lllinois legislators propose two tiered disability parking system

In an effort to crack down on meter cheating, Illinois legislators are considering a bill that would set up free metered parking for those who disabilities affect their ability to use parking meters and end it for others who have disabled placards and license plates.

Starting in 2014, only wheelchair-bound people and others who are physically unable to feed meters would be allowed to park in metered spots without having to feed meters or parking payboxes, according to the legislation.

New placards would be issued to those who qualify for the free parking. The legislation is based on a system set up in Michigan, which reduced free metered parking to about 2% of those with disability placards or license plates.

To read more, click here.

Dear Illegal Parker

Dear Illegal Parker,

On Thanksgiving, I visited my mother on the other side of town to be with family. There were no open accessible parking spots so I had to park at the rear of the lot in two open non accessible spots.

I could only do this because there were people inside to ask to move my van later if someone parked next to me. However, if I was alone I would have had to leave.

It was raining pretty hard. As I exited the van the zipper on the side pouch on my wheelchair somehow opened. Some of my id cards and other important papers fell out. People were waiting for me in the lobby so if I'd been parked in an accessible spot they would have seen me and come out to help. Cell phones don't work inside the place I was going to so that wasn't an option. I didn't want to leave important papers laying around in the wind and rain to blow away while I went to get help.

So I went back into the van, got a quad reacher and lifted the papers off the wet ground. Meanwhile I had to find my ziploc bag to put over the joystick on my power chair to keep it from getting wet. It took me a long time to get everything gathered up. I got pretty wet since it was raining hard.

Once I was finished I started toward the entrance. Someone pulling out of a spot didn't see me and almost hit me. Fortunately, I was able to dodge the car and get out of the driver's way in time.

As I passed the half a dozen handicap spots, I noticed that your car didn't even have a placard or plate. I wondered why even on Thanksgiving at a senior housing complex, someone would illegally park in an accessible spot. I suppose you didn't think someone in a wheelchair might really need that spot.

I hope you'll think twice about using accessible spots illegally again, not just because it's illegal, but because your choice to do so creates safety consequences for others. The accessible spots are up front for a reason. Wheelchairs are hard to see in a parking lot, especially in the rain, and because I was parked near the rear, I might have been hit by someone pulling out of a spot.

Not that knowing any of this ahead of time would have stopped me from going out, but it sure would have made my day easier if you hadn't parked illegally. I wouldn't have had to sit in wet clothes all day for one thing. I don't know if you were ticketed after I reported it but if you were, I hope it's a deterrent. Your car was gone when I came out, but that did me no good. I had to trek through the rain to the rear of the lot again only to discover there was no lighting back there. It was difficult to see how to place my wheelchair to get on the ramp of the van which was pretty unsafe.

Although there's no way I can explain in one letter all the reasons why accessible parking is not a luxury for people with disabilities, I hope this letter will make you think twice next time before you park illegally "for just a minute" or for convenience sake.

Yours truly,

WC

It's about respect - and mobility

This video talks about the lack of respect by those who violate handicap parking laws. I liked it because the speaker mentions the impact on his life- how he has to drive around to find spots because of violators who are taking up the spots.



Of course, those of us with disabilities who have transportation are the lucky ones. Not to minimize the problem of being late or missing appointments because we have to drive around to find a place where we can get out of our cars-and sometimes can't, but there are many more who face serious danger trying to get around in their wheelchairs on roads that aren't built for wheelchair pedestrians.

As I was reading the news this morning, I saw several articles about wheelchair pedestrians in accidents. Sadly, this is daily fare. One wheelchair user was stuck on the tracks near Chicago, but fortunately didn't touch the electrified third rail. Then there are the fatalities. The wheelchair users who wind up dead with photos of their wrecked and twisted chairs in an article that usually reads: Wheelchair user killed. Blind pedestrian hit by car. Sometimes there isn't even a name. I hate that the most, when the person isn't even named.

So often I hear people say that wheelchair users or blind pedestrians (or others with disabilities) shouldn't be here or there. Of course, that's easy to say if you don't face paratransit cuts that are becoming deeper all the time.

But none of these stories mention that.

And, as I said before, every day these stories are in the news. That's because many of our streets- including sidewalks, curbcuts, intersections , and bus stops - are built only for speeding cars.

I ask you to check out the National Complete Streets Coalition.

Now, in communities across the country, a movement is growing to complete the streets. States, cities and towns are asking their planners and engineers to build road networks that are safer, more livable, and welcoming to everyone.

Instituting a complete streets policy ensures that transportation planners and engineers consistently design and operate the entire roadway with all users in mind - including bicyclists, public transportation vehicles and riders, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.

It's not just for people with disabilities, but for bicyclists, all pedestrians, motorcyclists and others.

If you're concerned, learn more about it here.

Or check out this slideshow:

Introduction to Complete Streets

View more presentations from National Complete Streets Coalition.

Cloudy- with sunglasses

I was reading the news when I ran across this article about a NY driver who was ticketed for using a mannequin to drive in the car pool lane. The police figured out there might be a scam because the mannequin was wearing sunglasses on an overcast, cloudy day.

It reminded me of the people I run into who cheat using handicap parking. This is particularly frustrating in an area where it's crowded. Not being able to find a spot can mean having to leave without doing an errand, but it can also mean missing or being late for appointments.

It does no good to say anything to those who cheat. They're full of rationalizations. "No, I'm not disabled, but my husband is. This placard is legal! I do it all the time." And on and on. This is one of the most frustrating experiences - to see a nondisabled family member using the placard when no disabled passenger is even in the car. Then there are those who have no placard and just gamble on the fact that the police won't catch them. Or those who obtain temporary placards and continue to use them beyond the expiration date.

It's all cheating. On the Philadelphia news, there was a story about a guy who tried to sell a placard on Craigslist. NBC10 investigators went undercover to bust him after a wheelchair user seeing the ad got nowhere calling police and the DMV.



And so it goes on. However, the good news is that some states are cracking down on handicap parking abuses.

Too bad it's not as easy as spotting a mannequin with sunglasses on a cloudy day.

You're in the wrong spot, buddy

Wisconsin lawmakers are considering raising the fine for handicap parking abuse from $350 to $500 and raise penalties for anyone "who produces, copies or sells fake parking cards." A spokesperson from Disability Rights Wisconsin "says the tougher fines and stricter enforcement will help discourage people who continue to abuse these cards."

This weekend after I lowered the ramp on the side of my van and started to roll down, a man whose SUV was parked in the adjoining handicap spot walked toward the driver's side door of his car, stood there tapping his foot and told me to hurry up, that he needed to get into his car.

I was down the ramp by then. I turned my wheelchair, looked at his car and saw no handicap placard or license plate. I realized I could have called the police to report the car, but he was going to leave as soon as I left, so that wouldn't do any good.

So I said "Well, since you have a disability, you understand that this" - and I pointed at the blue hash marks- "is for van access, right?"

He said "No, no, I need to leave."

I began to raise the ramp on my van - slowly. I continued "I'm just saying that since you're disabled too, you understand that these spots are for those of us who have specialized equipment. You do have a disability, right?"

My ramp was raising up in the air. The man looked toward his wife, who was in the car gesturing him to go, but he couldn't get into his car and so he said "Yes, yes I'm disabled or I wouldn't be parked here."

"Exactly," I said. "That would be illegal for someone who isn't disabled or doesn't have the right placard to park here. And certainly for them to rush someone who is disabled would be-" I hesitated and added "completely, utterly outrageous."

He looked at me, but said nothing. Inside the car, his wife had opened the driver's side window and leaned over to join in telling me to rush. He hushed her.

"So you understand?" I said.

"I understand," he said.

My ramp chose that moment to clunk into place. I hit the button to close the doors on my van, then locked it and rolled off.

"What was that about?" my mother asked as we went through the parking lot.

"Just a little disability awareness," I said.

And this kind of incident is why I'm all for raising the fines and better enforcement with the number of times I run into people who have no placard or plates taking up handicap spots, not to mention those who use others' placards illegally.

Illinois allows online reporting of disability parking abuse

Those of us who use handicap placards and license plates legally to park know how many violators are out there. Now the State of Illinois is doing something about it. They have set up the Secretary of State's website to permit those seeing violations to report them.

via mariondaily.com:

People can now report able-bodied people parking in disability parking spaces or using disability placards without the disabled individual in the vehicle. People can make the report anonymously, but they must be able to report the license plate, disability placard, or disability plate number.

White also warns people never to confront the abuser.

To report abuse, go to www.cyberdriveillinois.com and on the home page click on the icon that says “Complaint Form Parking for Persons With Disabilities.”

In which I boldly go to Target

I know Star Trek is out this weekend. But I needed things, so what can I say? I went to Target instead.

There are quite a few handicap parking spots at this Target, but just one or two that have van access. Fewer van access lanes are required, so not much to be done about that. If I get there when it's not crowded, I get a van access parking spot. Today that wasn't a problem.

But I said boldly for a reason, because there was another problem. There were a number of shopping carts and a store scooter in the hash marks, so I couldn't deploy my ramp. (I felt particularly betrayed by the scooter being left there for some reason, but it goes to show that there's an overall lack of awareness out there that some who use accessible vehicles can't physically remove scooters and shopping carts themselves.)

I tried to repark the van (within the blue lines) as far over as possible several times and finally was able to eke out enough room to get the ramp down and my chair down it. I went inside and asked them to clear the carts and scooter away.

By the time I came back out, I'm sure they had done that. There was, however, another shopping cart left right in front of where my ramp deploys.

Hey it wouldn't be boldly going if it was easy. But still it's much easier to deal with carts and other objects (even spacecraft) blocking a ramp when you're not in the van trying to get out.

While we're talking about boldly going, here's a great article on visitability in cohousing by Eleanor Smith. It's all about getting rid of those barriers.

As a wheelchair-using kid in the ‘50s, then as a house-hunting and friend-making adult in the ‘70s and ‘80s, very rarely could I go in anyone’s house except my own without a lot of planning, physical effort and social awkwardness to get up the entry steps. Once inside, I had to take care not to drink much liquid, since nearly all residential bathroom doors – including the tens of thousands being constructed at this moment – are too narrow for a wheelchair to pass through. These barriers made friendships harder to make, and also cut me off from some of the casual, vital information-sharing that goes on among people hanging out together.

Now, 10 years after that first formal meeting and 7 years after moving into the community, my visiting pattern has been transformed. The past few months have found me at Bob’s house playing Scrabble; at Lonnie’s delivering a meal when she came home from the hospital; at the Chen-Willoughby’s for a cello and piano concert; at Jenny and Jason’s for a committee meeting; at Anne’s for tea… These ordinary visits call to mind a saying some unknown disabled change-worker coined years ago: “To boldly go where everybody else has gone before.”

This is a strange week

Meredith emailed me that this has been a strange week and, indeed, it has.

My mom just got out of the ICU and was transferred to a care center for rehab, where she may be staying awhile. It's like take two: when we tried this last week at another care center, she fell again and wound up back in the hospital, complicating her recovery, and having to undergo more procedures on New Year's Eve.

Fortunately, I come from strong stock so her biggest concern today was that next time she wants me to bring her fresh fruit salad because they "serve that canned fruit".

I was absolutely delighted that this was what she had on her mind and relieved that, although she is still dealing with broken bones and a few other serious issues, she's in good spirits. Except about the lack of fresh fruit.

What my mom doesn't realize is that I almost didn't get inside to see her because the handicap spots were taken by cars without handicap placards or plates. What I did was park in two spots and drop an orange cone down in one to make sure no one blocked me in, but when I came out an irate driver chewed me out about that even though there were lots of empty regular spots. I rolled past him and got in the van and left without explaining that I had to do that in order to get in to see my mom since I didn't have the time to come back to check when the illegal parkers were done with the handicap spots. (You know how they all say they're just running inside? That's not true.)

Anyhow, that didn't seem like a good use of my time.

It all feels very much like I'm living in an alternate universe when these things happen, when people in parking lots scream at me for using two regular spots out of twenty empty ones with a handicap van with an eight foot ramp I have to deploy for a power chair, but no one is upset about the three limited handicap spots being taken up by those who park illegally.

Lunch in the hash marks

During my lunch hour I went out to pick up a warmer winter coat. Turns out the one I have is too difficult to get on by myself, so I needed one with velcro and more room to shrug into so I can get it on by myself.

I came out of the store and a car was parked in the hash marks next to my van. I assumed at first that the car was empty and had a handicap placard, and was going to call the police. But - alas!- I'm never done being surprised by what those who park illegally in handicap spots do as side shows.

The car not only had no placard, it was not only in the hash marks, but the driver was eating lunch.

I rolled over and explained that I needed her to move her car so I could deploy my ramp.

"I'm almost done with my lunch," she said.

I explained that I had a ramp, but I couldn't lower it with her car that close. I said "It comes down and out. It's seven feet long. And that's why parking in these spots is against the law without a permit, because then people like myself can't get in and out when I need to. In the cold."

"Ooooh," she said. "I'll move right away. Sorry."

And she pulled out. And I got in.

By the way, the handicap sign right in front of where she was illegally parked had a sign donated by a local store spelling out the fines and penalties, etc. and asking people not to use the spots without a permit. Not nearly as effective, however, as a shivering quad in 3D.

Parent who confronts illegal parker in for a surprise

You know how people who park illegally in handicap spots react badly when confronted (if any of you still do that rather than call police)?

One parent who confronted an illegal parker outside his kids' school is claiming he was told "Just because you have a hard life doesn't mean the world owes you everything."

Nothing out of the ordinary there, hearing those words from an illegal parker. Kind of a typical attitude in my experience from those who cheat to take spaces without a permit.

But get this: the illegal parker was a special ed director.

A hat tip to Media dis&dat, where you can read the rest.

Adventures in Parking

Quite a few people who have accessible vans have told me that parking can be an adventure.

They told me stories about coming out and finding their vans blocked in by drivers who parked in the hash marks of handicap spots. Others told me how curious people are about their ramps or lifts. Many said they had trouble finding van access spots to begin with. I've included a video of a van opening and the ramp deploying for those who are unfamiliar with the space required.


The first thing I noticed was that older malls and office centers lack van access parking for the most part. The newer the buildings, the more likely I can park in the handicap spot and there's room to use the ramp. Without that, since I have errands to run or work tasks to accomplish, I have to get creative. I park in two spots, using a cone to alert drivers not to block me in or find a spot next to the end of the lot with an open space. One day I parked next to a dumpster. Not glamorous, but it did the trick.

Another thing I've noticed is that some van access spots are built right next to office entrances, meaning that deploying the ramp blocks ingress and egress into the building itself. In less crowded places, it's no big deal but in busy places, it's inconvenient for everyone. So far people have been friendly about it and are indeed curious about how the van and ramp work.

I haven't had too many problems overall. My guess is that the area I live in has better van access parking than most. I'm not leaving my Christmas shopping for the last minute though - I can imagine that in crowded conditions, finding a place to park will be an adventure.

As for being blocked in, so far so good, except for a truck that parked BEHIND the van. The explanation? *I* was parked in the loading dock spot, the driver said , pointing at the handicap spot. "I always use that to load my truck and if you're there, you can just wait for me," he said, ignoring my explanation that it was a handicap parking area.

Since he had an entire truck to unload, I just called the police and had them handle the situation so I could pull out. They gave him a ticket and also confiscated a handicap placard he had been using to park in those spots to unload his truck.

Park in handicap spot - get a criminal record

In the UK.

The city council in Birmingham is taking action against drivers who park illegally in handicap spots by upping fines to 1000 pounds and bringing actions which will leave offenders with a criminal record.

Hundreds of people had already been caught, council leaders told an investigation by BBC's Inside Out in the West Midlands.

A blue badge can only be displayed if the permit holder is using the vehicle.

.....Transport chiefs said the most common misuse was people using badges awarded to their relatives, without the relatives being in the car.

....the city council said it would now start using private prosecutions to bring people to court, which would allow them to impose higher fines and leave the drivers with a criminal record. Extra patrols will also be out on the streets catching those flouting the law.

via news.bbc.co.uk

Factoid

Here's a table that describes how many disabled spaces the American Disabilities Act requires.

Total Parking in Lot -- Required Minimum Number of Accessible Spaces

1 to 25 -- 1

26 to 50 -- 2

51 to 75 -- 3

76 to 100 -- 4

101 to 150 -- 5

151 to 200 -- 6

201 to 300 -- 7

301 to 400 -- 8

401 to 500 -- 9

501 to 1000 -- 2 percent of total

1001 and over -- 20 plus 1 for each 100 over 1000

Source: access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm

h/t Rolling Rains Report

Patron saint of- access lanes?

Last night I spoke to a friend who has a vehicle with a ramp that folds out on the passenger side for disembarking and embarking. She told me that she is having difficulty using her vehicle because people are parking in the access lanes - the striped area in the photo to the left, showing handicap parking spaces separated by an access lane.

I've seen motorcycles parked in access lanes, cars parked in access lanes, and I once met a family having a picnic in the parking lot of Walmart in the access lane where I was parked.

So what's it for? It's to allow the extra room needed for lifts, ramps or even extra long doors to open. It's to permit wheelchair, scooter and other mobility devices room to get next to or near the vehicle to be disassembled, assembled, etc.

It's part and parcel of the handicap spot, not just a lane that separates spots. And it needs to be kept clear.

As my friend was talking about coming out of places and dreading finding the access lane blocked and being unable to get into her car, or riding around to try to find a spot where an access lane was clear so she could even get out, I began to think that perhaps people just don't understand what an access lane is. I'm willing to bet that if more people understood the purpose of the access lane, they'd just leave it be.

Heck, we shouldn't have to pray to the patron saint of access lanes, whoever that might be, just to get in and out of our cars. But I'm thinking St. Christopher, the patron saint of travel, might be the go to guy.
[visual description: Top left: Photo of two handicap spots, with an access lane in between, covered with striped white lines. Right: Photo of a Saint Christopher medal, showing the saint with a staff carrying the child Jesus.]

States, towns make efforts to enforce handicap parking laws

In this article, efforts are outlined that are being used to better enforce the laws protecting handicap parking spots for those who need them.

"Governments are getting tougher because there are more placards in circulation and the public has become more aware of handicapped-parking abuse, said Tim Gilmer, editor of New Mobility, a Horsham, Pa.-based magazine devoted to wheelchair users with active lifestyles.

And disabled people have become more vocal about their needs, said Terry Moakley, spokesman for the United Spinal Association.

"We've had laws on the books for a while that have empowered people," he said. "People just don't want to settle for no access or second-rate access."
via USA Today

Investigations are revealing the extent of the problem - which is widespread, as many of us who need these spots know - and some violators openly state they see nothing wrong with parking in handicap spots.

Increased fines, citizen patrols, online reporting, and other measures are not only helping to cut down on illegal parking, but are in some cases creating revenue that can be used to enforce the laws - with profit left over.

Disabilities & Parking Awareness Day in Baltimore

Today there is a

"crackdown by city and state officials called "Disabilities and Parking Awareness Day," is taking place today at some 15 locations in the city, including Charles Village, Good Samaritan Hospital, the University of Baltimore at Mount Royal Avenue, Mondawmin Mall, Reisterstown Road Plaza and The Rotunda.

"In Baltimore City and other areas there's a constant problem with handicapped people not being able to park where they need to," said Sidney Hyatt, the MVA's assistant manager of investigations, who was observing the crackdown downtown at 7 a.m. "There are people abusing handicap placards and people using stolen ones." via baltimoresun.com

People abuse the placards in some states not only to get parking spots but to avoid paying meter charges.

Parking with the Stars...

Heather Mills didn't feel like dancing when she got a $250 parking ticket for parking in a handicap spot in NY city because she didn't have a disabled permit. Although she tapped on her prosthetic leg to show the officer she's disabled, he issued the ticket anyhow.

It really does highlight the nonsense that goes on with trying to regulate disabled parking. Because, as we all know, if you're able bodied and have your grandmother's permit up on the car, no ticket gets issued and most people don't seem to get caught.

And yet, on the other hand, after seeing her dance on Dancing with the Stars, does she really need handicapped parking? Well there could be times she does and she's certainly entitled to it. Not for me to say, I suppose...

[visual description: Heather Mills is shown dancing with her partner Jonathan during a Dancing with the Stars show.]

Way to meet that ticket quota....

This BBC story has a bizarre twist to the usual handicap parking ticket story.

Able bodied Mr. Junk left his vehicle parked only to return to it to find a disabled parking area had been painted around it - and he was ticketed.

"The lady who owns the confectionery shop had remonstrated with the people who had painted it and also with the parking enforcement people who had come to put the ticket there, but, she said, neither would listen to her," he said.

"You can see clearly from the pictures that I took that the bay is incomplete."

A Department for Regional Development spokeswoman said on Tuesday it was not "normal practice for Roads Service to paint new parking restrictions around parked vehicles." Via BBC

In any event, they plan to issue an apology to Mr. Junk.



[visual description: Mr. Junk's car, a sedan, is shown parked in a - now- disabled spot. ]

Caught ya!

You've heard of caughtya.org, right? That's the website where they post pictures of cars parked illegally in those spots.

I was just browsing on the site after I googled something and wound up there. And I found this: one person (David) sent in a picture of a restaurant named Grandy's where the handicapped parking spots and entrance ramp were blocked by a big rubber chicken. (Actually it's a big white inflatable chicken, complete with yellow little feet sitting on a blue box as seen in the photo at right]. I linked above so you can read about the communications from the restaurant to David saying they were sorry if it inconvenienced him but they were told there were other parking spots and that the police had been out to "check the chicken" and it was okay to leave it there.

"Check the chicken"? What did they do, run a criminal check on it? Kick it a few times to see if it was anchored down properly in those handicapped spots?

Now I wouldn't believe all of this except I do believe it. Because although I havent (yet) been unable to get into a restaurant because of a big white rubbery chicken, I've run into plenty of other obstacles when I haven't had a camera with me. And it's not fair to call it an "inconvenience " when no access is available at all, no matter what's causing it.

It's illegal.

Definitely check out caughtya.org by clicking above.

Sting in Chicago to catch people who illegally use handicap placards...

..to park for free at meters. Those caught were using relatives' placards, for example. Click above for the story.