Disability Parking Restriction in Minneapolis

by Margot Imdieke Cross

The Transportation and Public Works Committee of the Minneapolis City Council voted on April 22 to officially start the four-hour parking restriction on all one-, two- and four-hour meters throughout Minneapolis on July 8, 2003. The restriction would be in effect during the regular hours of enforcement. After four hours, the vehicle would have to be moved or risk a ticket.

Initially city representatives indicated the four-hour restriction would be in the downtown core only, where there are several municipal parking ramps (individuals with disabilities will be able to obtain monthly parking contracts at a 50 percent reduction of the regular fee). For reasons unknown, Minneapolis has reversed its position and has decided that the restriction will be citywide. The critical question: Where will people with disabilities park their vehicles when there is no off-street parking or a municipal lot?

The city also plans to put a decal on each meter where the restriction applies; six- and eight-hour meters will not be marked in this way. Even so, one argument representatives have cited in support of implementing the restriction citywide is that persons with disabilities will be confused as to what meters are covered.

Although the Minneapolis Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities testified against the four-hour restriction and its subsequent citywide application, officials insist on pushing forward. If you are a resident of or visitor to Minneapolis who will be adversely affected by this restriction, please contact the mayor's office (612-673-2100) and the city council member (612-673-2200) of the area you reside in or plan to visit. (The general TTY number is 612-673-3220.) Those who are making this decision need to hear from people with disabilities whose lives will be impacted.

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Last updated on May 10, 2003
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