HomeMy WebLinkAboutDAC 2000 Handicapped Parking Survey in the City of IthacaSURVEY
JANUARY 2000
HANDICAPPED PARKING IN THE CITY OF ITHACA
50 surveys were retuned
1. When you are looking for parking space designated for people with disabilities, do you
notice violators?
7 Never
28 Sometimes
4 mostly on rainy or stormy days (makes you wonder)
4 mostly the violators are at grocery stores and shopping malls
+ most of time a vehicle is parked wrong and takes up more than one spot
4 occasionally no permit; most commonly noted: a permit is located in a vehicle, but
no disabled person is within the vehicle to utilize limited spaces for those in real
need of the spaces
24 not often
12 Frequently
*+usually in the parking lot at KMart, Tops, Wegman's, A &P on Triphammer Road
*+ when weather is bad
*+you can't tell about a person's disability, but then someone runs from the car to the
store, you know they are OK.
2 Blank
*+several times we have encountered vehicles with the driver sitting and not paying for
his occupancy. This happens at P &C (Judd Falls)
2. Do you know where to report violations?
14 Yes
2 Yes?
33 No
Police Department?
Traffic Violations Bureau?
I just tell the business if the violation is in a parking lot
a telephone number would assist (easy to remember)
by the time I could call anyone, they'll be gone
1 Blank
1
3a. Have you ever reported a violation?
3 Yes
* I tell the business if the violation is in a parking lot
46 No
have talked to the violators an was told to "mind your own business." Also spoke to
office personnel at a major grocery store -- told the violators will be gone before
the police will get here.
by the time I phone, they'll be gone (no cellular)
it hard enough to do what I have to do and I'm beat when I get home
1 Blank
3b. If so, what was the response?
Police --good
I only tell the business if the violation is in a parking lot
By the time I could have called someone, the violator would be gone
4. In your experience is the number of designated parking spaces for people with disabilities
adequate at the following destinations?
Ithaca City Hall
19
Yes
14
No
10
Don't know
7
Blank
Former Woolworth's parking lot
18
Yes
9
No
19
Don't know
4
Blank
Green Street parking garage
12 Yes
6 No
27 Don't know
* too expensive
5 Blank
Seneca Street parking garage
11
Yes
5
No
28
Don't know
6
Blank
2
Dryden Road parking garage
4
Yes
5
No
36
Don't know
5
Blank
Seneca Street parking lot (site of the former Strand Theater)
6
Yes
9
No
30
Don't know
5
Blank
Stewart Park
11
Yes
12
No
22
Don't know
5
Blank
Cass Park
6
Yes
5
No
32
Don't know
7
Blank
Alex Haley pool
3
Yes
7
No
35
Don't know
5
Blank
Ithaca City Court /Police Station
11
Yes
11
No
22
Don't know
6
Blank
Tompkins County Court House
11
Yes
12
No
22
Don't know
5
Blank
Tompkins County Court Library
5
Yes
20
No
20
Don't know
5
Blank
3
Tompkins County Court Human Services Building
11
Yes
7
No
27
Don't know
5
Blank
6. Are there any lots listed in Question #5 that you did not know had designated spaces for
handicapped permit holders? If so, which ones?
Green Street parking garage
Seneca Street parking garage
Dryden Road parking garage
Seneca Street parking lot (site of the former Strand Theater)
Stewart Park
3 Cass Park
2 Alex Haley pool
3 Ithaca City Court/Police Station
2 Tompkins County Court House
Tompkins County Library
City Hall (but I only go to see the City Clerk about once a year!)
The parking garage
Woolworth's
Haven't thought about it -- assumed they all did since they are city property
I assumed they all had spaces
Don't have need very often
N/A Have not tried to use them
• 0.
30 Blank
7. Where, if anywhere, do you feel more designated spaces are needed, either on- street,
metered, or in parking lots?
Fair Street
West Spencer Street
East Spencer Street
4 On the street
Metered parking
Banks
3 Wegman's
4 Tops
2 Pyramid Mall
4! in the rear by Cinema /movies
2 KMart
Former Woolworth's parking lot
Green Street parking garage
Seneca Street parking garage
0
Dryden Road parking garage
Seneca Street parking lot (site of the former Strand Theater)
On Seneca Street in restaurant area
2 Stewart Park
Cass Park
Alex Haley Pool
2 Ithaca City Hall
2 Ithaca City Court/Police Station
3 Tompkins County Court House
4 Tompkins County Library
Tompkins County Human Services Building
Near funeral homes
Catholic Church
Ekherd's (Meadow Street)
Around the Commons
Cayuga Street
On Aurora Street by Manhattan Bagels (on that block)
Near DeWitt Mall
Center Ithaca, particularly for The Cinema there
Fall Creek Movie Theater One is NOT enough!!
Haven't had permit very long
Outside Alpha House at the corner of State Street and North Cayuga Street
I try not to use my handicapped permit. I use it on very bad winter days or when my arthritis
is really acting up
Don't go over town very often
3 Don't Know
2 No
22 Blank
8a. When designated spaces have parking meters, do you experience difficulty using the
meters - -such as inaccessible height or obstructed path of travel?
12 Yes
25 No
13 Blank
9
8b. Comments
10 winter related comments
• only with occasional deep unshoveled snow
• during winter snow is piled around meters and I can't get to them too good.
• when it snows, the banks are so high its hard to put money in the meter (so you
just get a ticket)
• snow banks are a problem
• in winter snow is so piled around meters you can't get to them
• snow removal is piled around meter - -- difficult to reach meter and dangerous to
climb over snowbank
• has nothing to do with my disability (heart trouble) — but there's tons of snow
around metered spaces and it's hard
• in winter, very difficult to get to meter due to snow /ice /excess water
especially in the winter time
snow bound
Sometimes meters are out of order
But they are frequently not functional. So often that I wondered whether the city was offering
free parking to the handicapped
Difficult to read
Area surrounding the meter would safely insure disabled access to the meter and sidewalk if a
section of the curb was removed ex: sidewalks at an intersection
At some. Mostly I can handle it
My wife can handle that for me
I do not drive, so my driver takes care of the meters
Generally travel on Gadabout
Not at this point
32 Blank
9. Other comments about parking designated for people with disabilities?
• Some seem to walk all right. Don't know how they got sticker.
• Shopping malls need more nearer stores. Parking garages are too far from stores on
Commons to walk, so can only use a few times a year
J-6 Merchants should be encouraged to provide more designated parking areas
4 The handicapped parking may be set up for one auto per block or two — there should be
more set up per metered and side streets without [meters]
0
Snow removal is piled around meter — difficult to reach meter and dangerous to climb
over snow bank.
I know it's not in the city, but Cayuga Medical Center could use more handicapped parking
places
It is wonderful that people with disabilities are considered as often it is an effort if not
I have a disability parking permit that I use when my friend drives me. I don't own a car any
more and I don't drive. Overall, we do manage pretty well.
Seem to be adequate
Don't use the permit very often as my sister takes me and she has her own — use mine when I
don't have this driver. I do appreciate having my own permit. Very useful - -Thank you.
Overall, the city is quite accessible to those of us who are disabled
We see a lot of temporary permits being used with expired dates
I feel there should be more, there are more people with disabilities than we all realize
I would like to see some type of payment program that people with disabilities do not have to
repeatedly return to parking meters to insert coins for additional parking time.
Have had my permit only a short time and with bad weather have not driven much
Never use my handicapped permit as Filomena didn't recover from her illness. I will destroy
the permit.
Stewart Park doesn't have enough at and around the bathrooms
More accessibility to lower lift on vehicle
I don't always know where the handicap meters are located in the city of Ithaca. Is there one in
each block or how are they designated?
I am glad that the city has made designated parking for the disabled people like myself. But
there is a lot of misuse done by people who don't have permits, who are being inconsiderate.
Have none, unless in ain. I don't always use the permit; only when necessary.
Very often the space is obstructed by a vehicle taking up too much space, especially by Cayuga
Medical Center and the connected Medical Building. Or snow not plowed good enough so all
spaces can be used. Also, places such as where I live at West Village Apartments, there are NO
handicapped parking. Due to the fact I can't walk long distances, especially with groceries or
laundry, it is very difficult for me. There have been many times when I have had to not only
walk, but carry heavy things great distances because people park in front of my apartment, and
quite often take up all the close spots. Many times people take up more than one spot. It would
help so much if there are designated parking spots for each of the handicapped people that live
here that was close to their apartment. Maybe with their apartment number, name, or license
on it.
I feel very badly when shopping carts are left in handicapped areas.
Why didn't you ask about private space where there aren't enough? ie: Wegman's, Pyramid Mall
7
The spaces are not always excessively convenient to the entrances to locations. I, as a
handicapped person, become very discouraged when people misuse the privileges that come with
handicapped parking, while those of us that sincerely need handicapped privileges /parking are
constantly denied the safety that we should be provided with.
The wheelchair driver I saw last week had a pick up with a mechanism that lifted the chair and
placed it in a stall in his pick up. That observation was at Wegman's with zebra stripes on both
sides of a vehicle separate for right (passenger) and left (driver), but those occur only in the
Woolworth's lot or in the Covered malls.
Numbers on meters should be brighter (neon green ?) and larger.
Meters should accept cards purchased by local people who don't want to fumble for change.
(Swipe when park /swipe when leave ? ?) ($25 card)
More at the corner on Seneca Street, near Post Office.
Also at corner of Buffalo and Tioga Streets near large buildings or near the banks.
OK as far as I'm concerned
Julie: sorry not to be of more help, but at 74 lh years of age, there aren't too many places I have
to park at except the golf course, the bowling alley, grocery stores, doctors' offices, and available
public restrooms (in emergencies!) There's no attempt to "joke" about the answers (except to
Julie). I'm sure some of the handicapped (mine is emphysema) are running into problems,
judging by the shopping places!
Larry: The problem with the city's street parking is that we can be ticketed for parking a vehicle
too far from the curb (more than 12 inches). At the library and DeWitt and Cayuga Street
handicapped parking spaces, no zebra stripes show that it is necessary for a driver to open the
car door its full width to bring down a chair or even to descend with both feet facing the curb.
"Normal" drivers descend on one foot facing forward and twist to step up on the curb - --
impossible for a person who needs a ramp or sloping lawn /margin to move onto the sidewalk.
Have not had the permit long enough to answer these questions
19 Blank
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JANUARY 2000
HANDICAPPED PARKING IN THE CITY OF ITHACA
L When you are looking for parldng space designated for people with disabilities, do you
notice violators?
7 Never
28 Sometimes
46 mostly on rainy or stormy days (makes you wonder)
d• mostly the violators are at grocery stores and shopping malls
46 most of time a vehicle is parked wrong and takes up more than one spot
4 occasionally no permit; most commonly noted: a permit is located in a vehicle, but
no disabled person is within the vehicle to utilize limited spaces for those in real
need of the spaces
2 •R not often
12 Frequently
46usually in the parking lot at KMart, Tops, Wegman's, A &P on Triphammer Road
when weather is bad
4 you can't tell about a person's disability, but then someone runs from the car to the
store, you know they are OK.
2 Blank
46several times we have encountered vehicles with the driver sitting and not paying for
his occupancy. This happens at P &C (Judd Falls)
2. Do you know where to report violations?
14 Yes
2 Yes?
4 Police Department?
416 Traffic Violations Bureau?
33 No
4 I just tell the business if the violation is in a parking lot
46 a telephone number would assist (easy to remember)
4, by the time I could call anyone, they'll be gone
1 Blank
5,0 (e4L�-f Yl ,�-a
3a. Have you ever reported a violation?
3 Yes
4- I tell the business if the violation is in a parking lot
46 No
have talked to the violators an was told to "mind your own business." Also spoke to
office personnel at a major grocery store -- told the violators will be gone before
the police will get here.
4- by the time I phone, they'll be gone (no cellular)
4 it hard enough to do what I have to do and I'm beat when I get home
1 Blank
3b. If so, what was the response?
Police --good
I only tell the business if the violation is in a parking lot
4 By the time I could have called someone, the violator would be gone
4. In your experience is the number of designated parking spaces for people with disabilities
adequate at the following destinations?
Ithaca City Hall
19
Yes
14
No
10
Don't know
7
Blank
Former Woolworth's parking lot
18
Yes
9
No
19
Don't know
4
Blank
Green Street parking garage
12 Yes
6 No
27 Don't know
46 too expensive
5 Blank
Seneca Street parking garage
11 Yes
5 No
28 Don't know
6 Blank
Page 2
Dryden Road parking garage
4
Yes
5
No
36
Don't know
5
Blank
Seneca Street parking lot (site of the former Strand Theater)
6
Yes
9
No
30
Don't know
5
Blank
Stewart Park
11
Yes
12
No
22
Don't know
5
Blank
Cass Park
6
Yes
5
No
32
Don't know
7
Blank
Alex Haley pool
3 Yes
7 No
35 Don't know
5 Blank
Ithaca City Court /Police Station
11
Yes
11
No
22
Don't know
6
Blank
Tompkins County Court House
11
Yes
12
No
22
Don't know
5
Blank
Tompkins County Court Library
5
Yes
20
No
20
Don't know
5
Blank
Page 3
Tompkins County Court Human Services Building
11
Yes
7
No
27
Don't know
5
Blank
6. Are there any lots listed in Question #5 that you did not know had designated spaces for
handicapped permit holders? If so, which ones?
Green Street parking garage
Seneca Street parking garage
Dryden Road parking garage
Seneca Street parking lot (site of the former Strand Theater)
Stewart Park
3 Cass Park
2 Alex Haley pool
3 Ithaca City Court/Police Station
2 Tompkins County Court House
Tompkins County Library
City Hall (but I only go to see the City Clerk about once a year!)
The parking garage
Woolworth's
Haven't thought about it -- assumed they all did since they are city property
I assumed they all had spaces
Don't have need very often
N/A Have not tried to use them
9 No
30 Blank
7. Where, if anywhere, do you feel more designated spaces are needed, either on- street,
metered, or in parking lots?
Fair Street
West Spencer Street
East Spencer Street
4 On the street
Metered parking
Banks
3 Wegman's
4 Tops
2 Pyramid Mall
A in the rear by Cinema /movies
2 KMart
Former Woolworth's parking lot
Green Street parking garage
Seneca Street parking garage
Page 4
Dryden Road parking garage
Seneca Street parking lot (site of the former Strand Theater)
On Seneca Street in restaurant area
2 Stewart Park
Cass Park
Alex Haley Pool
2 Ithaca City Hall
2 Ithaca City Court/Police Station
3 Tompkins County Court House
4 Tompkins County Library
Tompkins County Human Services Building
Near funeral homes
Catholic Church
Ekherd's (Meadow Street)
Around the Commons
Cayuga Street
On Aurora Street by Manhattan Bagels (on that block)
Near DeWitt Mall
Center Ithaca, particularly for The Cinema there
Fall Creek Movie Theater One is NOT enough!!
Haven't had permit very long
Outside Alpha House at the corner of State Street and North Cayuga Street
I try not to use my handicapped permit. I use it on very bad winter days or when my arthritis
is really acting up
Don't go over town very often
3 Don't Know
2 No
22 Blank
8a. When designated spaces have parking meters, do you experience difficulty using the
meters - -such as inaccessible height or obstructed path of travel?
12 Yes
25 No
13 Blank
Page 5
Sb. Comments
10 winter related comments
• only with occasional deep unshoveled snow
• during winter snow is piled around meters and I can't get to them too good.
• when it snows, the banks are so high its hard to put money in the meter (so you
just get a ticket)
• snow banks are a problem
• in winter snow is so piled around meters you can't get to them
• snow removal is piled around meter — difficult to reach meter and dangerous to
climb over snowbank
4 has nothing to do with my disability (heart trouble) — but there's tons of snow
around metered spaces and it's hard
• in winter, very difficult to get to meter due to snow /ice /excess water
• especially in the winter time
• snowbound
Sometimes meters are out of order
But they are frequently not functional. So often that I wondered whether the city was offering
free parking to the handicapped
Difficult to read
Area surrounding the meter would safely insure disabled access to the meter and sidewalk if a
section of the curb was removed ex: sidewalks at an intersection
At some. Mostly I can handle it
My wife can handle that for me
I do not drive, so my driver takes care of the meters
Generally travel on Gadabout
Not at this point
32 Blank
9. Other comments about parking designated for people with disabilities?
• Some seem to walk all right. Don't know how they got sticker.
• Shopping malls need more nearer stores. Parking garages are too far from stores on
Commons to walk, so can only use a few times a year
4 Merchants should be encouraged to provide more designated parking areas
Page 6
-16 The handicapped parking may be set up for one auto per block or two — there should be
more set up per metered and side streets without [meters]
4 Snow removal is piled around meter — difficult to reach meter and dangerous to climb
over snow bank.
A I know it's not in the city, but Cayuga Medical Center could use more handicapped
parking places
It is wonderful that people with disabilities are considered as often it is an effort if not
I have a disability parking permit that I use when my friend drives me. I don't own a car any
more and I don't drive. Overall, we do manage pretty well.
Seem to be adequate
Don't use the permit very often as my sister takes me and she has her own — use mine when I
don't have this driver. I do appreciate having my own permit. Very useful —Thank you.
Overall, the city is quite accessible to those of us who are disabled
We see a lot of temporary permits being used with expired dates
I feel there should be more, there are more people with disabilities than we all realize
I would like to see some type of payment program that people with disabilities do not have to
repeatedly return to parking meters to insert coins for additional parking time.
Have had my permit only a short time and with bad weather have not driven much
Never use my handicapped permit as Filomena didn't recover from her illness. I will destroy
the permit.
Stewart Park doesn't have enough at and around the bathrooms
More accessibility to lower lift on vehicle
I don't always know where the handicap meters are located in the city of Ithaca. Is there one in
each block or how are they designated?
I am glad that the city has made designated parking for the disabled people like myself. But
there is a lot of misuse done by people who don't have permits, who are being inconsiderate.
Have none, unless in pain. I don't always use the permit; only when necessary.
Very often the space is obstructed by a vehicle taking up too much space, especially by Cayuga
Medical Center and the connected Medical Building. Or snow not plowed good enough so all
spaces can be used. Also, places such as where I live at West Village Apartments, there are NO
handicapped parking. Due to the fact I can't walk long distances, especially with groceries or
laundry, it is very difficult for me. There have been many times when I have had to not only
walk, but carry heavy things great distances because people park in front of my apartment, and
quite often take up all the close spots. Many times people take up more than one spot. It would
Page 7
help so much if there are designated parking spots for each of the handicapped people that live
here that was close to their apartment. Maybe with their apartment number, name, or license
on it.
I feel very badly when shopping carts are left in handicapped areas.
Why didn't you ask about private space where there aren't enough? ie: Wegman's, Pyramid Mall
The spaces are not always excessively convenient to the entrances to locations. I, as a
handicapped person, become very discouraged when people misuse the privileges that come with
handicapped parking, while those of us that sincerely need handicapped privileges /parking are
constantly denied the safety that we should be provided with.
The wheelchair driver I saw last week had a pick up with a mechanism that lifted the chair and
placed it in a stall in his pick up. That observation was at Wegman's with zebra stripes on both
sides of a vehicle separate for right (passenger) and left (driver), but those occur only in the
Woolworth's lot or in the Covered malls.
Numbers on meters should be brighter (neon green ?) and larger.
Meters should accept cards purchased by local people who don't want to fumble for change.
(Swipe when park /swipe when leave ? ?) ($25 card)
More at the corner on Seneca Street, near Post Office.
Also at corner of Buffalo and Tioga Streets near large buildings or near the banks.
OK as far as I'm concerned
Julie: sorry not to be of more help, but at 74 V2 years of age, there aren't too many places I have
to park at except the golf course, the bowling alley, grocery stores, doctors' offices, and available
public restrooms (in emergencies!) There's no attempt to "joke" about the answers (except to
Julie). I'm sure some of the handicapped (mine is emphysema) are running into problems,
judging by the shopping places!
Larry: The problem with the city's street parking is that we can be ticketed for parking a vehicle
too far from the curb (more than 12 inches). At the library and DeWitt and Cayuga Street
handicapped parking spaces, no zebra stripes show that it is necessary for a driver to open the
car door its full width to bring down a chair or even to descend with both feet facing the curb.
"Normal" drivers descend on one foot facing forward and twist to step up on the curb - --
impossible for a person who needs a ramp or sloping lawn /margin to move onto the sidewalk.
Have not had the permit long enough to answer these questions
19 Blank
Page 8