OPINION: Fees are not accessible parking for all
These signs are all over campus for students, staff, and vistors that are in need of parking assitance.
I know I may seem like a woman who just complains about parking. However, I want to talk about another parking situation that I have experienced on gameday for the Wichita State men’s basketball team.
Last semester me and one of my good friends that I work with pulled up to find media parking.The officer told us where it was and then proceeded to point to my placard and say, “You aren’t actually disabled right?”
I told him that even though that night I felt ok,I am disabled.. He rolled his eyes at the response of a young woman who on the outside appears to be fine. Of course I was annoyed by his comment but I decided to let it go due to feeling “decent” that night.
I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis a little over two years ago. I experience symptoms every day but I can push past them fairly well. Some days I experience flare ups that make it extremely painful and difficult to walk long distances. Because of this, I registered for a handicap placard.
However, this semester, I was planning to park up front in handicap parking for a game since my media parking permit isn’t in regular media parking. When I got ready to pull in a lady working the parking area told me it was ten dollars to park in handicap parking. I thought that was absolutely absurd.
This is discrimination against people with disabilities whether it is written in the law or not. This was extremely frustrating to me due to experiencing a flare up and on top of that being a broke college student who’s paycheck had not been processed yet.
I found out through research that this has been a regulation since 2018 for ADA parking on game days. Former Sunflower Sports Editor Evan Pflugradt wrote a story about the new policy and interviewed Wichita State Senior Associate Athletic Director Brad Pittman for the story. Pittman said at the time that basketball is an entertainment product, and that is why the charge for ADA parking was necessary. I highly disagree with this statement.
Yes, basketball is an entertainment product. However, handicap fans that cannot park for free like able bodied people is an embarrassment to Wichita State University.
As stated in Pflugradt’s article Pittman said “Is it fair that somebody donates $5,000/$10,000 to park there, and somebody can come up with a handicap permit and park for free?” Pittman said. “You can argue both sides of that coin.”
People do not get handicap parking to get ahead of the rest of the world. People with disabilities get parking permits because it is the only way they can successfully move and walk into an arena. However, this is not just an issue at Wichita State. It is occurring at several universities. The University of Kansas charges $25 for ADA parking currently according to Pflugradt’s article.
Wichita State needs to wake up and realize that making people with disabilities feel like an inconvenience is absurd. People with disabilities need to have free parking privileges at athletic events just like others who do not have a disability. Imagine someone who is really excited to attend a basketball game.Now imagine they can’t get to the game without needing a close up parking spot. They then get there and find out they have to pay. Therefore, getting into the game may be either extremely difficult or even impossible.
Trust me I do not live in a world where I think everything should be handed to me on a silver platter. I work hard for what I have, and I am not entitled to special privileges. I just want to be able to use my voice for those who cannot.
I want to make sure those with disabilities are on the same playing field to get an opportunity to enjoy and live life as much as possible with able bodied people.
Emmie Boese is starting her fourth year on The Sunflower's staff. Boese previously served as sports editor and opinion editor. Boese is majoring...
Bradley Altdoerffer • Nov 30, 2022 at 6:37 am
I’m sorry but whoever thought that charging the handicap/disabled people for parking is such a sickening thought in my head and should be ashamed. How can anybody in their right mind feel okay with making a profit off of disabled people. And what Pittman said is idiotic. Pittman said “Is it fair that somebody donates $5,000/$10,000 to park there, and somebody can come up with a handicap permit and park for free?” “You can argue both sides of that coin.” No you can not argue both sides of the coin Pittman. Those people chose to pay that cause they’re to lazy to walk the distance from across the street or other parking lots. Disabled/handicap people didn’t CHOOSE to be disabled and now you’re trying to make an extra buck off them. Unbelievable.
Johnny Stroud • Feb 2, 2022 at 9:57 am
You also have to pay to park in any handicap space on campus or get a ticket. I asked my State Representative about this and he said they just decided to stop complying with the state law. I never knew compliance with state statutes was optional, but I guess so. I also called the Attorney General, Derek Schmidt, and was told to go to a private attorney, he didn’t give advice to private citizens.
Gary Miskimon • Jan 30, 2022 at 4:50 pm
Handicap parking is a locational or geographic right under most laws/ordinances, not a financial perk or parking welfare. Being handicapped does not denote impoverishment.
Anonymous • Jun 20, 2022 at 11:32 pm
Please read the statute:
K.S.A. § 8-1,126. Parking privileges for persons with disability.
When a motor vehicle which bears a special license plate or placard issued pursuant to
K.S.A. 8-1,125, and amendments thereto, is being operated by or used for the transportation of a
person with a disability, such motor vehicle:
a) May be parked in any parking space, whether on public or private property, which is clearly
marked as being reserved for the use of persons with a disability or persons responsible for
the transportation of a person with a disability, except a parking space on private property
which is clearly marked as being reserved for the use of a specified person with a disability;
b) may be parked for a period of time not to exceed 24 hours in any parking zone which is
restricted as to the length of parking time permitted, except where stopping, standing or
parking is prohibited to all vehicles, where parking is reserved for special types of vehicles or
where parking would clearly present a traffic hazard; and
c) shall be exempt from any parking meter fees of the state or any city, county or other political
subdivision