Guide To An Effective Parking Lot Design
Guide To An Effective Parking Lot Design
Every business owner understands the benefits of a safe, well-maintained, visually appealing parking lot. When you had your parking lot built, you and your paving contractor discussed the types of vehicles you planned to permit on your pavement and their expected number. Your contractor took this information to determine the correct thickness of the asphalt pavement and the type and thickness of the foundation that would be needed to support the pavement and the weight of the traffic. After your parking lot was completed, you learned to take care of it. You probably take the proper steps to ensure timely repairs. You or one of your employees removes debris regularly, or you may have a contract with a sweeping service. However, you may underestimate the importance of an effective parking lot design.
Why Is the Parking Lot Layout Important?
The size of your parking lot is finite. Unless you can purchase the adjacent property and build a larger lot, you must utilize your space efficiently to ensure that you can provide sufficient parking for your employees or customers. At the same time, you need a layout that will keep traffic moving in a safe, orderly manner, and you must endeavor to keep pedestrians and vehicles, including cars, motorcycles and bicycles, safe while they are navigating your parking lot. Furthermore, you must ensure that your lot complies with the minimum requirements outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
What Will a Contractor Consider When Designing a Parking Lot?
Experienced parking lot striping contractors know how to plan a layout that will maximize the number of parking stalls, control the flow of traffic, and meet the ADA regulations.
1. Parking lot striping can define spaces that are perpendicular to the line of travel or set at a slant. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of angle, but you can usually fit more perpendicular spaces than slanted spaces in the same area. However, since there are other ways to maximize your space, you should discuss this with your contractor before making a decision. For example, your asphalt contractor might recommend that you utilize a combination of angles. You could use angled parking for customers, perpendicular spaces for employees, and parallel parking spaces around the lot’s perimeter to utilize areas that are often wasted. Your asphalt striping contractor may also recommend establishing smaller spaces that are reserved for motorcycles so that the larger spaces can be used for cars.
2. The laws governing accessible parking spaces for the handicapped are complex, and they are also subject to change. If it has been several years since your last asphalt striping, your layout may be outdated. Parking lot striping contractors must stay current on the latest federal regulations, but they must also know whether there are any local regulations that exceed the ADA requirements. Every time that you have asphalt sealcoating and fresh paint applied, you should ask your contractor to verify that your layout is in full compliance with all federal and local regulations.
3. The circulation of vehicles through your parking lot is of critical importance. Your design should seek to eliminate unnecessary congestion by placing yield and stop signs appropriately, creating travel lanes that accommodate two-way travel whenever possible, and making sure that your access and exit driveways are adequate to allow a sufficient turning radius without forcing drivers into a lane of travel on a public street.
4. Wheel stops or bumper blocks can help you maintain order in your parking lot. They can help prevent drivers from the potentially risky practice of using an empty space as a shortcut, and they can help protect your landscaping, building and pedestrians.
At Affordable Striping & Sealing, we know how to design the best parking lot layout for your specific situation. We specialize in parking lot maintenance services, including parking lot striping and pavement markings, asphalt sealcoating, parking lot layout and design, asphalt crack filling, traffic sign installations, road markings and bumper block installations. Our team members are dedicated to providing every customer with exceptional results and extraordinary service, but our prices are surprisingly affordable. If you would like to receive a free estimate, you can call 702-222-9009 to speak with one of our highly trained representatives, or you can submit our online quote request form to send us your information.
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