Disabled parking facing changes

Juan C. Rodriguez
Staff writer

In a move to change parking around the perimeter of SF State, the San Francisco Department of Parking and Traffic approved a plan Friday to rearrange SF State's disabled parking zones and create shuttle stops throughout the campus.

The plan calls for moving the disabled parking zones further north on 19th Avenue, as well as a shifting of the blue zones along Holloway Avenue and Tapia Drive.

Motorcycle parking on Holloway would be moved to Tapia to create a loading zone for parking shuttles. Also, the direction of the one-way traffic on Tapia would be reversed.

According to Philip Evans, the assistant director of plant operations at SF State, the change is needed to alleviate the congestion on 19th and Holloway, where cars with disabled placards are continually blocked by double-parked cars, shuttles and Muni buses.

Evans said seven more disabled zones would be created around the perimeter of the campus and the move would effect regular parking. The increased number of parking shuttles and the growing number of students and faculty who ride MUNI also made the changes necessary.

"There are a fixed number of spaces on the campus perimeter," Evans said. "It is a difficult job balancing the access needs of the members of the campus community."

Although the university proposal falls within the parameters of the American Disabilities Act and city codes, students who access blue zone parking are skeptical of the changes.

"The plan doesn't violate the codes, but it doesn't address the safety issues," said Deidre Defreese, a coordinator at the Disabled Students' Resource Center.

With the new zones to be located along 19th Avenue closer to oncoming traffic, disabled students are worried about the risk of being hit by vehicles when they are getting out of their cars.

"We'll get killed. That's what's gonna happen." said Vivian Miller, a junior microbiology major who parks in the blue zones on 19th Avenue.

Miller was among several disabled students who wrote letters to the DPT expressing concerns. She said SF State disabled students were not adequately notified about the hearing. As a result, Defreese was the only person at the hearing voicing opposition to the plan.

"I don't like it, they didn't get public input," Miller said.

Don Brown, the disability coordinator of the human resources department, said the apprehension among disabled students is misguided. He reviewed the plan and determined its compatibility with ADA regulations.

"They think the plan calls for the elimination of (disabled) parking," Brown said. "But it

actually expands parking and provides a greater level of access to more buildings."

Although the plan was passed by the DPT, it can take up to four months before any changes will be seen.

"After the public hearing (March 1), it will go to the Parking and Traffic commission to review what is approved," said Eddie Tsui, an assistant transportation engineer for San Francisco.

From there, Tsui said the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and Caltrans have to approve the changes.

The city will fund the redirection of traffic on Tapia and the painting of the curbs, but SF State will be responsible for building wheelchair ramps and curb cuts along the new blue zones as well as replacing the existing ramps on 19th and Holloway.

"It will be into summer before any changes will be made," Tsui said.

Evans said there is no word yet on what these changes will cost.

[ Golden Gater - March 4, 1997 ]