Inaccessible Tulsa

Providing a slab of concrete next to a park bench for a wheelchair is a novel concept for the City of Tulsa, but not for Santa Fe! Look at the age of this concrete. Could it be thirty-six years old since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act?

Do better, Tulsa. ♿️

“RESERVED PARKING

PLATE or PLACARD REQUIRED

DO NOT BLOCK ACCESS AISLE

Mandatory Court Appearance
$250 to $500 FINE”

If we took handicapped parking as seriously as Santa Fe, New Mexico, attitudes and compliance just might change! ♿️

Some of us are familiar enough with the Americans with Disabilities Act to quickly recognize noncompliance. For others, we’ve found a helpful shortcut:

1. Take a photo.
2. Search on Google.
3. Search with Google Lens.
4. In the Ask About this Image blank, add the query, “Does this comply with the ADA?”

Here’s the answer for this image of the parking lot at Boots Adam Park, 6441 S 76th E Ave:

“Determining if this specific area complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires physical measurements, but several visual elements indicate potential non-compliance:

1. Surface Condition
The asphalt shows significant extensive cracking and unevenness.
* Stability: ADA standards require surfaces to be firm, stable, and slip-resistant. Large cracks can trap wheelchair wheels or create tripping hazards.
* Level Changes: Surfaces must not have vertical changes greater than 1/4 inch. The deep fissures visible likely exceed this threshold.
* Gap Width: Openings in the surface cannot exceed 1/2 inch in width.
2. Accessible Routes and Transitions
* Curb Transitions: There is no visible curb ramp or blended transition where the asphalt meets the raised concrete walkway in the background. ADA requires a smooth transition with a maximum slope of 1:12 between different levels.
* Running & Cross Slopes: For a path to be an "accessible route," the running slope (direction of travel) cannot exceed 5% (1:20), and the cross slope cannot exceed 2% (1:48). The visible incline toward the path may exceed these limits.
3. Parking Features
* Markings and Signage: This area lacks the required blue striping, access aisles (minimum 60-96 inches wide), and vertical signage with the International Symbol of Accessibility (ISA) mounted at least 60 inches high.
To confirm compliance, a professional would use a digital level to check slopes and a tape measure to verify path widths (minimum 36 inches). “

And then? Use your power. File a formal grievance with the City of Tulsa for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. In a future post, we will show you how. (No need for this location. We have already informed the City of Tulsa and remediation is apparently in the works.)

This is speaking to us today. Anybody else? ♿️

Bus Stop #7749, Harvard and 44th St (southbound)

Do you know someone using a mobility device and taking the bus to the Utica Park satellite clinic on Harvard? Good luck with that. They will be disembarking in grass. Or what if they have an appointment at the office building just to the north or south? That will be even more difficult with no sidewalks in either direction.

So far we have posted four bus stops on Harvard between 41st and I-44 and NOT ONE is ADA compliant, all with serious and multiple violations. And don’t forget, this is where an extensive city street project was wrapped up at the end of 2025.

Bus Stop #8495, Lewis Ave and 73rd St (northbound)

Even with the removal of the three obstructions (bench, trashcan and sign), this bus stop would still be out of compliance with the ADA. “ADA requirements for bus stops (Section 810.2) mandate a firm, stable, and slip-resistant surface, typically measuring at least 96 inches long (perpendicular to the curb) by 60 inches wide (parallel to the curb). These areas must connect to pedestrian paths, have a maximum 2% cross-slope, and allow for effective bus boarding/alighting.”

Bus Stop #8495, Lewis Ave and 73rd St (northbound)

Let’s first analyze this mess as a sidewalk.

Sidewalks must be a continuous, unobstructed clear width for passage. Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) typically require a minimum clear width of 48 inches for a pedestrian and wheelchair access route.

This sidewalk is obstructed by the bench, the trashcan, and even the bus stop sign that is embedded in the concrete within the sidewalk. This is not only an issue for individuals using mobility devices but also for individuals with visual impairments potentially sweeping the area with a cane to detect obstructions.

These obstructions have got to go. Hey, City of Tulsa, remove them from the sidewalk.

Bus Stop #8495, Lewis Ave and 73rd St (northbound)

Bus stop or sidewalk? Sidewalk or bus stop?

Both, and neither are ADA-compliant.

When we first noticed this stop, we thought “surely not.” We will break down all that is wrong (and dangerous), but want to give you the opportunity to think about it first. Comments?

Stay tuned!

Bus Stop #8479, Harvard and 41st St. (northbound)

This is our third ADA-noncompliant bus stop to share on Harvard between 41st and I-44. One might have thought that the extensive road project on Harvard that wrapped up in late 2025 would have addressed the inaccessible bus stops. Not so.

This stop nearest CVS and Sprouts is a potential high-frequency destination for individuals utilizing public transportation. But it, too, is inaccessible. Remember, “ADA requirements for bus stops (Section 810.2) mandate a firm, stable, and slip-resistant surface, typically measuring at least 96 inches long (perpendicular to the curb) by 60 inches wide (parallel to the curb). These areas must connect to pedestrian paths, have a maximum 2% cross-slope, and allow for effective bus boarding/alighting.”

Another failure.