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Posted on Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 2:02 p.m.

Decision to change handicapped parking for U-M football 'shameful'

By Letters to the Editor

Saturday was a shameful day U-M and the Ann Arbor public schools. After more than 20 years, handicapped parking was moved almost an entire block further away to accommodate new $80 parking for able-bodied people. The closest paved parking at Pioneer was always reserved for the handicapped. It was close, paved and easy to maneuver. No one complained.

The new parking moves us up a hill. To avoid the hill and find a sidewalk you have to make a very long trip around the perimeter of the lot. I called the Deputy Superintendent Robert Allen's office and was told this is much better because of that sidewalk.

Really? A sidewalk that was so far away from me I could not even see it? Does distance matter? No, the real reason is they wanted to make more money by charging $80 for our old lot. It must be a good spot if they think it is worth $80. There were a lot of angry handicap people there who vowed to be heard. How dare they treat us this way for what is an obvious money grab!

Deborah Noble

Ypsilanti

Comments

a2citizen

Sun, Sep 16, 2012 : 4:36 p.m.

What were you paying for the handicapped spots?

a2citizen

Sun, Sep 23, 2012 : 6:19 p.m.

Thank you for the info, Deborah. If they can get $80 then maybe it should be first choice to the handicapped for $80. You would get your spot and the city would get their profit.

A2Blue

Wed, Sep 19, 2012 : 4:01 p.m.

I am the letter writer. It used to be $20 and has gone up $10 per year for 3 years. The major point is that the handicapped parking was moved for money and no consideration to those who are indeed handicapped. UM was very gracious and offered a personal solution for me but this is about all handicapped persons. After reading some of these responses I see why it is what it is. I would hope that some of you ignorant "Folk" would one day walk in the shoes of a handicapped person. Ignorance is alive! For the person more concerned with grammar...get a life.

Suzanne

Sat, Sep 15, 2012 : 1:29 p.m.

What are they thinking? And we wonder why our children have no respect!

StopCrying

Fri, Sep 14, 2012 : 2:48 p.m.

So my comment about offering a golf cart shuttle back and forth was deleted why?

StopCrying

Fri, Sep 14, 2012 : 3:13 p.m.

10-4 big daddy

Kyle Mattson

Fri, Sep 14, 2012 : 3:09 p.m.

Hi SC- I've restored your comment if you ever have future questions regarding a post please direct;y it to the moderation guidelines thread or to us directly at moderator@annarbor.com

bobslowson

Fri, Sep 14, 2012 : 2:57 p.m.

That actually sounds like a viable plan!

Billy Bob Schwartz

Fri, Sep 14, 2012 : 2:26 p.m.

I just love the sensitivity here. An elderly man who moves very slowly and painfully with his walker can just hike an extra block so the rich folk can save a few (for them) easy steps. Disgusting.

Sparty

Fri, Sep 14, 2012 : 6:02 p.m.

AMEN!

Kai Petainen

Fri, Sep 14, 2012 : 1:26 a.m.

this is disturbing news. not cool. not cool at all.

trespass

Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 10:38 p.m.

Make a call to Mark Bernstein who is running for Regent. He sued UM for not having adequate handicap seating after the renovations of the football stadium. Perhaps he would help.

Billy

Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 9:38 p.m.

I almost don't believe this. No.....I don't believe this. This is NOT a believable thing.

mg0blue

Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 8:11 p.m.

From where I'm picturing that the old Handicapped parking was, and depending on where your seats were located in the stadium, you were still having to walk the equivalent of several blocks from the time that you parked your car at the stadium and when you returned to your car at the end of the game. It was even stated in the article that the distance isn't a problem. So, in other words, we should just remove the "handicapped" argument out of this and just state what this opinion piece is really about, "It's not fair that I don't have my premium parking space anymore that I've had for 20 years".

GoNavy

Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 7:57 p.m.

I'm not sure that, when providing handicapped access, the "best" spots must be reserved. Access was provided; it's simply more onerous now. More onerous for you, less onerous for somebody else.

Thaddeus

Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 8:10 p.m.

The whole idea of handicapped parking is access and inclusion. There are a lot of people who qualify for tags that allow the legal use of such handicapped parking. For a great number of these people, mobility at any distance is trying and difficult to say the least. Another block is not a big deal for, and often a good stretch for most abled body people. But for someone with major impairments, another block can easily be the difference to determine whether they come to an event/ business or not....

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 8:06 p.m.

" More onerous for folks who quailfy for a handicap parking spot, less onerous for somebody who doesn't.

Halter

Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 7:37 p.m.

Really, isn't this just a school board problem, not a UM thing? If you park in a UM lot and pay the price you can be a lot closer. But frankly, the school board can do what they want independent of UM.

xmo

Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 7:23 p.m.

Watch it on TV and this issue goes away!

Sparty

Fri, Sep 14, 2012 : 12:16 p.m.

Oh, so clever. It's so kind that the community can't accommodate the handicapped, perhaps they should just be discarded with the trash? Seniors as well?

pvitaly

Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 7:20 p.m.

"...handicapped parking was moved almost an entire block further away to accommodate new..." Actually, the word is 'farther' not 'further.'

cinnabar7071

Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 7:08 p.m.

I know how they feel, I was priced out of Michigan Football years ago. But then again, if they can afford the ticket prices, $80 for a good parking spot shouldn't be a problem.

treetowncartel

Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 7:06 p.m.

I thought the term handicap was removed from all state statutes and related material years ago?

Macabre Sunset

Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 7:03 p.m.

Seems odd that handicapped people must be protected from sarcasm, as well.

jcj

Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 7 p.m.

If this were done by any other private group the Regents,School board and City hall would be crying the loudest! But since the powers that be THINK they know better than everyone else not a whimper will be heard from them.

Greg

Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 6:59 p.m.

Sadly, college football is now a million dollar business, not a friendly sport any more.

StopCrying

Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 6:36 p.m.

Sit down, where do you think you are at...a football game?!?! Seriously tho, maybe they should just run a golf cart back and forth..problem solved.

arborani

Sat, Sep 15, 2012 : 3:57 a.m.

Or goes completely over the head.

StopCrying

Fri, Sep 14, 2012 : 3:12 p.m.

I don't understand your comparison to a logical answer such as someone driving a golf cart back and forth versus your answer "a zip line" that completely lacks any logic.

arborani

Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 6:43 p.m.

Yeah, sure, or maybe a zip line?

Tom Todd

Thu, Sep 13, 2012 : 6:29 p.m.

it's all about the almighty dollar,all hail capitalism,to hell with the rest.