R Class versus Q7

[Ade B]

Bit off topic but planning parking is bad enough with the size they are, we are currently designing a development that needs 15 spaces for 10 flats - the site is dominated by the rear car park (which we are burying underground to enable sufficient amenity space).

with the 6.1m access lane, various hammerheads etc. its a crazy amount of land (and cost) to give over to cars. Amusingly we are also obliged to provide 10 cycle bays (and 20 wheelie bins)... and there is a bus stop at the end of the drive..

Luckily not everyone drives huge cars.

Ade

 

[robert.saunders]

Yes quite - should be an amusing response, knowing DfT...

Also, worth noting, the regulations really only apply to "on-street" markings - most "off-street" car park operators tend to follow the guidance, but strictly speaking the operator can mark the bays however they may see fit, although if too small user choice will have an impact if no-one can get parked!!

 

[Ade B]

Interesting question is should the govt make the minimum bay fit the largest cars (otherwise they cannot legally park) or should the carmakers make all cars fit the minimum bay. I presume the regs will be different in different countries all over Europe. Harmonisation did I hear?

I would suggest the latter...

I think the market drives our 'need' for bigger cars, do we really have to carry everything around all the time?

Ade (about to have his travel light theory tested when number 1 turns up in two weeks )

 

[Ade B]

Yes quite - should be an amusing response, knowing DfT...

Also, worth noting, the regulations really only apply to "on-street" markings - most "off-street" car park operators tend to follow the guidance, but strictly speaking the operator can mark the bays however they may see fit, although if too small user choice will have an impact if no-one can get parked!!

Not according to Dacorum planners - might try this at the next meeting.


Ade

 

[verytalldave]

Interesting question is should the govt make the minimum bay fit the largest cars (otherwise they cannot legally park) or should the carmakers make all cars fit the minimum bay. I presume the regs will be different in different countries all over Europe. Harmonisation did I hear?

So should all car park spaces be sized to accomodate a Hummer?

 

[glojo]

So should all car park spaces be sized to accomodate a Hummer?

It is very rare that we cannot park our Sprinter quite comfortably within most public car parking spaces AND open the doors to get both into and out of the vehicle, mind you we have to be wary about the length of the beast. What I have found is that it is VERY rare that other car owners show any respect for any other cars that are parked near to them. I am amazed at how many car owners deliberately open their doors to the widest opening with a complete disregard to the consequences of their actions and would they like it if we returned the complement? If we all treated each other with respect and consideration, I cannot see a problem with parking most of our vehicles (there will be exceptions)

Regards
John

 

[verytalldave]

It is very rare that we cannot park our Sprinter quite comfortably within most public car parking spaces AND open the doors to get both into and out of the vehicle, mind you we have to be wary about the length of the beast. What I have found is that it is VERY rare that other car owners show any respect for any other cars that are parked near to them. I am amazed at how many car owners deliberately open their doors to the widest opening with a complete disregard to the consequences of their actions and would they like it if we returned the complement? If we all treated each other with respect and consideration, I cannot see a problem with parking most of our vehicles (there will be exceptions)

Regards
John

You may like to see how you fit into a parking space in ASDA's at Swanley, Kent. Anything larger than a Fiesta has problems and as for a Sprinter......or even my C Class - forget it.

 

[hawk20]

You may like to see how you fit into a parking space in ASDA's at Swanley, Kent. Anything larger than a Fiesta has problems and as for a Sprinter......or even my C Class - forget it.

I agree. Round here they are mostly C class length. Legally E's and S's (and 5's and 7's from you know who) cannot park in the legal minimum parking bay. Interesting to know from any legal beagle whether if they have paid, say, the parking meter correctly, could they still get a ticket because thy must overhang at either one end or the other of the bay. Had this overhang problem often with the S class -not with the A of course!

 

[glojo]

I have no idea where in Swanley this car park is located but you will see numerous large mpv's estate cars and one very badly parked LWB Sprinter.

The only time we use car parks with our Sprinter is when the boss takes me up to Lincolnshire, so we use the car parks in Bourne and also the ones in the motorway service areas en-route. I would assume the measurements are no different from any others nation-wide?

This is Sainsbury's at Lymington

Regards
John

 

[Ade B]

and one very badly parked LWB Sprinter.

Ah but can you be sure that its stationary?

Ade

 

[glojo]

Ah but can you be sure that its stationary?

Ade

Nope. Imust confess to being impressed with Google Earth. Six months ago we could not see our house, then there was an upgrade that showed the house but it was years old. Now I loggeg on and the picture is about six months out of date. Very impressed.

Wife is saying that in a couple of car parks here in Torquay we would have problems with the Sprinter.

John

 

[Ade B]

the google earth pic of our last place in N16 had the motorbike, deck chair and barbecue!

And that's available to the public...


Ade

 

[hawk20]

we use the car parks in Bourne and also the ones in the motorway service areas en-route. I would assume the measurements are no different from any others nation-wide?

Regards
John

Actually they vary a lot even in a given area. Spaces on the roads with meters are sometimes quite big but if space is tight they will go down to the legal minimum. There are some huge spaces near Frankie and Bennys in Christchurch/Bournemouth off Castle Lane and tiny ones in other parts of my area.

 

[verytalldave]

I have no idea where in Swanley this car park is located but you will see numerous large mpv's estate cars and one very badly parked LWB Sprinter.

The only time we use car parks with our Sprinter is when the boss takes me up to Lincolnshire, so we use the car parks in Bourne and also the ones in the motorway service areas en-route. I would assume the measurements are no different from any others nation-wide?

This is Sainsbury's at Lymington

Regards
John

The top photo is of the now demolished swmimming pool complex called "Cascades" located on the Kent side near the Dartford road crossing. It was found to be sinking into the ground at an alarming rate and had to be closed and pulled down about 5 years ago.

 

[verytalldave]

This is a small portion of the ASDA carpark in Swanley taken from Google earth.................