An estimated one in five people in the UK has a disability. That’s roughly 14 million people who, when they travel, potentially need some extra support to take the stress out of their trip and help them get where they need to go.
A car park should be able to help and be just as convenient as they are for everyone else.
Sadly, that isn’t always the case, and in 2022, Motability reported that people with disabilities take 38% fewer trips due to accessibility issues and concerns.
How can car parks adapt to be more accessible?
Understanding who uses a car park
It’s important to understand that not all disabilities are visible, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution that solves every issue for everyone.
Accessibility doesn’t just impact people with disabilities, it’s important to keep other groups in mind. The elderly and parents with small children benefit from some extra help.
Car park owners need to be aware of the people who could be using their facilities and make sure they have systems in place to assist them.
Accessibility essentials
The Equality Act 2010 makes it a legal requirement that businesses make reasonable adjustments to ensure people with disabilities or accessibility requirements aren’t put at a disadvantage.
In terms of car parks, this is why Blue Badge parking spaces exist, the extra space around each bay helps people with accessibility issues. Blue Badge spaces are only part of the equation when thinking about specific services in a car park.
What to look for in an accessible car park
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1. Designated Accessible Bays and Parent & Child spaces
- Wider spaces to help with mobility
- Closer to entrances and facilities.
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2. Step-Free, Level Routes
- Dropped kerbs, non-slip surfaces, and level ground with few steps.
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3. Signs
- Easy-to-read signs – no contrasting colours, clear text.
- Easy to follow directions.
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4. Payment & Ticketing Systems
- Easy to use, flexible options such as contactless and app-based payments, clear instructions and on-screen help on payment machines.
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5. Lighting
- Everywhere should be well-lit and clear.
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6. Weather protection
- Avoid creating slippery surfaces by covering walkways.
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7. Accessible toilets and facilities
- Monitored facilities with key access are something to keep an eye out for.
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8. EV & Alternative-Fuel Charging
- Chargers are positioned so people can exit their car, deal with cables and charge without getting in the way of other drivers.
Protecting usability
The problem with trying to create a car park that everyone can use properly is that some people don’t follow the rules or park in spaces they don’t need to use.
Sometimes this gets shrugged off, we’ve all seen someone who was ‘just nipping in for 5 mins’ at a supermarket. The problem is that in 5 minutes, people who need and benefit from that space could arrive, and they’re unable to park because someone else is blocking the space.
It’s one of those sights that enrages people, it wound us up so much that we invented a way of dealing with it.
Evology Access is designed to stop people from misusing important parking spaces. Our bollard monitors spaces and acts as a deterrent, working with car park enforcement to stop people parking where they shouldn’t and making life difficult for people who would benefit from those spaces.
There’s clever camera technology housed in the bollard that helps car park owners monitor spaces and protect accessibility.
