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Advocates raise concerns over potential loss of handicap spaces in North Park

San Diego Union-Tribune - 8/15/2019

Aug. 15--SAN DIEGO -- As the city moves forward with a project that would replace hundreds of parking spaces with bike lanes in North Park, disability rights activists are concerned how it will impact handicap parking in the neighborhood.

The "30th Street Protected Bikeways Mobility Project" calls for the replacement of 420 parking spots with a fully protected bike way along 30th Street from Howard Avenue to Juniper Street. City staff will also consider the feasibility of extending the project to Adams Avenue.

Supporters of the project see this as an opportunity for the city to improve safety for cyclists, increase mobility, and meet its Climate Action Plan and Vision Zero goals.

Some residents, business and property owners in the neighborhood, however, have raised concerns about the impact that the project could have on the community as a result of the loss of parking.

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Disability rights activist are keeping a close watch on the final design to ensure that the city takes into consideration the needs of individuals with disabilities.

Currently, there are 16 disabled parking spaces down 30th Street from Adams Avenue to Juniper Street.

Christina Chadwick, senior press secretary for the mayor's office, said there are at least 21 additional handicap parking spaces as a result of a recent parallel-to-angled parking conversion in the neighborhood. Most of the new parking spots are angled and a few are parallel spots.

"As city staff continues to refine the design, we are taking into consideration the feedback we have received from individuals and organizations who have shared both support and concern regarding the project," Chadwick wrote in an email. "Building a safe network of protected bikeways remains a priority for the mayor, and for many businesses of the North Park community as well."

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Disabled activist Kent Rodricks, who suffers from a bone disease, said that if the city plans to replace the parking lost on 30th Street on adjacent streets, it is still going to have an impact on disabled San Diegans.

He said the problem with adjacent parking is that it can still be difficult for people with disabilities to walk longer distances.

Rodricks said it often feels as if disabled individuals don't get considered in such projects.

"We hear mobility, mobility all the time, what about disabled mobility?" Rodricks asked. "It's simply not on anybody's radar."

Rodricks said he would love to ride a bike and walk all over the city, but that's not a reality for him and hundreds of other individuals. His car is his main source of transportation and while he can often find disabled parking spaces or metered parking close to the businesses he chooses to visit, this plan would make it harder for him.

Chadwick said that handicap parking regulations were studied and city planners are familiar with American with Disability Act requirements.

Disability rights activist Alex Montoya said the project impacts various groups of people and the finalization of the project will involve compromise from people with disabilities, regular drivers and cyclist or scooter riders.

"There are not going to be easy solutions," said Montoya, a triple amputee.

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He said it is incumbent upon the mayor to make sure that issues of mobility, like with the bike lanes or scooters, can coexist with the concerns of people with disabilities.

Yesterday, a group known as Save 30th Street Parking filed a lawsuit against the city alleging the project does not comply with the California Environmental Quality Act, the North Park Community Plan, the city's Bicycle Master Plan and General Plan.

Handicap parking concerns were not included in the lawsuit.

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