number vehicles per area on a large parking? 1

[kingnero]

On a large parking (think for approx. 2000 cars), is there a guideline of square footage (or meterage, as I'm using the correct dimensional units ) per car, that includes the "roads" inbetween the different rows of parkings?

Does this number differ a lot from smaller car parks (think commercial buildings with a parking for 5 - 20 vehicles) ? Those don't have fire access roads, trees inbetween the rows of parkings, and so on, so those should be able to use the available spac more efficiently?
However there is efficiency in large scale parkings without a doubt (less "unusable" corners, ...?

Just looking for an estimation at this point, so all guidelines or rules of thumb are welcome!

 

[GregLocock]

If only we had a way of accessing overhead photos of any carpark in the world. Maybe google should get on that as an idea?

Cheers

Greg Locock


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[HTURKAK]

Just write parking lot dimensions and NEUFERT parking data and search the web... one of the outcomes,

 

[LittleInch]

But take notice of the "standard car" dimensions... Cars have been getting bigger, longer and especially wider in recent years.

UK "standard" sizes are apparently 2.4m wide b y 4.8m long per bay and 6m wide for access roads. But these are now being shown to be too small for all the SUVs and crossover type vehicles which exist.

See this for interest - I'm sure there is a US equivalent.

https://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/advice/parking-space-size

So take your pick.

The rise of parking sensors though often allows people to park closer to the edge of a wall though than maybe they did before.

Small spaces will be lower density as you have more obstacles and constraints.



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[JLNJ]

180 square feet per space is a common requirement (9'x20'). Wider is definitely better.

 

[LittleInch]

Yup, when you think about it 8 feet / 2.4m x 20 ft long is a twenty foot container. Think how hard it is to drive into a container.... and get out not through the roof or the windows....

Remember - More details = better answers
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[dik]

...about 600,000 ft.sq. Used to be that a well designed parking garage used about 300 ft.sq. per vehicle. That included isleways, ramps, entrance and exiting. I've worked on maybe 50 of them in my lifetime.

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Do you feel any better?

-Dik

 

[IRstuff]

Given a choice, I'd prefer Costco parking lots over, say, 99 Ranch, but Costco seems to be quite generous w.r.t. space per car.

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[JoelTXCive]

IRstuff is on to something. Costco's have the best parking lots by far.

Everybody else seems to be attempting to squeeze more and more parking spaces into a fixed area. It pretty much assures that I'm going to get my doors dinged.

 

[IRstuff]

99 Ranch on the left, Costco on the right; both are in Rowland Heights, CA and at same magnification. You can be compliant to the minimum, and frustrate the users, or you can provide a less stressful experience.

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[JLNJ]

I have seen that electric SUVs are weighing in excess of 10,000! I wonder how this is going to affect the already-skinnied-down parking garage design methodology.

 

[JLNJ]

When I pick up my rental car at the Atlanta Airport in the morning, the cars are just PACKED in there. I often wondered if the garage designers knew/know that they use the space like this.

 

[IRstuff]

Car rental companies have their own requirements as dictated by their typical work flow. Most of the ones I frequent only do the dense packing during car return; car checkout is usually from a normal parking spot. As for EVs, the weight is irrelevant; they still have to drive on roads and park in parking spaces, so they're constrained in width.

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[kingnero]

@ Greg, done that for several ~20 car, car parks. Not going to count 2000 cars on an aerial picture, but thanks for the suggestion anyway!

@ HTURKAK, thanks for the reference. Very handy.

@ LittleInch, Yes, that sounds about right.

@ JLNJ, indeed. Need to address the public as well (are they going to drive brodozers or small city cars). The comparison clearly shows the difference, also note how the markings "assure" some free space inbetween the cars.

@ dik, thanks. Basically you need to double the size of a single stall to accomodate the "roads" and all utility space, and that's being very generous. I can work with that number for now, make a more educated guesstimate.

@ IRstuff, weight is a factor, and an important one, especially for multi story car parks. But we're seeing (slowly) the rise of hydrogen powered cars in Europe, and they should weigh less than a battery powered EV (although for now a quick google shows that the few available FCEV cars weigh the same or more than a Tesla Model 3).

Thanks to all for your contributions!