Quote:
Originally Posted by Lindy
Why are there so many of these specially reserved spaces, obviously a great many more than are actually needed? Is the Federal Government involved, perhaps?
Lindy
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Sorry to break up the discussion to answer the question...
As the above chart points out, there are requirements. But those 'requirements' are merely 'Guidelines'. The official answer to the question 'How many handicapped spaces are required?' is ....'enough'.
I own quite a few commercial properties and deal with this issue directly. The answer really is, 'enough'. Enough for who? Basically, if anyone ever calls the Federal government and it gets as far as some bureaucrat in charge of such things, they will make the property owner add more handicapped spaces. If you don't, you will be subject to pretty substantial fines which continue until you provide the spaces. That is why you see different amounts of spaces at different establishments. Wal-Mart/Sam's evidently knows their customer base includes a large number of disabled/handicapped customers. In order to provide 'enough' the first time, with no one ever complaining, they provide a large number of spaces.
The owner of the local watering hole in small town USA who knows all his customers by first name probably provides one regular sized space with a blue sign hung haphazardly on a stake. To him this is 'enough'. And until someone complains, it is.
I own a medical office building in a town with an average age of 60. That building has way more spaces, by number and percentage, than my retail building in an area of younger people.
How many? Enough so that no one complains.