With help from volunteers, the city is making sure people with disabilities can find places to park at Bellevue establishments. The volunteers document businesses missing signage or parking stalls for motorists with disabilities, and the city follows up with letters to the businesses.

"The City of Bellevue is now a friendlier place for people with disabilities," Traffic Lt. Mike Shovlin said of the initiative, which has identified approximately 100 businesses in need of corrective action, and has resulted in 36 businesses so far installing new signage or adding a parking spot.

Volunteers who issue parking tickets for the Police Department suggested the idea after noticing that many businesses were not providing the required number of disabled stalls or not marking them well enough. The department approved a plan for them to document violations with photographs and turn them into the city.

Violators received information packets from the police, informing them of the proper signage and space requirements. Code compliance officers then contacted businesses if they had moved, eliminated or modified disabled parking stalls without obtaining the necessary permits.
  
Residents who see a problem with the handicapped parking at an establishment can file a traffic service request with the city.

Return to News Release Index