Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:
Quesnel motorists are being asked to make sure that accessible parking spaces are there for those who really need it.
Quite often, according to local accessibility champions Lynn Turner and Alison Duddy, spots reserved for those living with a physical disability are taken up by people who don't have a placard and don't need the extra space and convenience those spots provide.
The pair came to City Council with their concerns in September and, as a result, October has been proclaimed by Council as Accessible Parking Awareness Month. The City is assisting people with disabilities with public education about the importance of accessible parking, and will also provide additional bylaw enforcement around these spots.
"We are always concerned about accessibility at the City, and it should be of concern to motorists as well," said Mayor Mary Sjostrom. "Not only do the spaces provide extra room and convenience, they provide an extra layer of safety for people in wheelchairs so they don't have to navigate in traffic to reach the sidewalk."
The City has made some improvements to its accessible parking stalls. Many new signs have been added, and the stalls were painted differently this year to provide more room for those who need it. Council has committed to working with Turner and Duddy to investigate future parking enhancements as well.
There are a number of typical examples of abuse, including:
. Parking in an accessible stall with no permit.
. Improperly displaying a parking permit.
. Using an expired permit, or a permit that belongs to someone else.
. Transporting a person with a permit and using their permit inappropriately (leaving the person who lives with a disability in the vehicle while the operator runs errands).
People wanting to learn more or to hear a presentation regarding this issue are encouraged to contact Turner or Duddy at lturner1959@gmail.com (Turner) or ad27@telus.net (Duddy)
No comments:
Post a Comment