For many stores and restaurants, the parking lot is the first impression that visitors get of your business. It’s important to make sure that there are no red flags that could encourage customers to go looking for problems. Even worse, certain flaws may be enough to deter visitors, causing you to lose out on income. Below are just some of the parking lot flaws that you should be most wary of and what you can do to address them. 

High parking fees

Many of us have been put off parking somewhere because of extortionate fees. If you’re going to charge customers for using your parking lot, try to keep the pricing reasonable. Consider the prices that other parking lots are charging in the area and try to match their prices. If your parking lot is part of a restaurant or store, consider making it free for customers or consider enforcing a time limit to prevent non-customers from using it as a general long-term car park. There could also be certain days when visitors aren’t charged. 

Tiny bays are making it difficult

The average car is getting bigger, and it’s important that your parking lot bays follow this trend. If bays are too narrow, you could deter certain visitors. At the very least, you should consider designating a few bays for visitors with disabilities and families – these need to be wider or have walkways on either side to accommodate wheelchairs and prams and may be legal requirements on certain premises. 

Poor traffic flow

Poor traffic flow can lead to queues and bottlenecks, which can make visitors angry. Ideally, there should be a separate entrance and exit. Creating a one-way system can also help to reduce congestion and accidents. If possible, try to avoid dead ends and opt instead for a circuit so that additional hold-ups aren’t created by drivers turning around. 

The risk of Flooding

Nobody wants to have to step out of their car into a giant puddle. If your parking lot is prone to flooding, it could be time to start considering drainage solutions. You could consider resurfacing the entire parking lot to help counter flooding – this could include switching to permeable pavers or gravel, or creating a gradual slope to encourage water to run off. Alternatively, you could install a soakaway or a dry well in a section that often gets flooded. 

Lack of lighting

Finally, your parking lot must be well-lit – especially if there’s a high chance of visitors using it at night. Good lighting is important not just for making it easier to navigate your parking lot, but also for preventing crime and for making your parking lot more welcoming after dark. There are many different types of lighting that you can look into. Flood lighting could be a solution to fully illuminate your parking lot, but it could require a lot of energy. Spotlights and lighting pillars could be another option to mark walkways and the perimeter of your parking lot. This could be wired in, or you could consider using solar power to illuminate lights.