Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Kudos to the posters who insist the parking spaces are getting smaller.
Ten minutes ago I would have said you are nuts, but then I googled.
I've designed parking for various reasons for at least 20 years or so, and parking spaces were always 9' wide by 20' long for a standard vehicle. Compact spaces, obviously, are smaller.
However, it's important to note that parking space sizes are dictated mostly by local code...which can be changed. Parking space sizes are generally not determined by the developer's architect or engineer. After many years, I can tell when an architect has designed a parking lot...soo sooo bad.
...at County and State fairgrounds and other event sites with unpaved lots, you see nearly every driver thoughtlessly hogging nearly 4 feet of empty space on either side...
I doubt it. Drivers are thoughtfully taking up that space - not thoughtlessly.
More like parking spaces are getting too small. I won't shop at some shopping centers because the spaces are really tiny. And I'm old enough to remember that handicapped parking spaces were for those actually in wheelchairs and there were only two spaces. Man, police departments could make a fortune checking the handicapped placards and seeing if they're legit.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,551 posts, read 81,085,957 times
Reputation: 57728
Quote:
Originally Posted by scorpio516
Parking spaces have been standard 9x19-20 or 8x18-20 for over 40 years.
California allows "compact" spaces that are 8' wide. Standard spaces are 9' wide. Since 1992, parking spaces cannot be narrower than 8' per ADA
ADA is federal law, but obviously if that's the case it's not enforced. Last night I took my wife's 2020 to the library, built in 2020 to pick up our daughter, and backed into a space. I went outside and measured, finding 6" on one side and 5" on the other, tire edges to the white lines. The Outback is 73" wide, so that makes the space 84", or exactly 7'.
ADA is federal law, but obviously if that's the case it's not enforced. Last night I took my wife's 2020 to the library, built in 2020 to pick up our daughter, and backed into a space. I went outside and measured, finding 6" on one side and 5" on the other, tire edges to the white lines. The Outback is 73" wide, so that makes the space 84", or exactly 7'.
This sounds like a silly question, but it does come into play.
Did you measure to the edge of the line or the center? And how wide was the line?
Generally, measurements are taken from center of line to center of line.
Additionally, even though ADA allows an 8' space but then usually requires a 5' space next to it. Typically, for handicap parking you have and 8' parking space, then a 5' space (for access), then an 8' parking space.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
