There are many blunders that companies can make when it comes to designing and maintaining a car park. Here are 5 of the most common pitfalls that drive customers away.
Lack of security
A lack of security features could cause customers to fear for their safety. Alternatively, they may fear that their car gets vandalised or stolen if they leave it there. This is definitely not the vibe that you want to be creating when customers visit your premises. By considering features like security cameras, lighting or barriers, you can put visitors at ease. Make sure that these security features cover your entire car park so that there aren’t dark areas or CCTV blind spots where crime could still potentially thrive.
Poor drainage
Puddles that swallow shoes and icy patches that cause skidding could be a liability risk. They can also signal neglect and make your parking lot less welcoming. Combat this by exploring drainage solutions. This could include French drains or permeable pavers that help to remove excess water. Make sure to repair potholes, as these too can encourage puddles to form.
Inefficient layout
A poorly designed layout turns simple visits into stressful manoeuvres. Avoid common design failures like overly narrow aisles, maze-like traffic flow systems and dead ends without turning areas. If you’ve only got a small area to work with and you don’t want to sacrifice too many bays, consider creative solutions like angled bays and one-way systems. Make sure signage and markings are clear (don’t forget to also clean signs and repaint markings every few years).
Expensive/complicated parking fees
If your pricing is too expensive or payment is too confusing, you could end up deterring visitors. Make sure that pricing is similar to other car parks in the area and consider making it free to certain visitors like employees. When implementing a payment system, you can either use a traditional parking meter machine or you can allow customers to pay through a website or app. Some people prefer the simplicity of the former, while others prefer the convenience of the latter – a hybrid payment system (allowing customers to pay via a machine or via an app) might be the best solution for satisfying all visitors.
Lack of designated bays
Creating designated parking spaces for certain types of visitors is recommended. A few examples of visitors you may want to create designated bays for include:
- Visitors with disabilities: These should be located near the entrance of your building and should have access aisles for wheelchairs.
- Parents with kids: If families visit your premises, consider wider designated bays with access aisles for prams.
- Employees: Make sure that employees have somewhere to park. This could include marked spaces for specific employees like managers.
- EV owners: Bays with charging stations could encourage electric vehicle owners to use your car park.
- Delivery suppliers: If you need to accept deliveries, make sure there are parking bays available that are large enough for lorries.
Think carefully about where to locate these special bays and make sure they are clearly marked out.
