Handicapped Parking by the Numbers

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Handicapped Parking by the Numbers

http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/27781

By Allan Appel

Have you ever wondered why there are either so few or perhaps so

many handicapped spaces in any particular parking lot?

The answer lies in the numbers.

The federal rules adopted by all 50 states are quite clear and are

governed by the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for

Accessible Design.

This obligation imposed by the ADA is mandated for all businesses or

privately-owned facilities that provide goods or services to the

public. And this responsibility includes the removal of barriers in

existing parking lots, when it is readily achievable to do so. For a

parking lot, this usually requires re-striping to achieve compliance

with the ADA rules. The " readily achievable " rule typically refers

to the actual monetary cost to comply. Because it is relatively

inexpensive to re-stripe a parking lot, cost is generally not

considered a stumbling block.

Information on creating accessible car and van spaces and the

required number of each type can be found in the ADA Business Brief:

Re-striping Parking Lots, issued by the U.S. Justice Department's

Civil Rights Division.

Accessible car spaces must have a 60-inch wide access aisle adjacent

to the space to allow a person using a wheelchair to enter or exit

the car. The spaces themselves must be 96 inches wide. Additionally,

two such spaces can share the same access aisle. The minimum number

of these spaces is usually 2 percent of the total number of spaces

in the lot, but not less than one space. And if there is only one

space required, that space must be van-accessible.

As for van-accessible spaces, the requirement is the same as for

accessible car spaces, except for three features. First, the

adjacent access aisle must be 96 inches to accommodate a wheelchair

lift or ramp. Second, there must be vertical clearance to allow for

van height. Last, there must be an additional sign identifying the

space as " van accessible. " One out of every eight accessible spaces

must be van-accessible, but not less than one space.

Of course, all of these spaces must provide for access to and from

an accessible entrance to the facility, free of stairs or curbs and

at least 3 feet wide with a firm, stable and slip-resistant surface.

Free technical assistance is available by telephone on weekdays at

(800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TTY).