A mom sets bad example for her kids

Even before I was a teenager I’d tell the librarians at my local branch when someone would park in a disabled parking space without the proper permit.  This was a good 15 years before the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as well as before I became disabled in 2008.  These days most drivers seldom park in a disabled parking spot without a permit.

But the loading space next to the disabled parking spot is another story. On Friday I was in the St. Louis suburb of Warson Woods Missouri (Manchester & Sappington).  When I left the store I was visiting I see a mom unloading two kids from her car.  One was a baby in a stroller and they other maybe 4-5 years old.  My car was parked not in the disabled space to the left of her car but in the regular space to the right. I parked to the right of the loading zone because getting in and out of my car requires me to open my driver’s door fully.

As I made my way to my car I had to pass right by her.  I said something like, “You know that is not a parking space?” She replied, “Oh, yeah.” I then told her that space is very helpful for those using wheelchairs and that she was setting a bad example for her kids.  I  was very upset.  Perhaps I should get stickers printed to slap on a window — one of those that is hard to remove? But that would probably be considered an act of property damage or something.

The loading zone is critical for a ramp from a van but also a must when helping a passenger to get in and out of a manual wheelchair or even using a walker. As the Baby Boomers age we will see more and more people who need a bit of assistance — and space.

What really upsets me is she had the choice of two space nearly as close — the one in front of her car and the one in front of the disabled space.  There was no shortage of parking, she just felt that she was entitled.  I think when someone parks as she did they don’t expect to get called out by some who is disabled.  Hopefully she will remember me.

– Steve Patterson

Inner-ring Montgomery Bank lacks proper ADA access route to adjacent public sidewalk

As we build new buildings it is important to construct them so they are accessible to everyone.  Unfortunately, many still design buildings to be reached only by automobile.

I recently noticed a fairly new Montgomery Bank on Laclede Station Rd at Watson Rd.  It is certainly an attractive building with nice massing.

The problem is the building ignores the public sidewalk along Laclede Station Rd.  The location is surrounded by existing homes and apartments.  People do walk in the area.  Sidewalks are provided for pedestrian use but some businesses, such as Montgomery Bank, design only for motorists.

If you are able-bodied you can step over the curbs and grass to reach the front door of the bank.  However, if you use a wheelchair or mobility scooter you must “drive” far into the site to get to a point where you can get out of the way of cars and head toward a door.  If I had the power I’d make this bank redo their site to provide an ADA-compliant access route.  Good pedestrian access is the first step needed  to get people to walk.  I don’t expect us to go back and retrofit decades of sites and buildings.  I do expect businesses to do a better job when building today.

– Steve Patterson

Centene headquarters taking shape

After years of controversy and plenty of lawsuits, the new Centene buildings are going up in Clayton.  Just what Clayton needed, more generic glass towers.  Yawn…

For decades the site at Hanley & Forsyth was occupied by the unique Scruggs Vandervoort Barney/Library Limited building (learn more at Vanishing STL).  While I don’t believe we can or should save every old building, I do think we should have higher expectations for the buildings that replace significant structures.

No, this is not a high-rise prison.  This is their second building under construction, just West of the corner tower. Maybe it will all be great when finished but what I see so far makes me think it will be more of the same — anonymous boxes.

At least the other end of the block has a low, but appealing, scale.

– Steve Patterson

Show your support for transit

On Tuesday April 6, 2010 voters in St. Louis County will vote on a measure to help fund transit operations in the region. Voters in the City of St. Louis approved a companion measure years ago and it will begin once the county approves their measure.  Myself and others have changed our Facebook profile pictures to show us using public transit:

There are some rules about photography but they don’t prevent snapping a quick pic such as mine above:

Photography on the Metro system is permitted with the following limitations. Photographers and videographers who plan to take photos or video for commercial use, or who need to set up tripods, lighting or other equipment need prior approval. For approval call 314-982-1440 or e-mail SpeakerTourResearch@metrostlouis.org. Please be advised that security personnel may approach photographers and videographers to inquire about their purpose. Activities may be limited for security, safety or customer convenience. Photography of critical infrastructure including MetroLink tracks, bridges, and tunnels is not permitted.

So get out there on our transit and get a picture of yourself using the system so your friends in St. Louis County will realize that even if they personally don’t ride transit, they know folks who do.

– Steve Patterson

Disabled parking not always closest parking to the door

Many, incorrectly, believe that disabled parking is right in front of the door and that those of us with state-issued parking permits always get the best parking.  In many cases we do get prime parking relative to other spaces.  Yesterday was a good example to dispel this myth.

I went to a crowded event at the Webster Groves Community Center.  In the above picture the people in red are walking into the building entrance.  The white car on is closer to the entrance than where I parked at right. I parked in the disabled space closest to the entrance.  Other disabled spaces behind me are closer to the ramp shown on the left but I was lucky to get the space I did — I waited about 10 minutes for it to open up.  Why not just park closer?

There were no closer spaces open but even if there was I couldn’t have parked there anyway. I have the ability to do the steps that would have been required at the main entry so why not park there?  To get in & out of my car I need to open my driver’s door fully.  Sometimes I get a regular space next to say a sidewalk or planter where I can open my door fully but in those cases the curb makes stepping out of the car difficult.  Regular spaces, even those closer to my destination are generally not an option for me or others.

– Steve Patterson