Part 13: Parking control

Last updated: December 2007. This document ceases to be a controlled document when printed. Please refer to the current version at www.landtransport.govt.nz

5  Design elements

This section describes the specific standards and guidelines in relation to the elements of design of parking spaces.

5.1  Off-road parking

Off-road parking is where the parking facility does not directly interact with the through traffic flow along a road other than at the access point between the road and the car park.

This type of facility is required when demand for parking far outweighs the supply of on-road facilities and alternative parking areas are required. More information on off-road parking, including undercover and multi-storey parking facilities, can be found in AS/NZS 2890.1:2004 and AS 2890.2: 2002 Parking facilities: Part 2: Off-street commercial vehicle facilities. AS/NZS 2890.1 defines the classification of off-road parking by user type – such as all day parking, residential, long term, short term, high or low turnover and people with disabilities.

When providing off-road parking facilities for a substantial number of vehicles, a traffic impact assessment should be undertaken to assess:

• the impact of the generated parking traffic on traffic flows on the surrounding road network, including, as a minimum, the performance of the car park access
• the interaction of manoeuvring vehicles and pedestrians and the provision of suitable walking facilities within and to/from the car park
• any conflicting issues with adjacent side road and access ways, including site visibility
• the adequacy of queuing space within the car park to ensure vehicles do not block the approach roads.

5.2  On-road parking

On-road parking can be generally described as that which is located alongside the edge of the road, and where manoeuvring into and out of a parking space may interact with traffic flow. Further information can be obtained from AS 2890.5: 1993 Parking facilities: Part 5: On-street parking and section 7 within Austroads Guide to traffic management, Part 11: Parking.

On-road parking is typically provided either parallel to or at an angle to the direction of traffic. Issues associated with each type of on-street parking are shown in table 5.1. It should be noted that ‘front-in’ angle parking (where a motorist drives their vehicle into the angled space and reverses out) or ‘rear-in’ angle parking (where the motorist passes the space and then reverses into the park and drives forward out of the space) may occur. The relative merits of each are discussed in detail in the Austroads Guide to traffic management, Part 11: Parking.

Table 5.1  Positives and negatives of types of on-road parking

Type of parking	Positives	Negatives
Parallel	If controlled, has the least disruption on flow of traffic Has less crashes associated with manoeuvring out of parking spaces than angle parking	Cannot accommodate as many spaces as angle parking. Some cyclists may ride into an opening car door.
Angle (kerb)	Provides more spaces than parallel parking	Needs a wide roadway width to accommodate spaces Depending on angle, it may be difficult for drivers parked to enter into traffic stream. Not suitable next to a cycle lane unless there is extra clearance for parking manoeuvres
Angle (centre of road – with a median separating traffic lanes)	Creates traffic calming effect	Should not be used on arterial roads, especially in conjunction with parking along the kerb Pedestrians have to cross the road to reach the vehicle

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