Routes, set down points and parking

Vehicle routes and parking facilities should be designed with the safety and convenience of all building users in mind.

Vehicle circulation routes

Vehicle circulation routes should be logical, safe and easy to follow.

Vehicle, cycle and pedestrian routes should be separated to ensure the safety of all concerned. Where cycle or pedestrian routes need to cross vehicle paths, appropriate crossing points should be established.

As drivers may be unfamiliar with the site the route from the site entrance to the parking area needs to be easy to identify and follow with signage provided at all changes of direction.

Some vehicles, such as those which carry wheelchairs on the roof, have higher than usual headroom requirements. Information on headroom or manoeuvring space should be communicated drivers before they are committed to a route to avoid damage and inconvenience.

Design considerations

  • Separate vehicle, cycle and pedestrian routes wherever possible.
  • Ensure designated walkways are provided through carparks. These should be logical and as straight as possible.
  • Ensure appropriate crossing points are established where cycle and pedestrian routes cross vehicle paths.
  • Ensure vehicle routes to destinations are easy to identify and follow.
  • Where there are headroom, turning or parking restrictions on a site, ensure drivers are aware of these before they need to select their route.
  • Ensure building entrances are easy to identify from a distance so that the nearest appropriate car parking area can be selected.

Building Code requirement

Building Code clause D1 Access routes:

D1.3.5 Vehicle spaces and circulation routes shall have: (a) dimensions appropriate to the intended use, (c) adequate queuing and circulation space, (d) adequate sight distance.

Set-down and pick-up points

Suitable set-down and pick-up points should be provided close to building entrances.

To protect those alighting and then travelling into the building entrance, protection from the weather is important. Some may take time to get out of the vehicle and get to the entrance.

Passengers should be able to board and alight from the nearside.

Locating taxi ranks close to reception allows the coordination of assistance and phone calls.

Design considerations

  • Provide suitable set down and pick up points, as close to entrances as possible, protected from the weather and lit at night.
  • Provide seating adjacent to drop off and pick up points.
  • Where public transport and taxi drop off and pick up points require a person to navigate the car park, the route should be designed to give priority to the pedestrian. It needs to be logical, step-free and lead to the front entrance of the building.
  • Ensure the adjacent pavement is wide enough to cater for wheelchair user drop off and use of side ramps, is level with the road, free from obstructions, with firm non-slip surfaces.
  • Allow vehicles to park for a suitable time to allow drivers to assist passengers into the building.
  • Ensure that the entrance is easy to find from the set down point.
  • Where the set down point is on a different level to the building entrance, provide a suitable lift (or ramp for minor height changes). 
  • Consider the installation of CCTV for monitoring purposes.
  • Provide a logical, safe and accessible route from the street to the front entrance for pedestrians and wheelchair users.

Building Code requirement

Building Code clause D1 Access routes:

D1.3.2 At least one access route shall have features to enable people with disabilities to: (a) approach the building from the street boundary or, where required to be provided, the building car park.

D1.3.3 Access routes shall: (d) have adequate slip-resistant walking surfaces under all conditions of normal use.

D1.3.4 An accessible route, in addition to the requirement of Clause D1.3.3, shall: (a) be easy to find, as required by Clause F8 Signs

Vehicle parking

Sufficient and suitable parking facilities should be provided in convenient locations to reduce potential conflict between pedestrians and vehicles.

Wherever car parking facilities are provided, they should cater for the needs of all potential users, including:

  • Wheelchair users.
  • Those with young children.
  • People who need to load and unload goods and shopping.
  • Visitors who may not be able to walk very far or carry goods over a long distance.
  • People with vision or hearing impairment who are being dropped off .
  • Those who arrive in larger passenger vehicles such as vans with side ramps or rear ramps and rear hoists.

Ticket and payment machines

Ticket and payment machines need to be accessible, understandable and usable by all motorists. This means providing them in logical places, at regular intervals and located clear of vehicle routes and plinths.

Parking space

The car parking space and the area around it needs to be of sufficient size. The driver and passengers need to be able to discharge safely and conveniently using their associated doors. Parents and caregivers often need to position children in their seats so being able to open a door fully is also an advantage.

Wayfinding

Drivers and passengers need to be able to find the correct entrance once they have left their car. Directional signage to the building entrance from the parking area should be provided.

Drivers are often unable to remember where they entered the car park. Good Exit signage positioned at each decision point is important to reduce stress.

Routes

Both drivers and passengers may have mobility issues or be carrying goods. Where parking is on a different level to the building entrance, a suitable lift or ramp for minor height changes is essential.

Surfaces of car parks and surrounding transfer spaces should be level, firm and non-slip with no obstructions.

To protect drivers and passengers from weather, covered walkways are very helpful. Where travel distances are long, seating at intervals will assist many people.

CCTV coverage can help people feel safer and alert staff to the need to provide assistance in a timely manner.

Lighting

Adequate lighting is essential to maintain safety at night. Wheelchair users will need good lighting as many will need to assemble and disassemble their wheelchair by the side of their car at night.

Accessible car parking spaces

People with a range of disabilities often need larger car parking spaces than other drivers. Some passenger vehicles carrying wheelchair users have ramps on the tail or side. These vehicles need significantly more space than others. Without the provision to do this safely, these passengers will be not be able to visit the building.

Many drivers and passengers using accessible spaces run the risk of injury if there is not a direct route from the designated parking space to an adjacent pedestrian route. Drivers may not see wheelchair users on vehicle routes due to parked vehicles. This can be a major problem at night.

Many people using accessible parking spaces do so because they have mobility impairment. Locating such spaces near entrances and where they do not have to cross a vehicle route is important.

A driver who is on their own but who uses a wheelchair may need time to assemble their wheelchair by the side of the car and transfer into it. Weather-protect accessible spaces and their associated routes to building entrances if possible.

The provision of accessible vehicle and mini-bus parks in locations which provide a view to recreational areas allows an option to watch without exiting the vehicle. Seating should also be provided close to this parking.

Design considerations

  • When designing car parks and the routes to and from them, consider the size requirements of the different types of vehicles which may need to use the parks.
  • Provide an adequate number of parking spaces (including accessible spaces) to meet the expected needs of drivers. 
  • Provide additional spaces for locations (such as hospitals) where a higher proportion of people with disabilities are expected.
  • Where the allocation of dedicated tail and side unload parking spaces cannot be met, identify locations (either on or off site) where this could be safely and conveniently carried out.
  • Ensure that drivers are aware of headroom and parking restrictions prior to their committing to a particular route or destination.
  • Provide parking areas in close proximity to building entrances for both convenience and safety. 
  • Provide accessible parking spaces for cars and mini-vans in locations close to recreational areas.
  • Ensure that all accessible spaces are well marked and easy to find and consider zoning in larger carparks. 
  • Ensure that parking spaces and their surroundings have adequate space to meet the varied needs of all potential occupants. Wherever possible, provide spaces with larger than standard dimensions.
  • In the case of accessible parking and routes to and from it, provide shelter from weather if possible.
  • Ensure that surface finishes are level, firm and slip-resistant with no obstructions.
  • Provide adequate lighting to meet the safety and convenience needs of all users.
  • Position ticket and payment machines in safe locations where they are easy to find and use.
  • Ensure that good Exit signage is provided at each decision point around the car park.
  • Consider the installation of CCTV for monitoring purposes.

Building Code requirement

Building Code clause D1 Access routes:

D1.3.1 Access routes shall enable people to: (d) manoeuvre and park cars, (e) manoeuvre and park delivery vehicles required to use the loading space.

D1.3.2 At least one access route shall have features to enable people with disabilities to: (a) approach the building from the street boundary or, where required to be provided, the building car park

D1.3.3 Access routes shall: (a) have adequate activity space, (b) be free from dangerous obstructions and from any projections likely to cause an obstruction, (c) have a safe cross fall, and safe slope in the direction of travel, (d) have adequate slip-resistant walking surfaces under all conditions of normal use

D1.3.4 An accessible route, in addition to the requirement of Clause D1.3.3, shall: (a) be easy to find, as required by Clause F8 Signs

D1.3.5 Vehicle spaces and circulation routes shall have: (a) dimensions appropriate to the intended use, (b) appropriate crossfall, and slope in the direction of travel, (c) adequate queuing and circulation space, (d) adequate sight distances.

D1.3.6 Vehicle spaces for use by people with disabilities, shall, in addition to the requirements of Clause D1.3.5, be: (a) provided in sufficient numbers, (b) located to avoid conflict between vehicles and people using or moving to or from the space, (c) easy to find as required by Clause F8 Signs.

Building Code clause F8 Signs:

F8.3.4 Signs must be provided and located to identify accessible routes and facilities provided for people with disabilities.

F8.3.5 Accessible routes must be identified with the International Symbol of Access.

This information is published by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Chief Executive. It is a general guide only and, if used, does not relieve any person of the obligation to consider any matter to which the information relates according to the circumstances of the particular case. Expert advice may be required in specific circumstances. Where this information relates to assisting people: