1109.2 Parallel Parking Spaces. An access aisle at least 60 inches (1525 mm) wide shall be provided at street level the full length of the parking space. The access aisle shall connect to a pedestrian access route serving the space. The access aisle shall not encroach on the vehicular travel lane.

EXCEPTION: An access aisle is not required where the width of the sidewalk between the extension of the normal curb and boundary of the public right-of-way is less than 14 feet (4270 mm). When an access aisle is not provided, the parking space shall be located at the end of the block face.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - -

1. This section needs to be clarified, i.e., where is the access isle located?, that is, " will it be on the driver side or passenger side?"

2. The following is more of a question/concern about this requirement:

In downtown areas where parking is premium, this requirement will make it very difficult to install parallel accessible parking spaces. If I understood it correctly, access isles typically accommodate "lifts" which is usually located on the passenger side. If this is the case, then areas with adequate sidewalk width do not need access isles because "lifts" can be placed directly onto the sidewalk, EXCEPT, for left-curb side of ONE-WAY streets.

On the other hand, those that would use access isles using a wheel chair, (or for those that gets the wheel chair from a trunk or the back of the automobile), then access isle would be needed.

3. The requirement for the exception is install the parking stall at the end of the block. I am assuming the intent is to shorten the distance to the nearest access ramp. If this is the case, then can we allow a mid-block location so long as a "curb-cut" or access ramp is built either at the front or rear of the parking stall???

In the City of Pasadena, we have deferred all requests for accessible parallel parking until the guidelines is adopted so we are very anxious about final approval of this document. .

I would really appreciate, if you could forward this comments to the right individual and hopely get a response back. Please feel free to call me for any clarifications regarding this comments.

Sincerely,
Norman Baculinao, P.E., PTOE
Traffic Engineering Manager
Department of Transportation, City of Pasadena

index    previous comment      next comment