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Interesting articles about ADA, FHA, and ABA compliance inspections by ADA Inspections Nationwide, LLC.

What's Wrong with This Photo - ADA Parking in Cody Wyoming

Recently on a road trip through Montana and Wyoming I found examples of non-compliant Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) parking for individuals living with a disability. Please look at the photo below. What you are looking at is a parking area at a hotel and retail store in Cody, Wyoming. Note that there are two “ADA” parking spaces. In other words, parking spaces that are intended to be accessible. The retail store is in the background. The hotel is behind the camera. What’s wrong?

HINT: A lot!

ADA Parking Area in Cody Wyoming

For starters, where are the access aisles? Neither of the two parking spaces intended to be accessible has a marked access aisle that is at least 5 feet wide for the full length of the parking space. Every accessible parking space should have an access aisle. 2010 ADA Standard 502.2, [Parking Spaces] Vehicle Spaces, states, “Car parking spaces shall be 96 inches (2440 mm) wide minimum and van parking spaces shall be 132 inches (3350 mm) wide minimum, shall be marked to define the width, and shall have an adjacent access aisle complying with [Standard] 502.3.” The diagram below is representative of an ADA access aisle and an accessible parking space.

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ADA Compliant Accessible Parking Space and Access Aisle

So having a 5 feet wide access aisle that runs the full length of the accessible parking space, for every accessible parking space, is not an option. It’s required.

2010 ADA Standard 502.3, Access Aisle, states, “Access aisles serving parking spaces shall comply with [Standard] 502.3. Access aisles shall adjoin an accessible route. Two parking spaces shall be permitted to share a common access aisle.”

Cody WY ADA Parking Signage Too Short

And what’s going on with that signage for the ADA parking spaces? The space closest to the camera does not have a sign, and the other space has a very short sign [yellow arrow] standing about 30 inches above the level of the parking surface to the bottom of the sign. See the photo on the left.

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ADA Parking Signage Graphic



2010 ADA Standard 502.6, [Parking] Identification, states, “Parking space identification signs shall include the International Symbol of Accessibility complying with [Standard] 703.7.2.1. Signs identifying van parking spaces shall contain the designation “van accessible.” Signs shall be 60 inches (1525 mm) minimum above the finish floor or ground surface measured to the bottom of the sign.” The graphic on the right is representative. And each accessible parking space should have its own sign. Two ADA parking spaces should not share a vertical sign.

Also, neither one of these two parking spaces intended to be accessible is designed, installed, or marked as van accessible. At least one should be van accessible.

Finally, these signs are not at the shortest distance to the front public entrance of the store. See the photo below. There are 4 parking spaces in front of the store, but none are designed or installed as ADA compliant.

Commercial Store Parking in Cody, WY, but no ADA Parking

2010 ADA Standard 208.3.1, [Parking, Location] General, states, “Parking spaces complying with 502 that serve a particular building or facility shall be located on the shortest accessible route from parking to an entrance complying with 206.4. Where parking serves more than one accessible entrance, parking spaces complying with 502 shall be dispersed and located on the shortest accessible route to the accessible entrances.”

SUMMARY: So there is a lot wrong with this parking area intended to be accessible. These violations of the ADA discriminate against individuals living with a disability. What they could/should have done here is install one accessible space in front of the store, and another near the entrance to the hotel. At least one of these spaces, and preferably both, should be van accessible. Each accessible parking space should connect to an accessible route to the front/main pedestrian entrances.

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If you observe a facility that is not ADA compliant and you would like to know how to proceed, please see the link at What To Do When A Building Is Not ADA Compliant or Accessible.

ADA Inspections Nationwide, LLC, offers ADA/ABA/FHA accessibility compliance inspections for buildings and facilities, as applicable to the different laws, and expert witness services with respect to ADA/ABA/FHA laws for building owners, tenants and managers. Also, ADAIN offers consulting for home modifications as a CAPS consultant for people wishing to age in place in their homes. For a complete list of services please see ADAIN Services.

Thank you.