You’ve probably got a meticulous business plan, but does it include a functional and aesthetically pleasing parking area or consider the proximity and design of public parking and privately owned garages? Most customers will not wait in line for parking, deciding to try their luck elsewhere instead. Without adequate parking capacity and efficiently designed lots, you may be hurting your business’s bottom line. To get customers through your doors, here are the top 5 features of a great parking lot:
Efficient layout for easy navigation
The layout of your parking lot can determine whether the traffic flow is smooth or ends up severely congested. If you’re parking lot or garage is not easily accessible, customers may opt to take their business elsewhere. There are several elements you can incorporate into your lot to keep congestion at bay, including directional arrows and striping for easy-to-understand traffic patterns and convenient pedestrian walkways to prevent people from slowing the flow. Angled parking spaces and one-way lanes also make parking and leaving much easier.
Safety measures for pedestrian well-being and crime prevention
You may be leaving yourself vulnerable to premise liability claims if you do not incorporate adequate safety features into your parking lot or garage design. Accidents can easily be prevented with the appropriate signage, painted curbs, speed bumps and traffic buttons, pedestrian walkways, and proper lighting. Lighting may even help deter criminals, as they would not have the disguise of darkness.
Curb appeal: looks matter
Parking is the gateway to your business, the welcome mat in front of the door. Do you want that mat to say “beat it” or “come on in”? The addition of trees, shrubbery, and flowers can be an inviting retreat from the surrounding concrete landscape. Parking lot maintenance is equally as important. Fix those cracks, keep those lines vibrant and the lights working, and beautify the pavement with a parking lot seal like Asphalt Slurry Seal.
Parking in the shade
Did you know trees “sweat” to cool themselves off? It’s called transpiration cooling. Trees and plants absorb water through their roots and release water vapor through their “pores” or stomata, cooling themselves and the surrounding area in the process. Shady areas beneath trees can be as much as 40 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the surrounding area. Planting trees in medians and the surrounding perimeter is an easy way to keep your customers comfortable.
EV charging stations
With the recent release of electric vehicles with ranges over two hundred miles, electric cars are becoming a practical option for commuters and long-distance travelers. Though EV charging stations aren’t a requirement, they are an attractive perk to draw in customers. While recharging, people will be looking for ways to pass the 30 minutes to an hour it takes for a sufficient charge. Why not let them pass the time in your store or restaurant?
If you’d like to improve your parking area to draw customers and drive sales, contact Curcio Enterprises today! We provide a full array of services, from general parking lot maintenance, paving, and striping to traditional and customized graphic designs signage. We’ll customize design and layout to your specific business needs!
FAQs
Accidents can easily be prevented with the appropriate signage, painted curbs, speed bumps and traffic buttons, pedestrian walkways, and proper lighting. Lighting may even help deter criminals, as they would not have the disguise of darkness.
What features of your parking lot design help to make the business a more inviting place to shop? ›
What features of your parking lot design help to make the business a more inviting place to shop? By adding a lot of pretty landscaping around the parking lot along with sitting areas, and keeping the trash out of sight.
What are the components of a parking lot? ›
Other elements that make up a great parking lot are concrete sidewalks for pedestrians, barrier gates and emergency call stations. Consider adding landscaping elements such as trees, flowers and hedges to create better aesthetics.
What is the best design for a parking lot? ›
Ideally, parking lots should be rectangular with parking on both sides of access aisles. For two-way traffic flow, parking spaces perpendicular (90 degrees) to the aisles provide the most efficient design. The efficiency decreases as the parking angle decreases.
What is the most important thing to remember about parking lot etiquette? ›
Only Use One Spot
It probably goes without saying, but when you park your car, don't take up more than one spot. This takes up an extra parking space that someone else could potentially use. Even if a lot is empty when you arrive, it doesn't mean it will stay that way.
What is the primary factor in the design of a parking facility? ›
One of the primary factors in the design of parking structure is determining the traffic flow: one-way or two-way. Typically, a parking bay for a one-way traffic flow is narrower than for a two-way flow. The available site dimensions will influence the parking bay width and thus also influence the circulation pattern.
What is the formula for parking lot? ›
Find your parking ratio by dividing the number of spaces by the building's square footage (in thousands). For instance, take a 40,000-square-foot building with a 200-space parking lot. Divide 200 (spaces) by 40 (thousand square feet) to find a parking ratio of 5 spaces per 1,000 square feet.
What are efficient parking lot layouts? ›
Angled spaces often work better with one-way aisles, while 90 degree parallel spaces are better with two-way aisles. Typical sizes for aisles and parking spaces are 24-feet wide for a two-way aisle, and 9 x 18 feet for a parking spot. Avoid designing dead-end areas in parking lots.
What is a parking lot for ideas? ›
The Idea Parking Lot Matrix is a quality improvement (QI) tool that supports the effectiveness of meetings by minimizing distractions and unrelated discussions. This tool can be used to capture and store ideas that are not relevant to the current discussion, but can be used to drive other improvements.
What is the best parking style? ›
Cantilevered Style
For individuals who value a dash of structural pizazz, the cantilevered parking shed design is a champion decision. A cantilevered structure erases the requirement for supporting sections, making an outwardly striking and unhindered space underneath.
Importance of Parking Lot Design
Designing a parking lot properly is essential to provide safe and efficient access in and out of the parking spaces. The reality is that your parking lot design can make or break your property.
How to design a smart parking system? ›
First, you decide on the IoT hardware you'll use in the parking lot. Then, you connect the devices and sensors with the microcontrollers through protocols. Also, you need to use cloud-based services for data collection and transmission. Finally, you create a mobile or web app for parking management.
What six things should you consider when parking? ›
Parking
- Find a space. Look for a space at least three feet longer than your vehicle. ...
- Pull up alongside the vehicle in front of the space. Leave about two feet between your vehicle and the vehicle next to you. ...
- Check your blind spots. ...
- Begin backing up. ...
- Straighten out. ...
- Parking.
Here's what not to do:
- Don't wear headphones or be lost in/distracted by your phone screen.
- Don't look distracted. ...
- Don't be unaware of your surroundings- pay attention to who may be following you.
- Don't park close to trucks and larger vehicles (like SUVs). ...
- Don't have any personal identification on your key ring.
Attracting and Retaining Talented Employees
Customers are not the only ones who need convenient parking; businesses also need them to recruit and keep the best personnel. A well-organized and secure parking facility can contribute to a positive work environment and reduce the stress of finding parking spaces.
Which parking lot design features must be included to meet the requirements of the ADA? ›
Final answer: The parking lot design features required by the ADA include accessible parking spaces, routes, signage, and dimensions to ensure equal access for individuals with disabilities.
What are the benefits of a new parking lot? ›
In conclusion, a new paved parking lot can provide numerous benefits for your business. It can increase curb appeal, improve safety, increase parking capacity, reduce liability, and be a cost-effective investment.
