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Article published July 26,
2002
Meters for
disabled in place downtown
The Downtown Toledo Parking Authority has installed 40
parking meters for the disabled around the downtown area.
Supported on
decorative blue poles and marked with the white universal disabled symbol, the
meters are intended to increase the visibility of disabled parking
spaces.
"People have been saying they’ll back into [a disabled space] and
only then discover the blue [disabled] sign - we felt this would be more
user-friendly," said Clayton Johnston, president of the Downtown Toledo Parking
Authority. "With a lot of visitors coming to the city, especially with the new
ballpark, people want access to metered parking, and we wanted to improve
visibility."
The electronic meters accept the new U.S. dollar coin,
quarters, dimes, and nickels, as well as the cashless "SmartKey" available from
the Downtown Toledo Parking Authority. The proper disabled vehicle permit must
be displayed when parking in these restricted spaces.
Most of the meters
are located at the ends of parking zones close to sidewalk ramps. The 40 meters
surpass the number the city is required to install based on the parking
regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act.