Access to quality parking space is one of the fundamental needs of a commercial city. It helps regulate traffic and allows pedestrians to walk on the road. Well-constructed parking is one of the premium services customers expect from businesses. Parking lots may appear monotonous, but their design is very important to ensure the safety of people.
This post is for you if you run a commercial business or plan to revamp your residential parking space.
Identify the Purpose
The function of your parking lot will impact the design as the general layout will vary based on whether it is used to accommodate daily truckloads or busy weekend consumers. Depending on what industry your business belongs to, there will be different regulations and standards you would be required to follow.
For instance, in terms of heavy cargo, if the pavement is not designed to support heavy weights, it can suffer damage in the long run. The purpose of your business also greatly impacts the angles at which your parking space is lined up with the driving lanes. For a parking lot with rapid turnover, like a convenience store parking lot, angles between 45 and 60 degrees are excellent. Since 90-degree angled parking spaces are the hardest to park in, they are a great choice for employee parking.
Consider Layout Guidelines
Your parking lot arrangement depends on several variables to make it as functional as possible. Layout guidelines revolve around creating a safe and efficient system for traffic flow. In addition to pedestrian traffic, keep the following in mind:
1. Appropriate Traffic Signs
Design your parking lot with practical, legal signs to ensure safety. Stop and yield signs, pedestrian crossing signs, designated parking signs, and speed limit markers are a few examples of traffic indicators. These signs should be placed so that they are visible to both automobiles and pedestrians and in line with the traffic flow you create.
2. Asphalt markings and barriers
Having bold and obvious safety markings painted on the pavement to aid in traffic flow is important for parking space. Barriers that are strategically positioned prevent cars from wrecking nearby structures or landscaping. Parking lots should always have perimeter curbs with proper ramps.
3. Drainage provisions
Proper water drainage is a big part of what makes asphalt successful. As part of the pavement design for your parking lot, use inlets, catch basins, and other drainage techniques to prevent standing water on your asphalt.
Design Elements
You can decorate your parking lot or give it a professional appearance. The provision of long-term care and maintenance is one of the most crucial elements of your design.
1. Light Fixtures
Light fixtures with exceptional coverage are necessary for a commercial parking lot to be completely safe and functional. In most cases, your illumination should be sufficient to allow for comfortable movement across the parking lot without casting a glare or interfering with the view. Areas of the parking lot that see the most traffic, such as the entrances, exits, and loading zones, require more lighting.
2. Clean Pavement
Parking lots can become worn down over time if they are not adequately protected. Services for cleaning parking lots can maintain the quality of asphalt. Since lost shopping carts can make the parking space seem chaotic, replacing damaged cart corrals is one great way to maintain a clean space.
3. Landscape Design
In addition to improving the aesthetics of your parking lot, adding trees and other landscape features can also serve several practical purposes. Branching trees, for instance, can protect nearby structures from the glare of parking lot lighting at night.
Final Thoughts
A good design must always consider long-term care and maintenance. In terms of a parking space, your asphalt will need an effective seal coating to protect it from wind, water, UV rays, and dropping oil. Additionally, the best way to stop future damages is to take care of any problem areas immediately.
Also read: Car and Driving Safety: Understanding Traffic Collisions
