What Is A Parking Space?

By Bob Alexander

Handicap parking spaces allow people with physical disabilities closer and easier access to public places. Parking in distant spaces increases the time needed to get around, and makes access to businesses difficult, even impossible, for those unable to walk or push a wheelchair long distances. In addition, parking at a distance increases the possibility for accidents, especially in rainy or snowy weather. For those of us who use wheelchairs, laws requiring handicap parking make a big difference to how easily and safely we get around.

But I see people frequently abusing these laws.

On a recent trip to the post office, I pulled into a parking space reserved for drivers with disabilities. A gentleman pulled his car right next to mine, thinking it was also a handicap space. He actually parked in the yellow-striped area which serves as an eight-foot access aisle and leads to the wheelchair ramp. Though he had a handicap tag hanging from the rear-view mirror in his car, he had no visible problem moving around.

When I tried to get out of my car, I was boxed in by this vehicle parked just a few feet away. I struggled to squeeze my wheelchair out of the back seat, set it up, and slide into it in a very confined space. If I had been driving a van with a lift as many wheelchair-users do, the task would have been impossible. As it was, I had to maneuver around this car and jump a curb to get on the access ramp leading into the building.

This person was oblivious to the dilemma he set up. To add to the insult, he just walked away, ignoring my comments and requests.

This incident points up the need to emphasize the purpose of handicap parking spaces, spelled out in the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). The following excerpts from the bill summarize ADA requirements for handicap parking:

Location: Accessible parking spaces serving a particular building shall be located on the shortest accessible route of travel from adjacent parking to an accessible entrance.

Parking Spaces: Accessible parking spaces shall be at least 96 inches (8') wide. Parking access aisles (5' wide for standard cars and 8' wide for vans) shall be part of an accessible route to the building or facility entrance. Two accessible parking spaces may share a common access aisle. Parking spaces and access aisles shall be level. At least one space must be van-accessible with an eight-foot access aisle.

Handicap parking spaces exist for very practical reasons. I want to ask all drivers, including those with disabilities, to follow these simple parking guidelines. It will make life better for all of us.

Bob Alexander heads Access and Training Consultants which provides practical strategies for businesses and the public to help people with disabilities have better access to services. In addition to teaching a college course, conducting building surveys and consulting with organizations, Bob gives presentations to groups on disability access issues. He can be reached at 303-438-6745.

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