ABU DHABI // The UAE’s love of sports-utility vehicles, vans and pickup trucks means squeezing into a car park bay can be tricky for some.
Drivers of oversized vehicles tend to take up two or more spots to avoid dents, door bumps and scratches.
“We do have a large number of SUVs in the UAE but most are suitable for the parking bays available,” said Robert Hodges, chief operating officer at Emirates Driving Institute.
“The problem is that people are always rushing to do things rather than doing things properly.”
A Chevrolet Silverado is 522 centimetres long with a standard bed and 569cm with a long tray. Both are 203cm wide without mirrors. A Toyota Tundra, meanwhile, is 582cm long and 203cm wide, and a GMC Yukon XL is 569cm long and 204cm wide.
“These cars definitely fit into parking lots but how much buffer space is left over depends on the driver’s parking skill and the surrounding cars,” said Mohamed Noweir, managing director of Carmudi UAE, an online car marketplace.
“When riding alone, drivers tend to leave more space on their side instead of parking right in the middle, not realising they’re taking up space from the driver of the car parked right next to them.”
At Abu Dhabi Mall, a normal space is 250cm wide and 590cm long, and varies in some areas, where the width is reduced to 240cm because of columns. Each handicapped parking spot is 370cm wide and 590cm long.
These dimensions are within the guidelines set by the authorities, said Colin Morrison, facilities manager at Aswaq Management and Services, which manages the mall. Mawaqif’s standard parking bay, he said, measured 250cm by 590cm or 600cm. There are no buffers on either side of a spot, and the mall does not have any plans to add them, he said.
“The number of vehicles able to park in any given facility would be reduced by approximately 15 per cent, causing a shortage of parking slots, inconvenience and potential loss of revenues for mall parking owners,” Mr Hodges said.
“Creating awareness and better educating drivers to consider the needs of everyone else seems to be the best way to ensure cars of all sizes can comfortably fit into parking lots,” Mr Noweir said.
If drivers insist on super-sized vehicles, they may consider finding a spot outside the mall or the normal car parks, Mr Hodges said.
“Because of their sheer size, and often double-tyre rear wheels, these vehicles are more suited to truck parks and delivery bays, not passenger vehicle parking bays,” he said.
Mall owners and municipalities could provide a few super-sized slots in parking areas on the ground level for large vehicles, which could minimise congestion within the car park areas, Mr Hodges said.
“Perhaps the municipality could charge premium rates for parking large vehicles to discourage these ‘statement’ vehicles,” he said.
Percentage-wise, these pickup trucks are few in number and drivers should not expect to park in car parks.
“Truck drivers cannot expect to park in car slots,” Mr Hodges said. “Perhaps these drivers should consider taking a smaller vehicle to the parking areas, or perhaps use a taxi instead?”
Some drivers believe that having difficulties parking is simply down to the driver.
Mohammed Al Dhaheri, who was shopping at Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi, said: “I think they are not trained properly to steer in the narrow mall parking spots but I feel that the spots are sufficient to park an SUV or saloon car. I never face any problem parking my 4X4.” He conceded that ease of parking also depended on the mall.
“Al Wahda Mall’s parking space is sufficient for an SUV or saloon car, but Mushrif Mall’s parking space is very tight.
“Due to space problems, almost all malls have smaller parking spaces than open public parking lots but they are sufficient to park. People need to exercise caution.”
There are different sizes of parking spots for the city and malls, which are designed by Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, who did not reply to questions.
rruiz@thenational.ae
* with additional reporting from Anwar Ahmad
More on parking in the UAE:
■ UAE developers are providing minimum parking space mandated
■ Poor parking etiquette a headache for UAE mall visitors
■ Drivers express frustration over poor parking in Abu Dhabi malls