Wheelchair users attending Penn State University football games are upset that the ADA parking has been moved over two miles away — the lot furthest from the stadium — due to campus construction projects. Under the new system, fans who need accessible parking are directed to Innovation Park, where 11 shuttles are designated to ferry them to and from Beaver Stadium. Only five of those shuttles — most of which are just yellow school buses — are lift-equipped.

Lisa Watts and her husband Randy Flanagan, who uses a scooter, are among the Nittany Lion fans who arrived at Innovation Park to be shuttled to the stadium. “There were several wheelchair patrons waiting and they indicated that each bus could only take three wheelchair users at a time,” says Watts, a two-time Penn State alumna.

They say their trip was treacherous because the driver didn’t properly restrain the passengers using wheelchairs. “An elderly woman fell backwards in her wheelchair and hit her head on a plastic guard,” says Watts. Flanagan yelled several times for the driver to stop and help the fallen passenger. They barely made it in time for kick-off and after the game Flanagan decided to wheel along a busy highway to get back to his vehicle in order to avoid taking another shuttle.

According to Jeff Nelson, Penn State athletic department spokesman, several changes are planned for the remaining games. “We’ve upgraded some of the shuttle vehicles in terms of having enhanced accessibility for fans with ADA needs,” he says. Nelson didn’t have exact numbers on how many buses are equipped with lifts but says the university has increased the number of shuttles overall. Also the university has added 235 ADA parking spaces that are closer to Beaver Stadium.

But these spaces appear to be reserved for Nittany Lion Club members who have accrued the most “points,” which are “earned” by donating to the club or by being a member of the club for a certain amount of years. All season ticket holders are club members.