Last post Sun, Feb 24 2008 9:52 PM by diamonddog722. 40 replies.
Eek! copying from a word document makes it all weird. Let's try this again:
In searching for information about ADA mandated parking, I found this information:
(5) (a) If parking spaces are provided forself-parking by employees or visitors, or both,then accessible spaces complying with 4.6shall be provided in each such parking area inconformance with the table below. Spacesrequired by the table need not be provided inthe particular lot. They may be provided in adifferent location if equivalent or greateraccessibility, in terms of distance from anaccessible entrance, cost and convenience isensured.RequiredTotal Parking Minimum Numberin Lot of Accessible Spaces1 to 25 126 to 50 251 to 75 376 to 100 4101 to 150 5151 to 200 6201 to 300 7301 to 400 8401 to 500 9501 to 1000 2 percent of total1001 and over 20, plus 1 for each100 over 1000Except as provided in (b), access aisles adjacentto accessible spaces shall be 60 in (1525mm) wide minimum.(b) One in every eight accessible spaces, butnot less than one, shall be served by an accessaisle 96 in (2440 mm) wide minimum and shallbe designated “van accessible” as required by4.6.4. The vertical clearance at such spacesshall comply with 4.6.5. All such spaces maybe grouped on one level of a parking structure.EXCEPTION: Provision of all required parkingspaces in conformance with “Universal ParkingDesign” (see appendix A4.6.3) is permitted.
My question is this: how do we find out, hopefully easily, how many spots are in a parking lot? I am asking because the mall I go to never has enough handicap parking and a valet once told me they had more than the mandated number. Yeah, um, no. Also, do the spaces have to be next to every entrance at a mall, or only a few? I couldn’t find that information. Anyone know?
Is there also a way to get a schematic of handicap parking spaces available?
"It's not just about Obama is a young black man, and McCain is an old white guy."Shelley!
Hello:
The law requires one space for every 25. Other than going into the mall's offices and asking them you have to count them. As an advocate I count the amount of isles then I factor in at least 50 spaces. For example: the mall by me has 150 isles with at least 50 spaces. So then you have to do the math. 150 x 2 = 300 spaces. These spaces have to be placed equally in front and the closes to the entrance ways. You have to be aware tho that some of the bigger stores own their share of the mall parking lots and then are required separately to provide. Most of the bigger stores own the building they are in and thus the parking lot by their buildings. I have been doing ADA law for years so if you have any questions just ask. diamonddog722@yahoo.com
The most easy way to find this information is to go to either on-line or what ever means is good for you to the planning dept of where ever you live. Building permits are issued and plans kept on file of any thing built. Many of the plan records from those permits now days are electonic. The best resource will always be the Building and land use depts and record drawings that were approved by permit to be built.
Diamonddog:
You rock! The mall I am thinking of is one that owns all of the spaces and stores, except perhaps for Neiman Marcus. Not entirely sure about that one. From what you have just told me, there is no way they have enough spaces. I would say there are 4 for every entrance, or every other entrance, and the mall itself is supposedly the largest in Texas. Hmmm. I think I will go around and count them sometime. But, what then? I'll write a letter, of course, to which they will respond with lots of legalese about how they are complying, I am mistaken, blah blah blah. File a complaint?
OK, here's another question: What about strip malls or malls where the stores are in the same parking lot but stand alone? Does each store have to have access? Surely someone has a website showing or telling of people who are not complying with the ADA? If not, someone needs to do that! Not that I am asking you about the website thing, just thinking with the keyboard.
Just one more: the 1 space for every 25 doesn't mean 25 per isle, right? 25 signifies the parking lot as a whole, I assume? In other words, if an isle has 24 spaces, they don't have to provide a spot. OK, that doesn't make sense at all. But you never know.
Thank you so much for your help and your offer to answer more questions.
Liesl
DSB: very cool! thanks for that information. Btw, I have your last PM open in another window. Getting there...
There was a website I saw last year with photos people sent in of accessible parking violations.
My favories were a giant chicken and a pile of dirt, both in accessible stalls. . . neither had a plackard displayed, needless to say. Most were real cars though. . .
I lost the bookmark and my google-fu is failing me in trying to relocate it. Sources suggest it might have been www.caughtya.org but that link is now defunct.
One thing to keep in mind about the ADA and the law accessible is not the same is usable or convenient it can also be known as bad design. I go through it every day commting by train to work they meet the ADA and I even worked for the Architecture firm that won awards for the design of the station. But it is a pain in the you know what to use one car with a ramp and then the transit people have their rules about where you can sit usually a jump seat and no window. But one way at ground level accessable is not because it is usually blocked by train cars and one elevator all told I go almost 2 blocks out of my way over accessablity issues.
I bet you're thinking of Handicappedfraud.org. I think we need a website to show businesses that are non compliant. I would totally report them!
That's awful, DSB!
Here is a parking website to check out: http://www.apparelyzed.com/parking/
What about blue spaces on the public streets? How many are required to be provided on each city block? We have so little street parking as it is in San Francisco and the able-bodied are sometimes almost hostile towards those of us with parking placards/disability license plates, as if we're getting something we're not entitled to.
If there are, say, five wheelchair residents in one (city) block, shouldn't they have more blue street parking spaces than, say, a neighborhood where few if any disabled folks live? And shouldn't any commercial district, public office areas, hospital and school zones, etc., all be provided with ample blue street parking spaces, since there is apt to be more need for them?
Justin
Where I live does have street level blue spaces and laws where I live also allow me to park free any where on publick streets as long as I have the place card for how ever long. I would advise again checking with state and local laws and how accessable they are in reguards to parking but I would think upon checking and I do get to SF often that they have the same thing.
Liesl not really and it is just how it is for me. But I am taking a different approach to things the laws are there and we are also pushing for more. My approach however is I work supporting Architects and well just about any thing build required them so I am working with the partners where I am to try and include working with the locak AIA office to put together an acredted program for architects on how to design not only to the code and ADA laws but to consider things like usability and access from a user standpoint not like it's a blank slate but when it is in use by everyone. Since I am sort of a new disabled person I simply have not seen this approach architects design our woulds and planners etc and so far I seem to be the only one talking to the AIA in this manner.
That's great, DSB!
Calculating exactly how many parking spots is definitely a tedious undertaking. Recently I have been involved with a couple of cases in which this was the primary issue. Short of rolling around a parking lot for many hours with a clipboard, the technique that I would would be to use the Google maps feature right on your computer. Once you get to the location of the parking my that you are interested in, switch to the geographical photographic image. You can zoom in closely and it is quite easy to count the number of spaces, including the designated handicapped accessible spots. The only difficult it is differentiating the wider, van accessible locations. Those I have found too difficult to observe and count. Even without this type of information, this can give you a quick and dirty assessment of basic ADA compliance.
Hope this helps,
