An Oklahoma man came out of a store and noticed somebody parked in the striped area next to his truck. For him, this instantly meant he wouldn’t be able to get into his truck with his wheelchair. Luckily, a helpful woman saw what was happening and jumped into action.
The man in question, Sterling, posted the video on his personal TikTok account Sterthom27 with the caption, “Some might call her a Karen. But she’s a hero in my book.” Sterling had parked his pickup truck next to an accessible parking space, which is marked by diagonal stripes. This is so he can navigate safely into his “wheelchair truck.”
According to Sterling, it was clear the owner of the motorcycle assumed the striped space was just “extra parking.” However, for someone like Sterling, it’s a way for him to access his vehicle. When Sterling noticed the motorcycle, a woman approached him and agreed, “That is not okay.”
She was so angry on Sterling’s behalf that somebody would take that space next to his pickup truck. She tells Sterling she’s going to go inside the store and complain to management. Sterling said it was an “amazing feeling” seeing a total stranger help advocate for his rights.
As Sterling tells her he’s “not a fan” of what the motorcyclist did, she jumps into action to let management know what’s up. Sterling tells the woman that he “appreciates” her for doing that. In the meantime, he sets up his lift so he can at least try to navigate his way into his truck.
How Sterling’s Audience Reacted to His TikTok Video
Among the few hundred comments on Sterling’s TikTok video, some appluaded the woman for coming to his aid, while a few admitted they didn’t know what the lines meant. One viewer left a sweet comment for the lady, saying, “She’s not a Karen she’s a CARING.”
“As a motorcycle rider I sincerely apologize and will never park in a striped again,” a commenter wrote, admitting their own ignorance.
Several commenters followed suit, but one TikTok user wasn’t buying it. “Even if you didn’t know it’s an accessible loading bay, when in the world do striped lines mean ‘park here’?”
Not only was Sterling ultimately able to return to his vehicle, it was a valuable lesson to others in the comments. Hopefully, other motorcycle drivers get the memo and realize the inconvenience this puts on disabled people.
