By ALLAN APPEL
Friday, January 26, 2007
I don't like to write about handicapped parking. At least not about its technical requirements. After all, I don't want my readers to get bored.
But sometimes people need to know the devils in the details because it's those details that lead to compliance. Especially when it comes to handicapped parking regulations.
You know the feeling. Why does there appear to be so few handicapped parking spaces? Or, conversely, why are there so many of those spaces? And the width of them sometimes appears to be too narrow. Or sometimes overly generous.
ADA compliance with those parking regulations can be found in its accessibility guidelines, commonly called ADAAG. Every state is governed by those regulations and has either codified them into their own laws or has incorporated them by reference.
So if a parking lot appears to be too stingy with those spaces, start counting and then contact your local compliance personnel. In a typical parking lot, if the number of spaces is 25 or fewer, at least one must be designated as being for handicapped parking. And if only one is required for that lot, then that must be a van-accessible spot. For every eight required handicapped spaces, at least one must be designated as a van-accessible space.
For every 25 additional spaces, up to 100, at least one additional space must be a handicapped space. Beyond 100 spaces, the ratio becomes smaller.
ADAAG delineates the required measurement of those spaces as well. So it's not enough to provide the requisite number of parking spaces; those spaces must also meet the required dimensions.
Do not assume a parking lot is in compliance simply because it is being allowed to operate by the local building authorities. Sometimes violations can occur if changes are made after approvals are granted. And in many cases the local inspectors are not adequately trained in the accessibility rules.
Many communities have established volunteer patrols that take photographs of alleged parking violations. Unless handicapped parking regulations are aggressively enforced, we cannot hope to achieve universal compliance.
(Allan Appel writes a biweekly column about disabilities. He can be reached c/o Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers, 1939 S. Federal Highway, P.O. Box 9009, Stuart, FL 34994, or e-mailed at aappel223(at)yahoo.com.)
