notquiteaff

Who is "they"? My personal experience is from some 20 years ago, but Google search tells me that temporary disabled placards are still available with doctor's "note" (actually, has to fill out a DMV form).

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/de...t_facts/ffvr07

Not that that helps the OP with his trip on United...

mahasamatman

The RMV. As I recall, I tried twice - once when I tore my quad, and another time when I had knee surgery. They would not accept either condition.

Giggleswick

Weird. Were you by any chance trying to get a permanent placard instead of a temp one, or did you not submit all the required paperwork? The Cal DMV most certainly does placards, as detailed in the link in post #16 . I got one a few years back when I was on crutches with a broken ankle, and a friend of mine just got one after a knee replacement. Even the DMV wouldn't be sadistic enough not to issue the placards when needed
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Mike Jacoubowsky

The obvious question is, how can you fly enough to be GS and do OLH in 16 minutes? I haven't been capable of that since 1978?

I was thinking it likely I'll end up flying into C or D and out of F at ORD. If I take the shuttle, it's not quite so bad, except for the stairs down to the tarmac. I did walk from the Ortho appointment (Kaiser Redwood City) back to my bike shop on El Camino a couple days after the accident, just to prove I could. It was not fun. Of course, it's on Strava. :-) So the wheelchair thing might actually be reasonable. Hate that. Maybe one of those golf cart things instead? Never ever thought I'd be in an airport in either one!

Not an issue (getting a disabled parking sticker); I take the train & bart to the airport.

5khours

Just takes a little extra time. I flew BOS to NRT once. I had a rollerboard, rucksack and bicycle. Sprained my ankle the day before the flight. Bit of struggle getting from the curb to check with all of that on crutches, but as soon as the staff saw me, they were super helpful.

Collierkr

porciuscato

Not too hard. Lots of hours on hotel exercise bikes; vittoria CS tires & latex tubes; 12 lb road bike, beetroot juice....and about 320 watts.

Unless your bike shop moved, I'd guess that's about a mile. Wow. Unfortunately, SFO doesn't do golf carts. So it's "the chair" for you!

Mike Jacoubowsky

Watts are so yesterday. What's your VAM? Mine's been heading steadily downhill, and the time off the bike isn't kind to my weight. Awesome that you can work the magic on the hotel bikes. I never could. Have not tried beetroot juice, but it could help with my lung issues by making more efficient use of oxygen. Thanks for the reminder.
I had a bone marrow biopsy last February that I rode to from the shop, and back. The nurse had a fit. My doctor knew that's what I'd be doing, but she neglected to tell the nurse. Had to leave AMA (against medical advice). If I can do things on my own, I do. No "chair" required at SFO on departure; flight's not until 12:20pm so plenty of time to "walk" from BART to T3. The return will be problematic because I have a Transportation Planning Advisory Committee meeting at 6pm in Redwood City, and my flight arrives SFO 5:06pm. If I wasn't impaired, I'd be able to get to the meeting about 15 minutes late. But on crutches... what's traffic like from SFO to Redwood City on 101? I suspect not fun!

hotturnip

Am I correct that you are still resisting the idea that you should get a wheelchair at the airport? It's your life and your body--but you've had multiple people here with this same problem strongly advising you to get a wheelchair. For Pete's sake, it's not a sign of weakness to get a wheelchair when you have a flippin' fractured pelvis! (But it might be a sign of mental weakness NOT to get one!)

Good luck!

bizeesheri

Busted my ankle in Sept while in St Thomas. They picked me up from the curb with a wheelchair, got me through security and to a special handicapped waiting area near the gate. Since the plane didn't have a jetway, they used the lift (normally to bring food up) for me to get to the main door. I was able to get to my seat, crutches in overhead. At ATL, they wheelchaired me to new gate and then in PDX wheelchaired me to my hotel van. My friend loved all the 'benefits' of early boarding etc with me.

almostfrench0612

almostfrench0612

Katja

Will you be in anyone's car at any point? Even if you do not normally drive yourself, a placard is very helpful if you will be in someone else's car as they can then park more conveniently. You can always get it and then not use it; it's harder to use a placard that you do not have.

threeoh

There is no D at O'Hare and there is also no longer an airside shuttle between C and T2

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...rvice-cut.html

windhund

On my flight yesterday, one passenger in F kept her crutches next to her seat during the flight for easy access (she was sitting in the window seat). I don't remember whether they fit in the overhead or not, but I imagine they had to be stowed for take off and landing.