Debra, I can feel your aggravation at the rude people in the electric shopping carts. I feel much the same about rude shoppers in general. What I have come to realize is that people, in general, are so focused on what they are trying to accomplish that often they don't "see" the people around them. The super-sized lady sounded like a very rude individual that felt like she was "entitled" and you were not.
I was injured in 11/07. A horrific accident that left me semi-crippled, but with very few outward signs of impairment. Because of the injury it is very difficult for me to complete a weeks worth of shopping "on the hoof". When I am able, I walk, but other times I ride. What I have found is that the stores are not really handicap friendly. The isles aren't quite wide enough and the endcaps make it almost impossible to see at the end of an isle. Granted, it is hard for a cart pusher to see as well, but the carts are harder to manipulate.
Personally, I try to be a very polite cart driver/shopper giving way to walking shoppers, but I have found that many cart pushers will hurry up to get in front of me and then stop to look at products and WILL NOT move over or push their carts a bit ahead so I can go around. Kids who are allowed to push carts by their unthinking/uncaring parents are the worst. People make rude remarks when I get up out of the cart to reach an item on the top shelf, rather than offer to help. The store employees are the worst. With their motorized skids of merchandise, they will NOT yeild to shoppers, walking and/or riding.
Since I know both sides of the issue, I go out of my way to try to assist carted shoppers. If I see someone struggling to reach something I ask if I can assist. Sometimes I am rebuffed, but most of the time the driver is very appreciative.
On the ligher side: I will also say that it takes some practice learning to manipulate the carts. When I first started driving one, I was visiting Patty58 in Texas. We were shopping in a Target store, a whole rolling rack of bras got hung up on my cart and I drug them around until they finally came unhooked. It was absolutely hilarious.
