Fat Cars and Small Parking Bays
Tags: autmobiles, car park, cars, motoring, parking bay, parking lot, vehicles
An increasing number of motorists are complaining that car parking spaces, in various car parks, are simply too small. Is this really a problem or is the issue due to the size of cars that people are driving these days?
The largest operator of public car parks in the United Kingdom, Park Rite, say that the dimensions of parking spaces need to relate to the vehicles that the space is intended for. The current standard suggests that bays are 2.4m wide and 4.8m long. But many of todays popular cars, especially four wheel drive and people carriers, will only just fit into this space leaving no room for doors to be opened easily.
There have been reports that some car park operators have purposely made some of their parking spaces narrower in order to squeeze more vehicles into their car parks. Some of the worst offenders are reported to be certain hospital car parks, some supermarkets and some long-stay airport parking lots. There have been reports of people unable to get into their cars due to adjacent vehicles being parked so close.
So, is the problem due to the standard dimensions of parking bays or is it due to the increase in vehicle dimensions? A common and popular 4 wheel drive vehicle is the Toyota Rav4. This common four wheel drive car has a width of 1.815m, without its mirrors. If we allow around 35cm for the wing mirrors this brings the width up to 1.85m. In a parking space of 2.4m width this would leave only 0.55m or only 0.275m on either side. This leaves very little space for getting into and out of the vehicle.
The problem is worse when the car has particularly long doors, as is the case for many of today’s 3 door vehicles. The popular Renault Clio 3 Door, with its mirrors, is 2.025m. In a regular 2.4m space this would leave only 0.375m or only about 0.19m on each side for opening the doors and getting into and out of the car.
It looks like the problem is really down to the size of the cars that people are driving so perhaps car park operators need to take this into account when marking out their parking bays.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Top Tip: Make the most of your trip by spending a night in an airport hotel before your flight. And why not enjoy the hospitality of an airport lounge before you fly.