Respect the Space campaign to educate the public on accessible parking

Some people might be breaking the rules when it comes to how they park around town without realizing they are doing anything wrong.

That’s according to Ward 6 Councillor Ann-Marie Noyes, council’s representative on the town’s accessibility advisory committee, which recently launched its Respect the Space campaign, an effort to raise awareness about the proper use of accessible parking spaces.

The campaign was launched on July 12 at Ridgefest in an effort to educate the public on how to park in and around spots designated for people with disabilities.

“I think there’s better compliance than there has been in the past,” Noyes told Fort Erie Radio in an interview.

As part of the town’s multi-year accessibility plan, the committee identified the need to talk with the public more about this issue, including keeping adjacent hatch-marked areas clear so individuals with disabilities can safely enter and exit their vehicles.

Noyes said this part of the campaign is meant to remind residents that those with mobility devices need room to load them in and out of their vehicles.

During public consultations for the plan, residents also voiced concerns about blocked sidewalks, which pose barriers to everyone using them.

“I don’t think people are doing it intentionally,” said Noyes, noting that users of wheelchairs and walkers are affected when people park over a sidewalk.

“A good part of this is educating people,” she said.

A news release from the town about the campaign says the committee will use social media to share key messages about respecting accessible parking spaces and access aisles, avoiding assumptions about those who use them, and understanding how blocked sidewalks create unsafe conditions for pedestrians.

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