How To Create a Safe Parking Lot Layout
Your parking lot is one of your company’s most important assets. Customers, tenants, and employees need the convenience and security of off-street parking, and so do vendors, service technicians, and emergency responders. Your parking lot needs to be visually attractive, well-maintained, and clean, but it also needs to be as safe as you can make it. However, you might not realize that your parking lot layout can help or harm the safety of your pavement.
How Does My Parking Lot Layout Impact Safety?
Safe parking lots have several things in common. The layout should not confuse or distract drivers to give their full attention to their driving. The layout should not cause bottlenecks or traffic jams, especially around parking lot entrances and exits. The layout should be intuitive, but it should also follow certain standard practices that drivers are already familiar with. Furthermore, safe parking lots comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and relevant building and fire codes.
Is It Possible to Change My Parking Lot Layout?
Adjusting the design and layout of parking lots is something that experienced pavement striping contractors do pretty often. Sometimes, it is necessary to change the layout to conform to changes in local codes. At other times, it may be beneficial to alter the layout to provide parking for more vehicles, eliminate congestion, or incorporate additional features.
What Is the First Thing Asphalt Striping Contractors Consider When Designing the Layout of a Parking Lot?
There is not a step-by-step procedure that all striping contractors follow. Instead, they consider several individual elements to plan the best layout for the specific parking lot.
1. How will people use your parking lot? For example, if you operate a grocery store, your customers will come and go more frequently than your employees. Turnover rates can be an essential consideration when deciding on the best parking angle.
2. Will trucks moving to and from your loading dock need to navigate through your parking lot? Providing a separate travel lane for truck traffic can help make your lot safer.
3. Are certain areas more prone to congestion or accidents? Your layout should incorporate more than just the stripes around the parking stalls. You may need to install or relocate parking lot signs, add speed bumps, or improve your lighting, for example, to make your lot safer.
4. Do you have special concerns? For example, do you need to increase the number of parking spaces available, incorporate additional cart corrals, or prevent drivers from parking in restricted areas?
What Are Some Important Elements of Parking Lot Design?
Many elements affect the efficiency and safety of a parking lot. The total number of vehicles that your parking lot serves, the type of vehicles that use your parking lot, and the overall layout of your property can all impact your layout and design.
1. The parking angle is a critical factor. Angled parking spaces are easier for drivers to enter and exit so that they can enhance safety. However, if you choose to angle your parking spaces, you will not provide as many spaces within the same square footage. Most parking lot striping contractors recommend angled spaces for lots with high turnover rates; if cars tend to remain parked for extended periods, however, perpendicular spaces may be more suitable.
2. The path that vehicles must follow to navigate your parking lot is also important. For example, if you have multiple buildings, your contractor will need to determine the easiest way for drivers to reach the building they want. If you only have one building with two entrances, your contractor will need to choose the best way to guide people to them.
3. Travel aisles may allow one-way or two-way traffic. Two-way aisles need to be a little wider than one-way aisles, but two-way aisles are typically the best choice if your parking spaces are perpendicular to the travel aisle.
4. Spaces along walls, buildings, and fences may provide parallel parking if you need to increase your capacity. However, your contractor will need to ensure that the pavement can withstand the additional use.
5. The size of the individual spaces also matters, but your contractor will need to match the size to their use. For example, supermarket customers frequently use carts to take their purchases to their cars, so you want to ensure that the spaces are wide enough to accommodate them. If you plan to install charging stations for electric vehicles, you should inform your asphalt striping contractor during the design and layout stage. The same is true if you want to reserve some spaces for compact cars or motorcycles.
6. The number of accessible spaces your business must provide is another critical element of your parking lot design. The ADA regulations are specific about the size, location, and number of accessible spaces, and they also require specific parking lot signs and pavement markings.
If you need to design a new parking lot and want to alter your existing layout, you can count on Alpha Paving for assistance. We are a well-respected, award-winning, highly experienced paving company serving the Texas Hill Country and beyond. Our services include parking lot design, asphalt sealcoating, parking lot striping, thermoplastic marking, asphalt repair, concrete repair, traffic signs, asphalt paving, concrete installation, speed bumps, street maintenance, asphalt milling, and road construction. We earned our exemplary reputation through consistency, professionalism, superior craftsmanship, integrity, and extraordinary customer service. You can submit our online form to request a free quote, or you can call 512-677-9001 to reach our office in Round Rock.