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The Oregonian
Disabled parking in Portland
by Susan Nielsen, The Oregonian
Tuesday January 13, 2009, 12:58 AM
Sunday's column: Portland can't give away the car keys to the city
Walk down any metered block downtown, and you'll see car after car with trusty blue placards hanging from the rear-view mirrors. On some streets, cars with disabled permits outnumber the rest. Portland must get a handle on this trend, enlisting state help if needed, or it will end up like San Francisco -- where parking revenue is way down and permit abuse is rampant.
The number of people parking for free on metered Portland streets, using disabled permits, has grown by 35 percent since 2005. Those vehicles tend to stay put all day, according to city surveys, even in spaces with strict time limits near businesses that rely on customer turnover.
A little background: Under longstanding state law, cities were required to offer free and unlimited street parking to all people with disabled permits. Acting in response to concerns about misuse, the Legislature downsized this state mandate in 2007 to cover only wheelchair users. Lawmakers left it up to cities to decide whether to continue extending parking privileges to all permit holders.
The Portland City Council voted last year to keep the status quo in place while a task force researched the issue. After more than a year of pencil-pushing, the task force has made little progress. It's easy to see why: The stakes are high in a city where the cost of parking one car is around $2,000 a year.
What to do? Clearly, it's essential that the city maintain all-day street parking privileges for people with severely limited mobility, whether they use a wheelchair or not. The right to get to work is central to living independently, and the distance from lots and garages is too great for many disabled people.
Also, the problem may not be as bad as it seems. Yes, permit holders now occupy more than 600 on-street spaces, but that's out of 20,000 public spaces on downtown streets and in lots and garages. It's only fair for disabled people to have first dibs on the most accessible spots.
Yet the trends remain troubling. The city now gives away more than $1 million a year in forgone parking revenue. Permit holders occupy roughly 9 percent of downtown's 7,000 on-street spots during the weekday. In the downtown retail core, the number exceeds 20 percent.
"There is frustration, especially among business owners who see the same car every day in front of their businesses," says Nolan Mackrill, manager of the city's parking enforcement division.
To me, there are three key questions here: Should parking remain free for people who aren't covered by the state mandate? Are there efficient ways to discourage misuse in the downtown retail core? And can the state Department of Motor Vehicles help?
The city could start by asking people with nonwheelchair permits to pay the basic metered fee. All-day parkers wouldn't have to move their cars or re-feed the meter when the time expired, but they'd at least contribute a few dollars to the cost of maintaining the spaces.
Next, the city could require anyone with a nonwheelchair permit who wants to park downtown all day every day, at a free or reduced rate, to obtain and display a free city permit (with photo ID) to do so. The city wouldn't need to do a medical evaluation; it could essentially rubber-stamp the state permit and snap a photo.
This small bureaucratic hoop of getting and renewing a city permit in person would discourage downtown workers from misusing the system, without creating an undue burden.
Finally, the city could work with the Department of Motor Vehicles to crack down on permit misuse. (Those are just three ideas. What do you think, readers? Weigh in at www.oregonlive.com/nielsen. )
Disabled parking is a thorny and thankless issue for Portland elected leaders. Commissioner Randy Leonard, for one, has expressed a desire to look at costs and access.
Let's hope he has company. The San Francisco model of parking mismanagement will hurt everyone in Portland -- not just business owners and taxpayers, but also people with disabilities who circle the block in vain, just like everyone else.
-- Associate Editor Susan Nielsen; susannielsen@news.oregonian.com.
I have a disabled permit. I appreciate you recognizing that a wheelchair shouldn't be the determining factor in issuing permits. I am more mobile with my wheelchair than I am using my prosthetic leg.
I'm always astounded by the number of disabled permits I see and the physical condition of the users I see. I realize all disabilities aren't discernable, but how is it possible that most permit users show no disability symptoms?
I think the solution would be a 2 step permitting process. As now, the doctor should recommend the permit but the permit should only be issued for pre-approved specific disabilites. The DMV should track the permits and doctors issuing them in an effort to cut down on fraud.
Please, don't allow Loo Leonard to get involved in this.
What has always baffled me is the fact that disabled parking spots are free. Not every disabled person in this country is poor. I know some very wealthy disabled people who use handicapped spots because they need to and should be allowed to do so. Just for example, why should someone making minimum wage or not much higher than that have to pay to park, when a person who makes substantially more money get to park for free just because they are disabled? I wholly agree with the handicapped getting to park in the closest spots. I just dont understand why they are free and not the same fees or at least a discounted fee. Like I stated earlier, not every person with a disabled parking permit is poor.
Susan, I hate to tell you this but Portland has already turned into San Francisco. This disabled parking issue is just one of the last shoes to drop. As far as wheel chair only or severly disabled I have a freind who was badly injured in the Vietnam War. He could use a wheel chair on most days but prefers to walk when he can. He carries shrapnel near his spine, he has several crushed or ruptured disks and two total knee replacements. When he parks using his disabled tag he can get out of his car and walk for about a block before he experiences excruciating pain in his back and legs. He foregoes the wheel chair because of either pride or his need to walk for exercise as much as he can. Some people have yelled at him when he gets out seemingly fine and walks, with a limp, away as if he were scamming somebody. My question is what would we do with/for him? Should he be required to use a wheel chair? I don't know but what I do know is that he needs that tag and should, somehow, be able to use it...
I have every sympathy for the merchants that need parking turnover, but those of us with disabilities really need those spots. I have parking available close to our destinations. I have worn out a couple of wheel chairs, numerous crutches and canes, and it does not get easier. Walking a block to the bus stop is as much as I can do. Strangers look at me and they see an healthy old man, and I am mostly healthy, but my infrastructure is crumbling and gives me pain 24/7
I'd suggest you spend a year being disabled before you decide where and how disabled parking should be.
Disabilities are 24x7 - not just M-F, 8-5.
If Portland so despately needs more revenue, go after Dignity Village and recover the lost property taxes.
Disability and income have NO connection. I have a permit and use it on bad days. I also have good days when I never use it. Believe me, if I could trade places w/others who experience no pain, I'd walk a mile for a parking spot.
Susan:
The problem is not the city's unwilliness to abide by the State's recommended guidelines but the issuance by the DMV of these permits and the doctors who provide the documentation that authorize it. I personally work with 2 people in a fairly small office downtown who maintain disabled permits and both park all day on the street in front of our building for free. And what are the disabilities? They both sadly suffer from diabetes which can be severely debilitating, for sure, but not so much in their case. They function quite "ably" in society, attending work, recreational activities, international travel, etc. without limits. Doctors need to rethink rubber-stamping these requests if they are to be responsible to the city they live in and their duty to its citizens. Let's reserve these permits to the truly disabled as they were intentioned. And let's subject existing permits to examination to determine their necessity. Since it is beyond the average citizen (including me) to determine who is eligible, lets insist the gatekeepers (the doctors) show some accountability. Periodic and random testing of the validity of these doctor ordered permits should be instituted.
What about a variety of meters available, say 1/2 hour, 1 hour or 2 hour meters alternated up and down the street, marked by different colors. Then allow handicap users to ONLY use the 2 hour metered spaces for as long as they need. This leaves the 1/2 hour and 1 hour meters available to the customers of merchants who depend on rapid turnover. Just a thought. That's how Eugene handles it.
My mother is severely disabled and can only walk very short distances. She uses her disabled permit to visit stores and offices. I like the 2-phase "free city permit" solution for disabled people who want to park all day. I don't like the "pay the meter" solution because in order to do that I have to walk to and from the SmartMeter, which is often far from the parking space. (If we had parking meters at each space, I would not mind paying).
I wish there were a way to crack down on disabled permit abusers. I'm sure many all-day parkers are non-disabled persons using a relative's permit illegally. I see this constantly at the suburban grocery stores where I shop.
I once worked with a woman who used her husbands disabled parking permit for herself. Of course, she wasn't disabled. However, she thought that she could use his card and break the law with no consequence! Sad!
As one other person has already said, there are the physicians who very freely give out disabled stickers. Having been in the active practice of orthopedic surgery for many years, until I retired, it was easy to sign the application for a person who was "disabled." I was always careful to limit the duration of the permit when it was appropriate. I know of instances where the non disabled spouse will use his or her spouse's permit after the disabled spouse has died.
If the City of Portland was really interested in controlling this I am sure that with the technology available it wouldn't very long to check on whether a person's disabled permit is valid or not. If it were found that certain physicians were granting a large number of the permits, I think measures could be taken to control that.
I have a permit, but only use it on the days when I have severe pain. The problem is all of the people who have one that has expired due to a death in the family or their short term need was months ago but they keep using it. I also have a student in my class who brags that his family got one off the internet. If Oregon would issue permits for people using wheelchairs with a red wheelchair symbol, then it would be easy to know who should be parked in wheelchair spots all day. In addition, the most important change should be a picture (the same one that is on their license would be perfect) should be on the permit so you know it's the person it was issued to that is using it. It is also not publicized well enough that the person needing the permit is not supposed to sit in the car in the wheelchair place while the able bodied partner runs into the store, etc. This is abuse of the permit and those who need that parking place to get to the store have to park a distance away. I even had a neighbor ask if he could borrow my permit as he had to go downtown on a Saturday and would have trouble parking! I gave him a piece of my mind instead of my permit! The photo of the person who the permit was issued to would solve many of the problems that are causing overuse by non-handicapped people. My problem also doesn't show, but when I need it, I really need it. I can't walk more than a block without severe pain, so by the time I get into the store, do my shopping and head back out, I can't hardly get to the car fast enough. So don't judge by the person, just solve the problem of permit abuse! People can also join the volunteer patrol and help weed those people out. Contact your local police department and you, too, can spend your day checking permits and thereby stopping the cheaters from using your needed spot.
I haven't read the earlier comments, so I may be duplicating some. 1-Restricting the permit for wheelchair only is SIMPLY an effort to easily recognize a permit-holders disability. That is no way to honor the many other disabilities that would otherwise qualify. I MUST use a walker, and have most of the same requirements of wheel chair user. Other severely limiting disabilities need the same consideration . 2- Not all the permits in downtown represent office workers. Many belong to appartmemt dwellers who park both day and night when not using their cars. Correcting that abuse would free many parking place, particularly in the downtown fringe areas.
Tho I'm not in a wheelchair, my COPD requires me to carry my oxygen bottle fulltime. Even then walking is limited. Therefore, I appreciate the parking privileges extended by the city. However, I wish there were some way to crack down on the abusers. I have observed all ages of individuals with handicapped placards park and jump out of their vehicles and scurry off to shop. They obviously have "borrowed" the placard for non-legitimate use. Its those people who I'd like to see nailed with a hefty fine. That would cover the "freebies" for a lot of us legitimate users. Thanks for letting me rant.
There are far too many people using permits that have expired or belonged to someone else that has died. Just park at Target for a while and watch the families using them, all able bodied. If the permits for wheelchair people had a red chair on them, and the places marked wheelchair were for them only, it would help. Also, the permits should have a photo of the person they are issued to on them. Then the spouse, child or friend couldn't "borrow" them. It is also illegal for the user to sit in the car in the wheelchair space while the other family member goes into a store. Only if the owner of the tag is getting out, should the tag be used. That's not fair to others who need to park and walk because the spouse is too lazy to walk. More people need to volunteer to patrol those tags. You can contact your local police agency and after a background check and some training, you go around to parking lots and check the validity of those tags. One man told me that 20-30% are expired or fake tags (xeroxed copies) and they also find untagged vehicles in spots over 50% of the time. More volunteers could solve the problem, especially if there are photos on each tag that can be matched with the user.
Hi everyone. Susan here. A lot of people decided to email me directly rather than leave a comment. Below are excerpts from a few of them.
Bert H. wrote: "I fully agree with you about your article about the "Disabled Parking". I have a Disabled Parking permit and park in Portland often but always pay for the spot that I occupy. ... My opinion is that with or without a Disabled Parking permit we should pay for the parking spot we occupy. I am sure that well over 90% of drivers with a Disabled Parking permit can afford the couple dollars for parking."
Reader Ian R., who describes himself as a high-level quadriplegic, wrote, "Thanks for tackling the issue of misused disabled placards. ... I live in the west hills and have no access to public transportation from my house, forcing me to rely on my modified van with a side ramp. Like many others, this limits my parking options dramatically to places with the double wheelchair slot or places on the right side of the street with no obstruction for my ramp to unfold. As you can imagine, this makes downtown (and even residential) parking somewhat difficult...."
Ian had several useful ideas, including this one: "I perceive a big part of the problem to be old or outdated placards being recirculated and reused. I like the idea of forcing all placard users to check in with the DMV or some similar agency on a regular basis. The face-to-face interaction might reduce abusers and a simple step like a '09 sticker to be placed on the placard would make it easier for meter attendants to find abusers. ... "
Edith M. of Portland, who says her husband has a disabled permit, wrote: "... Free parking for an entire day on a metered spot should not be allowed - there could special parking permits issued, at an affordable reduced and fixed annual fee (similar to monthly bus tickets) that allow really disabled persons to park at any length wherever they need to. This would be only fair to anyone. For short-term parking, a minimum token fee, with the receipt displayed at the dashboard, won't hurt anyone. ... "
Pat C. of Gastone writes: "I have always been surprised at the number of disabled drivers who can shoe-horn themselves in and out of little sport cars or scale the heights of an over-sized pickup truck. Twice my wife and I have had temporary disabled permits; once when I severed an achilles tendon and once when she broke her leg. In both cases we only used the permit when the injured one was actually in the car and when using it was necessary because of the incumbrance of a wheelchair. The current system is easily abused (Sure, grandma, I'll run to the store for you. Can I take your permit too?) Using them illegally to avoid paying for parking downtown is just so wrong that it makes me want to believe in bad karma coming back around to them."
Gail A., who says she has a permit because of emphysema and heart disease, shared a number of thoughts, including this: ".... Even if we were given a discounted parking rate, we would still have to manage to walk as much as a block to get to one of the City's malfunctioning parking permit towers, and back to the car with the sticker, before going to our destination. This would prove impossible for many of us. Then there is the shortage of handicap parking spots. The Multnomah County Central Library has one parking spot for a facility heavily used by elderly and disabled. There is another one 1/2 a block away and across a street. The library says it has been turned down when it requested more. ..."
Nora M. from The Dalles wrote: "As a disabled 88 year old, I have been convinced for years that there are too many smart lawyers in weekchairs to constantly get more and more advantages for disabled. How much more we need their capabilities for other humanitarian projects such as children and education."
Susan Nielsen should thank God every day that she isn't eligible for a disabled parking permit. With all the issues facing us in the world today, what a thing to focus attention on.
So 600 out of 20,000 on-street spaces are used by disabled persons. Wow! By my calculations that comes out to a whopping measly three per cent.
Want to be the person who questions each one as to what their sometimes "hidden" or not easily visible disabilities are? Want to hear the stories of brain injuries, heart disease, transplant recipients, and on and on...? Want to know what it takes for disabled people to work every day so they don't have to be on Social Security Disability? Want to know first hand what it takes to get through each day, when doing things the "able bodied" take for granted wears you thinner and thinner as the day goes on?
Really, Susan. You should be ashamed of yourself. We are each only temporarily able bodied. So get over your dismay that those who can afford to shop downtown have to walk a little or pay for parking. There are so many more serious abuses going on in the world to worry about.
(NOTE FROM SUSAN: Hi KGregory, thanks for your input. I think we agree on many levels. Just one point of clarification: The latest city survey noted about 620 on-street parking spaces were used by disabled placard holders, out of 7,000 on-street spaces (with the highest concentration in the downtown retail core). The 20,000 figure refers to all publicly available spaces, including on the street and in lots and garages. Those numbers from the city were all in the column. Thanks again for writing.)
I am amused by the "I am disabled" therefore you would hate to be in my shoes therefore you should pay for my parking argument. Why don't we pay for the parking of everyone who finds themselves in an unfortunate situation. It would be great. Death in the family - you park free. Lose your job- the parking is on us. Flood damage- don't fret at least the city will pay for your parking.
It's tough to be disabled. I've been there. And it's fair to make some accommodation. But you don't get to ask for whatever you want and hold your disability over the head of anyone who objects.
Several readers suggested that permits should have the picture of the permit holder on them. I certainly hope they don't mean that the actual permit placards should have pictures on them. I'm not familiar with the Oregon requirements, but Washington requires that one carry a permit card and picture I.D. This proof can be requested by anyone authorized to enforce the regulations. Washington also has strict requirements for obtaining a permit, but does not recognize distinctions in disabilities. How would Portland deal with the reciprocity issue if other states don't issue disability specific placards? Many of the problems mentioned are related to enforcement issues rather than issues of actual need. The easy option of giving more credibility to those things you can easily see is unacceptable.
I am a service connected disabled veteran with Oregon Permanent Disabled Veteran license plates which was authorized by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. I cannot work because of my injury. I have chronic pain all over my body along with a seriously arthritic back and knee. I wear my knee brace even when I sleep! I also have a handicapped blue placard. I find it very difficult in walking long distances with my cane and have to stop every so often because of the pain. I don't need a wheelchair YET but will someday. If anyone wants to call me a liar or a scam artist they better be ready to deal with this already angry disabled veteran as I will read them the riot act. I became disabled because of my honorable service to this country and I don't need to be pushed around by some wimps who didn't spend one second in boot camp or in ANY honorable service to this country. PLEASE LEAVE US SERVICE CONNECTED DISABLED VETERANS ALONE!
If this is strictly a revenue issue, it is negligible relative to the corrupt and cozy relationships between city of Porland employees and various vendors of equipment and supplies for the Smartpark system.
i have little sympathy for folks who are disabled because they are fat. go on a walk like the rest of us, it would do you some good.
Here's a solution: Don't give permits to slobs just for being fat and the number of permits will drop 50%. Walking an extra block should do em good. Oh wait this is Portland... nvm.
@brucejj and estrus--MOST service connected disabled veterans are NOT fat! In fact many are encouraged to get their weight down by VA doctors, via physical therapy and dietitians, as the path to wellness. Their pain does not emanate from fat cells!
Thank you, Susan, for having the courage to write about this issue. A solution isn't easy. I'm writing as twice a week I visit the US Bank Tower on business. I'm there for 45 to 60 minutes each visit. I would love to be able to find a place to park on the street but 90% of the time cannot even within a two block radius. The percentage of cars in and around the US Bank Tower with disabled placards during the business hours is closer to 50%. I suspect the majority are working in the building and are parked in the 90 minute spots all day long five days a week. I usually park in the parking garage across the street and do notice that the vast majority of disabled parking spots are available in the garage. The two biggest issues for me are the abuse (I too know of abusers...don't we all) and the fact that one should not be able to park in a metered spot all day long on a regular basis without paying something. That was not the intent or spirit of the law. One thought would be to issue passes similiar to those for car pool allowing the individual to park there all day at a prepaid monthly fee. Another idea would be to install 30 and 60 minutes meters in the downtown core area and require anyone who parks there to honor the time limit and to pay for parking. I used to love to go down town...but now with the construction, parking issues and bicyclists I try to avoid it. However, I think that is how the current city leaders want it.
fyi, folks, you can tell if someone is legally using the placard because their driver's license number or Oregon ID number is written on the placard.
In SF a widower was caught using his late wife's placard and was fined $1000.
I don't believe I have to pay for anything! As a service connected disabled veteran with permanent Oregon Disabled Veteran license plates, a blue placard, and a service connected VA Medical Center ID card I have more than sufficient proof that I am disabled. I do NOT loan my placard out to anyone. I do not work but every so often I need to go downtown to take care of some personal business which does not last more than a couple of hours. I should park for free because I have already paid for my space with my compromised health and injury originating from my time in the service. I REFUSE to pay any more!
I get a laugh out of the "disabled" parking users that park in front of one store and are able to walk 4 stores down.(in an open mall) These permits are given out way too easily. I hear about the people being denied again and again for SSI, yet, I know people that have NO right to be on it. Old people that have worked their entire lives should get a free pass for this. Young people should have to have more than a "missing digit" to qualify. There should be hotlines to call to report fraud (plenty of cell phone cameras). If someone can walk through Clackamas town center, why should they get a special parking place??? In fact, fraud investigation should be the next "big" thing. Open a business that investigates fraud of any kind. Plenty of business these days. Look at the ONE guy that cost the state millions in tax dollars. Oh, and sorry veterans, but the younger class of veterans are nothing like the old ones. My dad would have puked to know my cousin is "disabled" from too many jumps (hurting his ankles, ha, doesnt stop him from tromping around the woods chasing deer)
@ore2008--I am an "older" disabled veteran and I do NOT tromp around the woods chasing deer. Most times it's even difficult going up and down the stairs in my own home. My exercise come from warm water pool therapy three times a week. Yes, I do use a handicapped placard to park in front of the hospital physical therapy dept. building in addition to parking near the stores like Target and Costco. I always use the electric carts to get around the stores as it's painful to walk on hard floors for an extended period of time. It appears to me that you are accusing disabled veterans of fraud. Are you a medical doctor? Additionally, I am NOT fat as I'm at my ideal weight and my body fat measurement is where it should be.
pdxhomie--If you read right, you would see that I was slamming the younger vets. I have known many older vets that worked many years with disabilities that younger vets claim keeps them from being able to work. The hurt ankles, true, and very sad, my dad and uncles would be puking for sure. this kid has no problems with his ankles when its time to hike in the woods yet, claims he cannot work because of bad ankles. no work ethic in these young kids. its "give me it all for free". And he is not the only one with a whimpy excuse for not working. a missing thumb, loss of hearing, bad back (that one is very over used). yet I have friends that have one arm (working), legally deaf, (working), mental problems (bipolor), working, fybromialgia, working. too many people that are just plain wimps.
@ore2008--I am in complete agreement with you that there are a LOT of "handicapped" scammers out there and that should be investigated. However, most of us "older" disabled veterans have serious issues in getting around. I am not able to work and spend most of my time at home. I go out only occasionally and only if it's very necessary, like to pool therapy. It takes me a good 20 minutes to get out of bed in the morning so I have to do stretching while I'm in bed. Only after that I can make it into the bathroom. I don't ever get a full night's sleep, even with all of the medication in the world. My bathroom shelves could put Walgreen's out of business. I wake up in the night with persistent leg pain running down to my feet, some numbness and the inability to even move my legs. I have to self massage and stretch so the pain goes away and can move my legs; and by then it's hard to get back to sleep.
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