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Accessibility for the Disabled -

A Design Manual for a Barrier
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I. URBAN DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

7. PARKING

1. PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

Poor parking facilities.

Insufficient width of the parking

aisle.

No allocation of parking space for

the disabled. Fig. 1

2. PLANNING PRINCIPLE

To provide accessible parking

facilities as close as possible to
the point of destination.

3. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

3.1 General

Accessible parking provisions

apply to both outdoor and Fig. 2
underground facilities.

For multi-storey indoor parking

facilities, at least one level should
be served by an accessible
elevator.

3.2 Number

For parking facilities of less

than 50 cars, at least one
accessible parking space should
be provided in every parking Fig. 3
facility.
 For parking facilities of a
maximum number of 400 spaces,
accessible parking spaces
should at least be provided in the
ratio of 1:50 (one accessible
space for every 50 spaces).

For parking facilities of more

than 400 spaces, at least 8
accessible parking spaces
should be provided plus 1 space
for each additional increment of
100 cars over 400.
Fig. 4
3.3 Location

For outdoor parking,

accessible parking spaces
should be located not more than
50 m from accessible building
entrances.

For indoor parking, accessible

parking spaces should be located
right next to accessible elevators,
or as close as possible to exits.

The ends of rows are

preferable for vans with lifts for
wheelchair users. Fig. 5

3.4 Dimensions

The minimum width of an

accessible parking space is 3.60
m. The recommended width is
3.90 m (fig. 1).

An access aisle 1.20 m wide

can be located between two
ordinary parking spaces (fig. 2).
Fig. 6
For indoor parking, the
minimum height clearance for
vans with hydraulic lifts is 2.40 m.

Where parking spaces are

angled, the extra space at the
end of a row can be used as a
parking aisle for disabled
persons (fig. 3). 3.5 Parking curb

If a curb exists, curb ramps

should be provided to link
accessible parking spaces to Fig. 7
accessible pathways (fig. 2).

If no curb exists, a textured

surface at least 0.60 m wide is
needed to separate the pathway
from the vehicular area;
otherwise bollards should be
used (see Street Furniture). Pre-
cast wheelstops can also be
used to set apart a passage at
least 0.90 m wide (fig. 4) (fig. 5).

3.6 Curbside parking

Curbside parking is dangerous Fig. 8

for disabled people unless it is
designed as an accessible drop-
off area.

3.7 Drop-off areas (fig. 6)

Drop-off areas are beneficial

for picking up and dropping off
people with physical limitations,
parents with children, people
carrying loads, etc.

Drop-off zones should be

provided at public transport stops
such as bus stops, and not more
than 30.00 m from accessible
building entrances. Fig. 9
 The drop-off area should be at
least be 3.60 m wide and
incorporate an aisle 1.20 m wide
to allow for manoeuvring. The
length should accommodate at
least two cars.

Appropriate curb ramps should

be provided to facilitate
circulation over paved surfaces.

Where no curb exists to mark

the separation between
pedestrian and vehicle zones,
the installation of a cue is
necessary to guide sightless
pedestrians:

(a) Bollards may be used (see

Street Furniture); (b) A tactile
marking strip at least 0.60 m
wide can be constructed at the
edge of the pathway to warn of
the transition to a vehicular area.

A protected shelter or canopy

with seating facilities is a
recommended design feature at
passenger loading zones.

Signs should be installed to

identify a drop-off zone and
prevent its misuse as a parking
space.

3.8 Surface

The surface of a parking facility

should beuniform and smooth.

The slope of a parking ramp

should not exceed 1:20.
3.9 Signs (fig. 7)

Accessible parking areas

should be marked by the
international symbol of
accessibility. (1)

4. EXISTING CONSTRUCTIONS

If the parking area is more than

50.00 m from the building
entrance, a vehicular drop-off
area within 30.00 m of the
entrance should be built or an
accessible parking space close
to the entrance should be
constructed.

If no accessible parking space

is available, one of the following
measures should be
implemented:

(a) Block a peripheral regular

stall with bollards to get one
accessible parking space (fig. 8).

(b) Block a central regular stall

with bollards to get two
accessible parking spaces (fig.
9).

(c) Two accessible parking aisles

(fig. 9).

For indoor parking spaces with

clear height of less than 2.40 m,
alternative outdoor provisions for
vans carrying disabled people
should be provided.
Notes:

(1) An exacting fine can be

imposed on non-disabled drivers
who park in a parking space
designated for the disabled.