Editorial: A step backward for handicapped

It would be a retreat in progressive leadership if the Las Vegas City Council reduces the size of handicapped parking spaces and accessibility aisles.

As the Sun's Ed Koch reported Thursday, a bill is expected to be introduced at Monday's City Council meeting that would have the city reduce the size of handicapped spaces at new developments from a width of 9 feet down to 8 feet. In addition, it would allow a 5-foot access aisle on just one side of handicapped spaces; the current ordinance requires two 5-foot access aisles on each side of a handicapped space.

The director of the Southern Nevada Association for the Handicapped, Vince Triggs, finds the reduction of the space sizes troubling, but a potentially bigger problem is the elimination of the access aisles. For businesses with two spaces for handicapped parking, the plan would allow just one 5-foot aisle between them. In contrast, the ordinance now requires 15 feet for the two aisles to accommodate wheelchair lifts.

Triggs points out the absurdity of the reduction, noting that there are no standards for wheelchair lifts, which means they can be on the right, left or rear of the vehicle. With only one access aisle, that would mean the person might have to navigate the vehicle backwards into a space that would now also be narrower.

City Attorney Brad Jerbic has sent a memo to City Council members, telling them that the reduction complies with federal standards and will reduce the "hardship" on the development community. But if the ordinance is passed, the real hardship would be on the disabled, not the developers. A few feet here or there might not sound like much to those who are able-bodied, but even inches can make a huge difference for people trying to get in and out of vehicles modified for handicapped parking.

The disabled have fought for decades to get equal access to public facilities and businesses, and Las Vegas has been at the forefront in adopting an ordinance that went a step beyond what was required under federal law. But making it more difficult for those with disabilities would be an embarrassment, not progress.

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