Inaccessible Tulsa

Mother Road Market, 1124 S Lewis Ave, Tulsa, OK

We went back with our digital level on Monday (closed) to measure the ramp from the front parking lot. The maximum slope we measured is 6.05 degrees towards the outside of the ramp and 5.75 degrees at the same spot of the ramp but towards the interior. (See photos.)

The maximum slope for an ADA-compliant ramp is 4.8 degrees, which corresponds to a ratio of 1:12 or 8.33%. A 6.05-degree slope is roughly 26% steeper in terms of its incline.

The ramp is what it is, and it’s likely not going anywhere. But to literally direct visitors to it with wheelchair signs in “handicap blue” and the word “ACCESS”…

Oh, and by the way, there are only two marked accessible spaces in the front lot, not three or four. Two. (See photos.)

How could Mother Road Market address this? They could start by creating accessible parking spaces in the back lot on the paved area (two standard and one van accessible with proper access aisles). Add an automatic door opener to the outside door that takes wheelchair users in through the patio to the interior ramp. We have not measured its slope (closed Monday) but believe it is less steep. (Sure hope so! We walked it previously.) And add all the necessary vertical signage to all accessible parking spaces.

Maybe by adding three spaces in the back they could eliminate some or all of the ones in the front lot? That lot will not accommodate a wheelchair-accessible van and requires mobility device users to cross traffic to reach a too-steep ramp.

Other than dreaming that something will be done about this, or worrying that nothing will, what is the next course of action?

Schusterman-Benson Library, 3333 E 32nd Pl, Tulsa, OK

Parking at this library is different than most. There is a lot on the north side of the building that is in closest proximity to the back entrance. The front parking is comprised of three accessible parking spaces: two standard accessible spaces and one van accessible. And then there is a small auxiliary lot across the street where the sign for remote WiFi is located.

Let’s first talk about the north side parking at the back entrance.

There are two accessible spaces that share a single access aisle. ✔️

The accessible spaces are nearest the back entrance and path of travel to a working automatic door. ✔️

Vertical signage is present. ✔️

There is no van accessible designated
space with proper signage. ➖

The access striping is not ADA compliant. ➖

These are easier fixes than many we have seen to achieve compliance. We’ll post about the front entrance parking next.

Schusterman-Benson Library, 3333 E 32nd Pl, Tulsa, OK

We will be posting soon about the parking at this library but went back one more time just to take this pic. This sign and adjacent parking lot caught our attention. It is another way to define “accessibility.”

In an effort to make internet content more accessible to individuals with disabilities, the ADA now covers the accessibility of websites through their Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). And libraries provide WiFi connectivity to those without it.

This library parking lot takes it one step further. Need connectivity? You don’t even have to leave your car.

For individuals with disabilities and their caregivers, this provides one less transfer, one less sidewalk to cross, and one less heavy door to open. Just sit in your car and connect to WiFi.

Were you aware of this service? Is this offered at other Tulsa City-County Libraries?

Mother Road Market, 1124 S Lewis Ave, Tulsa, OK

Now let’s talk about the accessible parking spaces in the west/back parking lot.

There are none.

Straight from the regs: “Where parking serves multiple entrances to a facility, accessible spaces must be dispersed among accessible entrances. (If the number of accessible entrances exceeds the number of accessible spaces, additional accessible spaces are not required). Accessible parking spaces must be located on the shortest accessible route to an accessible entrance, relative to other spaces in the same parking facility. A maximum travel distance is not specified in the Standards.”

Because the back lot is not striped, we couldn’t tell you with complete certainty how many overall spaces are present to determine the total number of required accessible spaces. Using Google Maps Street View from November 2024, and counting the number of concrete car stops, we counted 60 parking spaces in back. Add that to the 12 in the front lot for a total of approximately 72 parking spaces.

51-75 total spaces requires 3 accessible parking spaces: 2 standard and 1 van accessible. Of the available accessible parking spaces, there is no van accessible space with the required access aisle.

Mother Road Market, 1124 S Lewis Ave, Tulsa, OK

We very much appreciate the accessibility experiences shared on our first post about Mother Road Market. The remarks support what we found.

Remember the claim: “Mother Road Market is fully wheelchair accessible, featuring an accessible entrance with an adjacent ramp, a designated parking lot, and accessible restrooms.”

In this post we are going to discuss parking in the small lot on Lewis. Is this the “designated parking lot” that is referred to?

There are a total of 12 spaces in the Lewis lot. Yes, there are accessible parking spaces but none have the required vertical signage. The two accessible spaces that are farthest north in the lot share one access aisle.

From the aerial photo there appears to be two more accessible spaces that are farthest south in the lot. On the ground, we are only sure of one. Because there is no required vertical signage, no required access aisle, and no designated van accessible space, it is difficult to tell. Even looking underneath a parked vehicle for the ISA symbol, we could only verify one of the two in the aerial photo.

To park in this lot with a full-sized or accessible van would be very difficult. In fact, mobility device users needing accessibility might feel unsafe to park in this lot, unloading and loading, and traversing to and from the designated accessible ramp. Parking is a tight squeeze, backing up to leave is challenging, and crossing over potential oncoming traffic feels unsafe.

We neglected to measure the slope of the ramp but will return to do so. Mother Road Market had not yet opened when we were there, so we also need to check the entry door when we return.

Mother Road Market, 1124 S Lewis Ave, Tulsa, OK

When we were driving yesterday north on Lewis to Kendall-Whittier Library, we drove right by Mother Road Market. We saw some things that looked problematic and so, on our way south, we pulled into the small lot that faces Lewis before heading home. Yep, ADA violations. We went back this morning to check out the back parking lot. More ADA violations.

The patio dining area happened to open up a little before 11:00 a.m., so we popped in there to look around. Still processing that. We had to save the inside for another day.

Since we’ve been focusing our attention on Title II violations (local and state government), why did we look at Mother Road Market (Title III)? Because this is what is found on the internet:

“Mother Road Market is fully wheelchair accessible, featuring an accessible entrance with an adjacent ramp, a designated parking lot, and accessible restrooms.”

“Fully wheelchair accessible” is an all-encompassing, bold proclamation. But is it really fully wheelchair accessible?

Before we start posting pics, does anyone have any “accessibility stories” about Mother Road Market, including parking or patio dining?

Kendall-Whittier Library, 21 S Lewis Ave, Tulsa, OK

We visited another library today. The parking lot has 30 parking spaces, two of those accessible parking spaces. There is vertical signage for only one of the accessible parking spaces, and there is no signage for “van accessible.”

In comparison to other Tulsa City-County libraries with ADA parking lot violations, this signage remedy is an easier fix.

♿️ UPDATE ♿️
Bronson Brookside Library, 4607 S Madison Pl, Tulsa, OK

Great news!

We posted this pic yesterday about the placement of the trash can serving as an obstruction to the automatic door opening plate. We are happy to report that a follower, Randi Gail, has informed us that the trash can has already been moved!

Let’s continue putting our needs out there. The universe (in this case, the Tulsa City-County Library) is responding!

Bronson Brookside Library, 4607 S Madison Pl, Tulsa, OK

This is a new library that opened October 2025. Surely this parking lot is ADA-compliant.

The total number of parking spaces in the lot is 74, requiring a minimum of three accessible parking spaces. One of the three must be van accessible. Two standard accessible spaces can share a 60” wide access aisle, and the van accessible space’s access aisle must be 96” wide if the space is 96” wide, or 60” wide if the space is 132” wide.

There are 4 accessible spaces present, 3 standard and one van accessible, all with proper vertical signage including the necessary “van accessible” sign. Access aisles are sized appropriately and adjacent to accessible routes.

We have found our first Tulsa City-County Library parking lot that exemplifies ADA compliance!

BUT (isn’t there always a “but”?)…we decided to check out the presence of working automatic doors. They were present and working…except the opening plate on the east side door is obstructed by a trash can. 😔

Move the trash can away from the automatic door opening plate and all is copacetic!

Don’t forget: We are currently only checking the library parking lots and entrances. There may come a time when we check interiors and bathrooms, but first we need to be able to park, safely unload and enter the library. 📚