Bill Chamberlin drives to Clarkston Village Bake Shop once or twice a week for a cup of coffee and a doughnut. But finding a handicap parking spot close enough is a challenge.
‘I’m sure these store owners don’t want to patronize us, but let’s face it, the senior citizen and handicapped person is a lost citizen,” he said. ‘They really are.?
Chamberlin, who was permanently injured in 1987, doesn’t think there is enough handicap parking on the east side of M-15. If he parks on the west side and tries to cross the road, he can’t make it in time.
‘If I start walking once that light says I can walk, I’m only approximately half way across when it stops and traffic starts heading the other direction,? he said. ‘If they’re not aware, as many people are not when they’re driving, then I’m in the intersection and get killed.?
Chamberlin suffered a spinal injury when he fell on the job as a project manager for Toyota. Ever since, he has to walk with ‘baby steps.?
‘I tell my grandchildren, I came into this world with baby steps and I am leaving with baby steps,? he said.
Chamberlin talked to city officials, but said he was told to contact his state representative.
‘Why do I have to do it, when (city government) has a lot more pull than I have,? he said.
Clarkston Police Chief Dale LaCroix told him he would check with Clarkston City Council about getting a couple handicap spots on Washington Street next to Olde Village Caf?.
‘Basically, it came down to it’s not wide enough to put a regulation parking place in or the slope of the ground is not conducive,” said LaCroix. ‘They (American Disability Act) have regulations of how much slope can be on the ground and none of the places owned by the city have the right-of-way fit.?
Chamberlin said an ideal handicap parking spot would be the last parking spot right in front of Olde Village Caf?.
‘You don’t have to go out any farther into the street,” he said. ‘All they need is a cut in the curb.?
LaCroix and City Manager Dennis Ritter checked into it, and said nothing could be done along M-15 because it’s a state road. None of the parking spots are wide enough anyway, according to ADA regulations.
‘It would bulge right out into the thru lane,? said Ritter.
If the city doesn’t follow guidelines and someone is hit, the city would be liable, LaCroix said.
‘I understand that, but what’s a few dollars compared to somebody’s life,? asked Chamberlin. ‘That’s not worth it. I said (to LaCroix) ‘well I suggest you go and buy yourself a big shovel and big bucket and when I get killed in the intersection, you can come out and shovel me up.?
Ritter said the city will keep their eyes open for possibilities.
‘Obviously, we’re sympathetic to the request, that’s for sure,? he said. ‘If an opportunity comes along, we want to take advantage of it, (but) I don’t know when that will be.?
The 48-foot cross walk across M-15 provides 34-36 seconds for pedestrians to get across before the light changes. Deirdre O. Thompson, pedestrian and bicycle safety engineer with the Michigan Department of Transportation, said she would check with Oakland Transportation Center and MDOT to see if it can be made longer.