Van Accessible Parking.org

Self-Service Parking Discrimination for solo disabled drivers.

By Wayne Yarnall            August 22, 2006

The Issue:  Use of self-service automated parking ticket machines that require the receipt to be places inside the locked vehicle.  Requiring solo disabled van drivers to place the receipt inside the vehicle is an unreasonable discrimination requiring a great deal of effort and time.   This requires 15 minutes and three complete driver’s seat to wheel chair transfers.

The problem is the new technology of the automated ticket machines operated apart from the vehicle.  This isn’t a problem with manned parking structures with a person in the checkout booth where the specific parking spot is not tracked.

Background:  The City of Vancouver interprets Washington State Law to permit charging for disabled parking in 'off-street' locations as long as the rate is the same as that charged for all spaces in the facility.  All non-disabled spaces in a facility are charged at the posted rates. The process is to park in a numbered spot, "walk" over to the nearest automatic ticket machine, pay for parking, take the receipt from the machine and place it inside the vehicle on the dashboard. 

Three of us have complained about the "process" being too difficult for solo wheel chair users driving independently with a side lift van alone.

The problem needs to be viewed as a complete parking system, not the just the components.

Detailed Description:

We need to look at the whole issue - not the charging or the ticket machine.  

Charging the disabled for parking is permitted but not recommended by all states that I have lived in.   The practice of a municipality changing the state default of free parking is problematic since there are out of state and area visitors and it is impossible to communicate the exceptions.   After having had a permit for 30 years, I am so used to ignoring "Pay to Park signs" that I don't even see them and would not think they apply to me.   There needs to be large signs at every single disabled parking spot to be noticed by visitors from other states.  But this is off topic for this issue.

The issue is the procedure required to place the receipt on the dashboard. It is extreme discrimination to those of us who drive wheel chair lift vans ourselves without a helper person.  This is also presents problems for people with limited walking ability.  The problem is caused by the new technology of the self-service ticket machines operated apart from the vehicle. 

Let me list the steps required to get the ticket from the machine and put it on the dashboard:

1.   Park car
2.   Rotate power drivers seat sideways
3.   Slide seat back.
4.   Side transfer to wheelchair.
5.   Reinstall Left Thigh support or Left armrest.
6.   Remove the wheel chair tie down.
7.   Move toward the passenger side lift.
8.   Open doors and fold down platform.
9.   Move chair onto Platform.
10. Lower Platform to ground.
11. Roll wheel chair off platform.

(Optional 3 more steps).  Based on distance and security it may be necessary to raise the platform up and fold it and close the van doors.

At this point we are out of the van and can now go over to the parking ticket machine.  One third done and about 5 minutes elapsed time.

12. Go over to ticket machine.
13. Purchase ticket assuming we can enter the parking spot number with a closed fist and not drop our credit card or money.

(I frequently drop things because of poor finger grip -- this is the primary reason that states customarily make disabled parking free since even handing quarters to put in a parking meter is difficult).

14. Go back to van.

(Optional 3 more steps).  Based on distance and security it may be necessary to open van doors, fold the platform down, and lower the platform.

15. Roll wheel chair onto platform - there may be a small ramp to go up.
16. Raise platform to floor level.
17. Roll back and line up with drivers seat.
18. Lock or otherwise tie wheel chair down for stability for side transfer.
19. Remove left thigh support or left armrest.
20. Side transfer from wheel chair to drivers seat.
21. Slide seat forward
22. Rotate seat front-wards.
23. Put Parking Ticket on the dashboard  

Two Thirds Done and about 10 minutes elapsed time.

24. Rotate power drivers seat sideways
25. Slide seat back.
26. Side transfer to wheelchair.
27. Reinstall left thigh support or left armrest.
28. Remove the wheel chair tie down – if necessary.
29. Move toward the passenger side lift.
30. Move chair onto Platform.
31. Lower Platform to ground.
32. Roll wheel chair off platform.
33. Raise platform
34. Fold platform up.
35. Close Van doors and lock.

Now we have spent about 15 minutes and expended a great deal of physical energy, which for some of us may be our entire days quota of energy.

We generally are unable to open the driver’s door from the outside and even if we did we could not get our wheel chair close enough or high enough to reach the dashboard.

Again, speaking for myself, I would never again return to the parking garage and subject myself to such a grueling workout and so much time spent.

This is a technology issue since parking garages used to be manned at the entrance/exit and the tickets processed in person through the drivers window.  The automation is the problem along with requiring that the parking ticket be placed inside the vehicle.

For on street parking in machine controlled non-disabled parking spots, Portland, OR DOES NOT require vans with disabled permits to pay for parking.   Eugene, Oregon does no charge for disabled parking spots in the Hult Center parking structure but has old fashion meters on the regular spots - but not required if a disabled car is parked in the spot.

I think this is a serous national issue that needs to be elevated to the US DOJ for a determination. The US Access Board and the International Code Commission need to study the problem and solutions using a consensus process of the stakeholders.   Don't get confused about the ticket machine itself being accessible.  It is the process of handling the parking stub and placing it on the dashboard.

It is my opinion that municipalities do not have the staff or expertise to change access specifications based on a consensus process of the stakeholders. This includes requiring payment for use of disabled parking spaces that have customarily been free at the state level for over 30 years.  It is impossible to inform visitors of the local change.