I use a wheelchair. Last week, I went to a movie at the Plaza Cinema Theaters in downtown Oxnard. The inside of the multiplex is very wheelchair friendly. Each theater has several spaces in prime seating areas for wheelchair users. And the bathrooms have extra wide doors and stalls for wheelchair movie-goers.
But, surrounding the multiplex, there are three sides of curbs with several parking spaces on each of the sides. Some of those spaces are for two-hour parking only. Some of those spaces are time-unlimited spaces open to all drivers. And only one space is devoted to handicapped drivers. This is not right, to say the least.
With the Plaza Cinema’s theater parking structure located more than a block away, it’s not likely many wheelchair users will find it easy to park there, then wheel themselves all that way to the theater, especially during bad weather or nighttime hours.
The Roxy Multiplex in Camarillo, on the other hand, has the right idea. Its ticket office is located on the parking lot side of the multiplex, just a few feet from the curb. And along that curb, also just a few feet from the ticket office, are some eight or nine prime parking spaces reserved for handicapped drivers, with each space having its own wheelchair ramp.
I’ve been to the Roxy several times in the past several weeks, and I’ve noticed that many of those handicapped parking spaces were in use when I went. The Roxy planners were clear thinkers regarding handicapped movie-goers.
I wonder about the Plaza Cinema planners, though. I’ll bet none of them uses a wheelchair.
— James Frank Maria, Oxnard
wellI dont have anything to add to , about the oxnared plaza theater,but I do have to say this I also Im on a wheel chair,I am disappointed on the planning of the parking lot structure and surrounding parking spaces for us handicap persons,first its unsafe not enough H.C. parking stalls in front of the plaza stores and unsafe to cross,the city is in danger of a major law suit.I personally suggest them in the planning division to scoipe it out put your selfs in our shoe.s