FEATURE MAKING PARKING ACCESSIBLE
Technical issues may prove taxing to the
manufacturers – but, for one council and a leading disability campaign group, the issues are much clearer.
Resorting to legal action In December 2010 Norwich City Council reviewed the Equality Act and concluded that it needed to ‘put new measures in place to ensure everyone who uses our car parks is treated fairly.’ From December 2010, all Blue Badge holders
One size does not fit all… the height of payment points is a thorny issue
If equipment manufacturers were obliged to
produce equipment that met the needs of people with many different disabilities the costs would be much higher – and in many cases an unnecessary burden on them as well as their suppliers. Despite the challenges, Martin Hughes, managing
director at Scheidt and Bachmann UK, said his company recently launched the disabled-friendly PKA30-BF/B, the PKA30-BF/C, and the PKA30- BF/S barrier-free automatic pay stations. Tis equipment is generating interest in the UK. According to Scheidt and Bachmann, these three
ticket machines have controls that make it possible for people with mobility difficulties to conveniently pay parking fees. Tose machines may prove to be popular with
customers but Danny Hassett, regional director of Parkeon (UK and Ireland) is concerned about a lack of clarity on the issue.
Confusion reigns Hassett said: ‘Parkeon’s range of Strada parking payment terminals was designed to meet the recommendations of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995, which required the location of controls on parking payment terminals to be readily accessible to the disabled. ‘From 1 October 2010, the Equality Act replaced
most of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). However, the Disability Equality Duty in the DDA continues to apply. Unfortunately, a recent presentation by the DfT to the BPA’s Equipment and Suppliers Group, on the new Act’s wide- ranging requirements, seemed to lead to a lack of understanding as to what is now required.’ He added: ‘Perhaps the BPA could consult further
with the DfT, while both the Association and the parking industry should also liaise with disabled groups to establish exactly what we need to produce in order to comply with the latest legislation.’
www.britishparking.co.uk
using the city council’s car parks would get an hour’s free parking for every hour paid for. If they bought four hours they would get the rest of the day free. Prior to December, however, Norwich City
Council had ruled that Blue Badge holders would pay the same rate as everyone else. Cllr Alan
What is suitable for wheelchair users may not be suitable for other disabled people or even non-disabled people
Waters, of Norwich City Council, said that asking everyone to pay for parking demonstrated equality. However, it was only after the threat of legal action by Disabled Motoring UK (previously Mobilise) that the city council acknowledged that some disabled people may require more time and should pay less. Helen Dolphin of DMUK explained that, in June 2009, Norwich City Council decided to change its policy on disabled parking in council-run car parks and removed free parking for disabled people. Dolphin said no account was taken of the fact that it takes disabled people longer to park and shop. She added that the pay machines in Norwich-run council car parks were inaccessible to many people in wheelchairs, and that many disabled motorists have little choice with regards to transport as they may need adapted vehicle access and not all buses are accessible.
A challenge for all It is clear that disabled motorists have their own hill to climb every time they plan something as simple as a shopping trip, and their experiences are important when it comes to driving the equipment manufacturer’s agenda. But there are restrictions, both financial and
practical, on how much adjustment is reasonable when it comes to design. Te obvious next step, and one that is being driven by the BPA, is for an open dialogue between the equipment manufacturers, the parking operators and the disabled motorists.
A report on the inaugural Disabled Motoring UK awards will appear in next month’s Parking News.
OCTOBER 2011 37
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