Queen's University - Accessibility Guide

Queen's University - Accessibility Guide - 4 Parking

Accessibility Guidelines

4.1 General

Queen's University has very few parking spaces available but consideration should be given to providing accessible parking spaces to all facilities. This will allow people with disabilities to move about during winter conditions and will eliminate the problem of coordination of snow removal services.

Priority should be given to staff and students with disabilities in the allocation of parking permits.

4.1.1 Parking spaces for use by people with disabilities shall be located near the main entrance of buildings or structures.

A barrier-free path of travel shall be provided from the entrance to

a) an exterior parking area, where exterior parking is provided, and
b)

at least one parking level, where a passenger elevator serves an indoor parking level. OBC 3.7.2.2.

4.1.2 Parking spaces designated for use by persons who are physically disabled and accessible passenger loading zones that serve a particular building should be located on the shortest possible circulation route to an accessible entrance. In separate parking structures or lots that do not serve a particular building, accessible parking spaces should be located on the shortest possible circulation route to an accessible pedestrian entrance of the parking facility.

4.1.3 Parked vehicle overhangs should not reduce the clear width of an accessible circulation route. Overhangs should be a minimum of 2750 mm from grade.

4.1.4 Walkways or barrier-free paths of travel shall comply with Section 3.9.

4.2 Snow Clearance

Parking spaces shall be maintained free of snow to ensure unobstructed access to each parking space identified by authorized signs.

4.3 Car Parking Spaces

Car parking spaces shall

a) be at least 3900 mm wide x 6000 mm long;
b) include an adjacent access aisle at least 1500 mm wide;
c) have a firm level surface; and
d) where surfaces are paved, have access aisles clearly indicated by markings (Figures 4.1 and 4.2).

Two accessible parking spaces may share a common access aisle. The location of accessible parking spaces should be identified for drivers entering a parking lot or structure.

4.4 Van Parking Spaces

Vans require a wider parking stall, because wheelchair entry into the van is often via a side door with a mechanical platform lift that extends outside the van. Additional manoeuvring space is required beyond the platform.

Where parking is required for a person with a disability who uses a van, specific locations should be provided.

Widening the sidewalk at the unloading area may be necessary to give wheelchair users adequate room to turn after using a vehicle side-lift.

4.4.1 Size
Van parking spaces shall be at least 4600 mm wide, which include the access aisle, except for parallel parking spaces, which shall be at least 2600 mm wide by 7400 mm long. (Figure 4.3).

For parallel van parking, space is required behind the stall because some vans have the wheelchair entry and mechanical platform lift at the back of the vehicle.

4.4.2 Height Clearance
Van parking spaces shall have a height clearance of at least 2750 mm (although OBC 3.7.2.2.(2) allows 2100 mm) at the parking space and along the vehicle access and egress routes.

4.5 Signs

Accessible parking stalls shall be designated as reserved for use by persons with disabilities by

a) the Uniform Traffic Control Sign, mounted vertically (Figure 4.4); and
b) the international symbol of access on the pavement of the stall.

4.5.1 Vertical signs shall be

a) at least 300 x 600 mm; and
b) installed at a height between 1500 mm and 2500 mm from the ground or floor surface to the centre of the sign.

The vertical sign should be located to make it readily visible by a driver of a vehicle approaching the stall. Where the location of designated parking areas for use by people with disabilities is not obvious or is distant from the approach viewpoints, directional signs should be placed along the route leading to the designated parking stalls (Figure 4.5).

4.5.2 Symbols of Access Symbols of access on the pavement shall be

a) at least 1000 mm long;
b) located in the centre of the stall; and
c) painted white, with a blue-painted background.

All markings should be of a slip resistant type. It is not recommended to paint the entire surface of the accessible parking space if the paint will make the surface slippery when wet.

4.6 Passenger Loading Zones

Passenger loading zones shall be provided for wheelchair transporting vehicles, taxis and other vehicles that may be used to transport persons with disabilities. Roundabouts should accommodate the turning radius of these vehicles.

4.6.1 Size and Access
Passenger loading zones shall

a) provide an access aisle at least 1500 mm wide and 6000 mm long adjacent and parallel to the vehicle pull-up space (Figure 4.6);
b) have a curb ramp complying with Section 3, curb ramps, where there are curbs between the access aisle and the vehicle pull-up space; and
c) be sheltered.

4.6.2 Vertical Clearance - A minimum vertical clearance of 2750 mm shall be provided at accessible passenger loading zones and along vehicle access routes to such area from site entrances (Figure 4.7).

4.7 Number of Parking Spaces

For parking garages or parking areas providing in excess of nineteen (19) required parking spaces, one (1) parking space plus one (1) parking space per one hundred (100) required parking spaces shall be designated as a parking space for the physically disabled.

It is preferred that two (2) spaces be designated for parking areas of 19 parking spaces or less, and (4) parking spaces be designated for parking areas of one hundred (100) parking spaces.

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