New traffic sign unveiled for disabled parking at Laugardalslaug Pool

Ritstjórn
Mayor Einar Þorsteinsson, Alma Ýr Ingólfsdóttir, ÖBÍ chair, and Einar Pálsson, director of the Road Administration's road services department.
Mayor Einar Þorsteinsson, Alma Ýr Ingólfsdóttir, ÖBÍ chair, and Einar Pálsson, director of the Road Administration's road services department.

ÖBÍ disability rights organization and the Road Administration unveiled a new traffic sign for disabled parking at Laugardalslaug Pool with the Mayor.

The new sign, which took effect in a regulation last March, is specifically for larger disabled parking spaces used by lift-equipped vehicles. ÖBÍ requested its implementation. This traffic sign is not used anywhere else in the world.

Alma Ýr Ingólfsdóttir, chair of ÖBÍ, spoke about the sign's importance and unveiled it with Mayor Einar Þorsteinsson. The Mayor gave a brief speech before Bergur Þorri Benjamínsson, chair of ÖBÍ's accessibility group, parked in the newly marked space for the first time.

Einar Pálsson, director of the Road Administration's road services department, and ÖBÍ's accessibility group joined them at the unveiling.

"The accessibility group has been fighting for this since 2018. I know for certain that this is the only sign of its kind in the world. It's specifically for spaces used by those with large, lift-equipped vehicles. We're very happy to see this implemented," said Alma Ýr, chair of ÖBÍ, at the unveiling.

Mayor Einar Þorsteinsson expressed gratitude. "I'm thankful these issues are progressing step by step. The City recently hired a dedicated accessibility officer, a position that works across all City operations and is crucial. I'm grateful for our cooperation with strong disability rights organizations that bring ideas and keep us focused. Including by having this sign designed."

Bergur Þorri, first to park in the newly marked space, said this was significant. "It's important to differentiate spaces so those with large, lift-equipped vehicles can reliably access the largest spaces. It also helps prevent space sharing, where more than one car parks in the same space. This is part of getting that message across,” said Bergur Þorri. Otherwise, people risk being unable to enter or exit their vehicles.

"When it was time to review the regulation following new traffic laws, it was a welcome opportunity to revise the entire regulation and incorporate ÖBÍ's requests," said Einar Pálsson, director of the Road Administration's road services department.