April 14-20, 2005

slant

Spot Check

Do we really need handicapped parking spaces? Before you throw something, read on.

by C.G. Varesko

I hate the handicapped. Not all the time. I only hate them when I'm driving around in Center City looking for a parking spot. Every 100 feet, there is a blue meter on a short post devoted to the handicapped driver. These meters take up at least one space on every block. If the block is longer than 100 feet, there will be two. At first, it seems like a great idea to offer handicapped drivers a parking space on every block. But is it?

From 1982 to 2000, handicapped drivers could park at any meter in the city for free. All they needed was a handicapped placard hanging from their mirror or a handicapped license plate. They could come on downtown and take their chances like any other driver, endlessly circling the block, driving down side streets in ever widening circles and then parking in an overpriced garage in defeat. If they actually found an open space on the street, though, they could park there all day for free. That's what got City Council's dander up. Many parkers weren't actually handicapped. Somehow these weasels got their hands on placards ("Grandma, you don't need this placard do you?" "Not if it helps you get over, honey") and not only deserved to be shot but dragged after their vehicles as they were towed away to be melted down and made into No Parking signs.

Flash forward to 2005. The handicapped meter sits on every block, and if a non-handicapped person parks in the space, they may get a $300 ticket. Handicapped parkers pay the going rate and get an hour grace period before the Ticket Commandos swoop in. What I see while I circle endlessly, looking for parking less than $20, is many empty handicapped spaces, an occasional car or van parked with the placard and handicapped spots taken by vehicles without placards or plates, parked by drivers who live dangerously.

The spots are supposed to give the handicapped driver a space close to where he's going. If he has to go to, say 15th and Walnut streets, and the space right on that corner is taken up by another handicapped driver (or a moron living dangerously), he has to go another 100 feet to the next handicapped spot, where he pays the regular parking fee of 25 cents for 15 minutes. If there's a regular parking space right in front of where he's going, he can park in it. The non-handicapped driver doesn't have the option of parking in the only available space, the handicapped space, if all the other spots are taken up. This can lead to symptoms of high blood pressure, street rage, and the temptation to live dangerously. Sometimes the resulting strokes or injuries obtained in fights can get drivers their handicapped placards, so, it all works out somehow.

Using valet parking is an option if you don't mind the fee plus tip, or you can go to a garage, but that will cost you, too. The downside is that instead of putting a couple of bucks in the meter, paying for drinks, dinner, etc., you have to add the exorbitant parking fee on top of anything else you want to do in Philadelphia. Some cities actually have parking garages in areas where they're trying to build business, same price as street parking. Imagine that — making it easier to park so people will come into town. What will they think of next?

I say let the handicapped park wherever they want for free. Limit it to four or five hours to discourage all-day parking. Tighten the rules for getting placards and handicapped plates. The problem that made Councilman Frank DiCicco propose the legislation back in 2000 was all-day handicapped parkers who stopped turnover at the meters. No turnover means people who want to shop or dine on a certain block can't.

But now people can't shop or dine because we've lost too many cheap parking spaces and too often the handicapped spaces are not being used. Turn back the clock! Make all available street spots open for everyone. Then the only problem will be what to do with all those blue parking meters and short posts. Maybe a sidewalk sale?

C.G. Varesko is a writer, web designer and voiceover announcer in Lower Merion. If you would like to respond to this Slant or submit one of your own (750 words), contact Duane Swierczynski, editor in chief, City Paper, 123 Chestnut Street, third floor, Phila., Pa., 19106 or e-mail Duane Swierczynski.