Van Accessible Parking - Technical Note

Draft Technical Note for USAB

Accessible Parking Technical Note
with emphases on Van Accessible Parking

Accessible parking is surprisingly complex to implement given the simple specifications for parking stalls. Parking is complex because of overlapping jurisdictions and excessive creativity of the implementors - the contractor on the ground pouring the concrete or marking the stalls.

While most accessibility specifications concern the specification and it's scoping, sometimes how the adaptation is used is required to assure a complete workable solution to provide equal access under the ADA.

The USAB is responsible for providing guidelines for the specifications and scoping of accessible parking. The states are responsible for issuing disabled parking permits. The permits, enforcement of permits, penalties, and in some cases the actual specifications of the parking stalls (sometimes exceeding the ADAAG) are defined in the state statures. Local municipalities may have the authority to override even their states statures on disabled parking.

Disabled parking permits are reciprocal between states but the benefits (privileges) vary greatly between states and local municipalities. It is impossible to communicate the differences to out of town/state permit holders.

There are only two kinds of accessible parking stalls distinguished by the width of the access aisle, van accessible and non-van accessible. The two types are not optional choices but clearly spelled out in the scoping of parking stalls. The text is the ruling code - not the drawings. The definition of a "van" is critical and must be understood by all parties providing and using accessible parking stalls.

A "van" IS NOT a mini-van, SUV, pickup, panel truck, full size passenger van, a small bus, or passenger cars. (Most of these can be modified to be a "van") That's crazy you say! Please read on, this is critically important.

A "van" is a specially modified vehicle designed for transporting a person in a manual or powered wheel chair. An essential modification is a passenger side or rear mounted platform lift or ramp. The lifts are never mounted on the driver's side of the van or mini-van. (See picture below - van with lift deployed and wheel chair just exited the platform)

The critical (essential?) point is that beside or behind the van there must be enough space for the lift or ramp to be lowered to the ground and have sufficient space for the wheel chair to exit the platform. Eight feet (8 Ft.) is the customary space required, more is helpful because wheeled mobility devices vary greatly in length.

Another important distinction is weather the wheel chair person is driving alone (solo) or is being transported as a passenger accompanied by a by an assistant/driver. A solo user MUST have a van accessible stall to exit and later reenter the van with no exceptions! Usually a solo equipped van cannot be driven by another person because there is no drivers seat or it has special driving controls. If the 8 Ft. side clearance is not maintained the driver is trapped outside their van. Frequently the access aisle is blocked by grocery carts, bicycles, or even motorcycles.

There are two standard parking spot designs - a van accessible stall with an 8 ft. parking spot and an 8 ft. access aisle, and a less accessible stall with only a 5 ft. access aisle. The access aisle may be on either side of the parking spot, but it is highly recommended that the access aisle on a van accessible stall be located on the passenger side - or right hand side of the parking spot since backing in can be quite difficult for a disabled driver with a highly adapted van. (See future video at http://vanaccessibleparking.org ).

The choice (scoping) of each design is not whimsical but clearly specified in the scoping language of the text, just looking at the pictures makes it seem like there are two equally acceptable choices.

If a building or facility only requires one accessible parking spot it must be a van accessible parking spot with the wider 8ft. access aisle. If more than two spots in a row are required the van accessible spot does not need to be located closest to the accessible route - best practice is to put the van accessible spots furthest away in the row. This increases the probability of it actually being available for a side lift van rather than being taken by a person with limited walking distance ability.

More Van Accessible Parking Issues:

Alternate van accessible spaces and rear door access.
diagonal van access
parking tickets windshield
don't open driver's door.

Profile of several Solo Van Drivers:
Driver 1: full size ford van with switches right rear quarter panel.
Unable to even open either drivers door or passengers door. can open rear doors and the side doors are eletrical operated with the side wheel chair lift. Transfers into a swivel power seat base. cannot get a parking ticket from the windshield let alone flyers.

Driver 2:

Driver 3: