Analyzing the Effects of Different Signs to Increase the Availability of Van Designated Accessible Parking Spaces

Often designated accessible designated “van” parking spaces are occupied by non-ramp equipped vans or other regular cars with accessible parking permits. This causes inconvenience, safety concerns, and reduced availability of parking spaces for ramp-equipped vans. A focus group study was conducted with ramp-equipped van drivers at first to validate if this was a problem worth addressing. To learn more about this issue, an empirical study was conducted to examine a differential comparison between the standard van sign versus an intervention sign (pictorial representation of a ramp-equipped van) to determine which is more effective to signal drivers with accessible parking permits—but that do not have ramp equipped vans to park in regular accessible spaces that do not have a “van” designation.  A multiple baseline across settings design was used to compare drivers’ parking response of the standard sign versus the intervention sign conditions. Observations were conducted in each site by two independent observers using an ABAB design (baseline, intervention, baseline, reversal to intervention and follow up). The results showed that non-lift equipped vehicles were less likely to park in the “van” designated accessible parking space when the intervention sign was present versus the standard “van” sign. Implications of these research findings will be presented regarding potential changes in state and national accessible parking regulations.