A new ordinance passed the New Orleans City Council yesterday (Thursday, October 2, 2014). It allows for any car with a license plate, hang tag or special parking card “impaired mobility” designation to park free in metered spaces for up to 3 hours. The vehicles have to be transporting the person with disabilities at the time to qualify.
Many new meters have been installed downtown, which could not be reached by many in wheelchairs. In some cases, it is difficult to navigate the curb to sidewalk transition to get to the meter, especially in areas that don’t have wheelchair accessible curb cuts. In other cases with new centralized, electronic meters, the meter is so tall or installed in such a way that it cannot be reached at all by many in wheelchairs.
The New Orleans City Council voted 6-0 in favor of the new metered parking law. The ordinance doesn’t allow parking in a fire lane or in areas where a car might be a traffic hazard.
