the harbour
2) through the tombs, and over curbs then crossing a cobbled road
3) over the spikes and under the barrier
4) up three steps and through the cafe
5)the exit, miles away from the centre (ok maybe not miles!)

Its a long time since I used that carpark (in my fully mobile days I used to climb over a wall at the side to go to Church)
but I seem to remember that having parked your car, you then had to walk to a kiosk to buy a ticket , then go back to the car to display the ticket, ............then exit the park as foregoing........................

Soner wrote:On my TO DO list when next in the TRNC. I think better to target Turkish Press for message to sink in.

That is a good idea Soner. My attempts with the English language press were a damp squib. But it is not just the elderly and disabled. I remember an Anglo Turkish Society meeting years ago when a group of young Cypriot mothers were up in arms because of the difficulties and dangers of kerbs in Kyrenia to prams, pushchairs and toddlers. I doubt it has got any better.

This is just a vague idea but I have often thought that they should make both the car park mentioned above and the other at the other end past the Dome into "Park and Ride". Going down through the old harbour and back though the HIgh Street. A land train with wide entrances , small steps and handrails for the disabled would also be an attraction for tourists. A "guards van" at the end could take a couple of wheelchairs or scooters. One or two running continuously could let passengers off at suitable spots to catch a later one. Alternatively hire out mobiity scooters and something like an electric golf trolley at the car parks.

Would also reduce traffic congestion and pollution.

Or am I entering the realms of fantasy here.

snd1966, I have tried that route myself and I am not disabled. Those steps are lethal, all uneven and you need to be major fit to get back up.
January is not far off, maybe time again to start a Keep Fit programme, which usually lasts 2 weeks, if that, before I give up.

Incidentally, is there a 'Blue Badge' scheme here for disabled drivers?
KeithCaley.

i have been told there is a Disabled Parking scheme here and I could get a badge from the Girne Municipality.
Ragged Robin.

Is there any member of the Forum who has been through the Mill and can verify that local Municipalities can issue disabled parking permits?

I don't recall seeing one anytime here bujt if they do exist it would be a real benefit to obtain one from Gazi in our case rather than trudging the Treasure Hunt that is Lefkosa Gv't departments.

tt.

I have seen several badges, mostly on cars in the disabled spaces at Shah. But they were all either UK badges or another country that operates a scheme or perhaps copied....... I haven't seen one that had any reference to TRNC and come to think of it none were in Turkish. THe signs at SHah say the spaces are "For those who need them" but does not refer to any form of authorisation. I aam beginning to think that my information that there is aschme was a con. but I too would be glad to hear if anyone has information.

We find that down by the castle (LHS) is the best place to park or drop off for the less well abled.