Parking Lots

To accommodate people with a varying range of abilities (including blindness), designated parking spaces and passenger pick-up/drop-off zones for people with disabilities should be located close to a building entrance.

Where a parking lot serves several buildings, designated parking spaces should be located next to the shortest pedestrian path of travel that leads to these buildings.

Paths of travel should be distinctly marked and physically separated from vehicular traffic. They should not require pedestrians to navigate along vehicular roadways or behind parked cars.

Spatial requirements of accessible parking spaces are also important. Wider parking spaces make exiting and entering vehicles easier for some people with guide dogs or those using other mobility devices. Parking spaces should be at least 3,600 mm wide and within close proximity to entrances.

When parking lots are situated next to walkways, concrete wheel stops should be used to prevent car bumpers from protruding onto or obstructing the path of travel. Wheel stops should be painted bright yellow or another colour that contrasts with their immediate surroundings. The wheel stops should be positioned so that the front ends of vehicles don’t protrude onto an adjacent sidewalk. If this isn’t possible, consider placing bollards to prevent vehicles from impeding the path of travel.