White Plains CitizeNetReporter - SPANO TO MOTORISTS: ABIDE BY ‘HANDICAPPED PARKING’ RESTRICTIONS

WPCNR County News Service. From Westchester County Department of Communications. May 1, 2002 8:00 AM EDT:County Executive Andy Spano announced yesterday a public education campaign to make sure that parking spots reserved for the handicapped are only used by the handicapped. Mr. Spano also introduced a new fleet of paratransit vans to transport disabled citizens.

And as part of the county’s long-time commitment to providing adequate transportation to the disabled and elderly, Spano also announced that the county has acquired 18 new paratransit vans, as replacements for older models that have logged hundreds of thousands of miles transporting people with disabilities.

“By making sure our handicapped parking spaces are used properly and that our paratransit vans are available, we go a long way to ensuring that disabled people can work, shop and enjoy public amenities like restaurants and theaters,” said Spano. “More importantly, this helps people keep their independence.”

A Closer Look at Who's In the Blue Spaces

The campaign dealing with handicapped parking is aimed at reminding the public that only people with the proper identification on their vehicle may use these restricted spaces and that the access aisle near the restricted spot (a blue zone) is needed by those using wheel chairs.

Video Training for Police

In addition to a public education campaign aimed at the other motorists, the county has prepared a video for area police departments to heighten their awareness about the need to enforce these restrictions.

Spano said, “Over the years, the county’s Office for the Disabled has received thousands of complaints about parking. The three most common complaints are: no handicapped parking (or not enough) at a particular site; inadequate enforcement of handicapped parking laws; and misuse of permits by non-disabled people, including family members, friends and even thieves. Enforcement of parking laws is the responsibility of the local municipalities, but we hope that our education efforts will have a real impact and, ultimately, make life easier for people with disabilities in Westchester.”

Full Court Press

Westchester’s education program involves:

• A video developed by the county Communications Office with the Office for the Disabled that will be distributed to the chief elected officials and police departments in every Westchester municipality, to educate them about the spirit and the letter of the Vehicle & Traffic Law, and to raise awareness of the importance of strict enforcement of handicapped parking rules.

• Distribution by the county of posters and signs reminding people of the law.

• Distribution of “ticket pads” to the public to put on illegally parked cars reminding the owners of the cars that they are parked illegally and that a police officer could have given them a real ticket for the transgression.

Fines Finance the Campaign. Federal Grant for 80% of new van costs

The state is now collecting a $30 surcharge on fines paid on any handicapped parking violations. The Westchester public information campaign is being financed with Westchester’s share of the money. The new paratransit vans each cost $56,491 -- 80 percent of which was paid for with grants from the Federal Transit Administration. The state-of-the-art, raised roof vans are all equipped with wheelchair lifts and high contrast interior design to assist riders with low-vision. Each vehicle can accommodate seven ambulatory passengers and two wheelchair wpcnr_users.

177,000 ParaTransit Trips in 2001

ParaTransit is administered by the County Executive's Office for the Disabled, with support from the Department of Transportation. There are approximately 4,000 people registered to use the service and last year the county provided 176,536 trips--over 14,000 more than the previous year. As demand for ParaTransit increases, Westchester hopes to increase the size of the county fleet; though the 18 vans that have been launched this month are replacements, an additional 18 are expected at the end of the summer which should allow for expansion of the system's capacity.

Westchester County provides Bee-Line ParaTransit in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, which prohibits discrimination based on disability in all activities of state and local government, as well as in the private sector.

Note: For information on how a disabled person can use ParaTransit, go to the westchestergov.com website, CLICK on Transportation, and Click ON ParaTransit, or call 914-995-2956.


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