For Matthew Gerhardt, blue lines in a parking lot mean something different: accessibility. Gerhardt, an academic adviser at MSU, is a wheelchair user who utilizes disability parking. Gerhardt also attended MSU for his undergraduate degree. One of the reasons he chose to come to MSU was for its accessibility.
“As far as accessible parking and handicap parking, it’s adequate,” he said. “There could be more, but for the rest of the parking that’s available, there are adequate spots. … Even though it’s not perfect, the university takes it seriously.”
As of 2007, MSU had about 25,000 parking spaces and more than 800 handicap spaces, said Mike Rice, assistant chief for MSU police. MSU only is required to have 621 handicap spaces by federal regulations. Although MSU is working to meet the needs of the disabled, some say the efforts could go further.
Last summer, MSU completed a $2 million redistribution of accessible parking across campus, campus planner Steve Troost said.
The redistribution came after an audit from the Federal Transit Administration Office of Civil Rights. Although MSU had more than the required number of spaces, they weren’t distributed according to current standards, said Michael Hudson, director of the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) at MSU.
Prior to the audit, MSU had placed more accessible parking near heavily used areas and fewer in more remote areas, Hudson said.
MSU also is working to remove on-street parking, including handicap spaces, because of safety. The accessible spaces will be moved to locations that will allow the safest route of travel, which might not always be the closest, Troost said.
“In any place where we’re having an impact on barrier-free parking, we’re relocating them to a safe place,” Troost said. “Our goal is to look at the campus fabric and find the safest route instead of the shortest route.”
Gerhardt uses a powered wheelchair, so distance isn’t as much of an issue.
“If it’s further away but easier to get to, I would vote for that option,” he said.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, one in every eight handicapped spaces in a lot must be van accessible. These spaces have a wider, 96-inch access aisle next to the space. These alleys are striped.
“That’s always my biggest pet peeve as far as people not being aware of leaving those (alleys) open,” Gerhardt said. “There’s been lots of times where I’ll park, go in and come out and someone has illegally parked on those grid lines, and by then I can’t get into my car. … I’m stuck until they move their car.”
Hudson said MSU meets and exceeds the legal requirements for accessible parking, but it is a balancing act. The ADA determines the number of disability spaces needed based on the total number of spaces in a lot. For example, a small lot with one to 25 spaces is only required to have one space, whereas a larger lot with 401 to 500 spaces is required to have nine spaces.
“We start with the legal mandate but then move (the number) up if there’s a need,” Hudson said.
Joe Appelget, a telecommunication, information studies and media junior and president of the Council for Students with Disabilities, said although parking isn’t a major concern for the group, it is for him personally.
“Parking is a major obstacle. I have a van with a ramp system, so I can roll my wheelchair in and out. I’ve got several parking stickers — faculty, staff and an access placard, but I still don’t drive to classes because it’s not worth it to find parking,” Appelget said. “Spots may be available but not where you’re actually going — you don’t know where they’re going to be, unless I want to leave 45 minutes before class and drive around campus.”
Appelget has a power chair, but usually uses Spec-Tran services instead of driving. Spec-Tran is a service offered by CATA to assist those with disabilities in getting around campus.
John Pedraza, the disability resource coordinator for employees, said the parking office helps identify the need for accessible parking and then works with the individual to find a solution, often with the help of the RCPD.
“Parking services is flexible and wants to meet the needs, and they’re responsive,” Pedraza said.
“For different buildings on campus, if faculty and staff require a higher need in certain areas, then we’ll add more parking than the minimum requirement, so everyone will have enough parking.”
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If a student, faculty or staff member has a complaint, they can usually be resolved through the RCPD, said Paulette Granberry Russell, director of the Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives.
If the issue cannot be resolved, the person can file a grievance through her
office.
“There haven’t been huge numbers (of complaints) … which says to me the campus offices and resources must be doing at least a good job responding to people’s needs,” Granberry Russell said.
“We might not always get it right, but I believe given the opportunity we can get it right.”
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