Reconfiguration of Handicapped Parking Spaces to Maximize Utilization of Available Space

Abstract

This paper presents a design solution based on analysis of the appropriate width of handicapped parking space for individuals with different levels of disabilities in Saga. The methodology followed in this study revealed an option for increasing the available quantity of handicapped parking within the available space by selectively reducing the width of alighting space requirements built into space standards. A physical simulation was carried out with assistance from volunteers with different types of disabilities who were asked to park in a confined space in order to obtain meaningful data for space requirements by disabled individuals. The investigation found that the current standard of 3.5 m width adopted for handicapped parking is conservative and has little merit from the point of view of functionality for handicapped individuals. The data collected allowed the research team to develop a methodology to propose a new arrangement for increasing the parking spaces for disabled persons. The paper explains the physical data collection process and details of the proposed arrangement that could better utilize the available space. number of handicapped parking spaces. Results of before and after surveys during 2006 and 2008 by Kiyota (2011) have shown that the PP system has made it harder for wheelchair bound severely disabled to find appropriate parking spaces. The percentage of severely disabled motorists observed in disabled parking spaces has decreased from 24.4% to 14.0% in a popular large shopping mall in Saga according the above surveys. (4) There was no mechanism to increase the quantity of handicapped parking spaces to match the expansion of the disabled population that followed from the introduction of the PP system. It is difficult to change current policy in only the Saga region instead of the entirety of Japan. Drop off areas with benches for disabled passengers may resolve this problem, but not all popular shopping malls have that condition. It was hypothesized that it may be possible to add more handicapped parking spaces by a strategy of reconfiguring the disabled parking spaces according to the actual space needed by users. It was acknowledged that broad width spaces were required by wheelchair users. It was speculated however, that individuals with mild disabilities did not need the generous width of parking space provided to wheelchair users. Therefore, the suitable planning solution required may be a reconfiguration of the current overall space allocated to handicapped parking in such a manner that there are spaces with different widths to match proportions and needs of different user populations. Experiments performed during this project showed that it is possible to establish the width of parking space used by different categories of individuals with different types of disabilities. The initial experiment surprised authors as it challenged the conventional width associated with disabled parking spaces although this paper does not propose to vary the long established standard. Following sections of the paper are presented to explain how the width of parking space required varies with the category of disability and detailed description of how the available space can be reconfigured to increase the number of spaces available for individuals with mild disabilities.