Back-In Angle Parking
Image Source: Google Earth – Lexington, KY
DEFINITION AND DESCRIPTION
Back-in angle, or reverse angle, parking requires motorists to reverse their vehicle into an angled parking space instead of pulling forward into it. With the front of their vehicle facing the street, a motorist has better sight distance when leaving a parking space. This type of parking also allows for rear loading at curbs instead of streets. Passengers are channeled toward the curb instead of the street.
Implementation Categories
| Area(s) | Design & Geometrics, Traffic Operations |
| Safety Category | 4 |
CONSIDERATIONS
- Because back-in angle parking is uncommon, some drivers may continue to pull forward into parking spaces.
- Eliminates the blind spot present when backing out of an angled parking spot. If bicycle lanes are present, this may reduce the risk of collisions with bicyclists.
- Parking spaces should be deep enough to accommodate the lengths of vehicles expected to use them so they do not overhang onto the sidewalk.
- On two-way roadways, non-mountable medians prevent parking in the wrong direction.
APPLICATION
- May be substitutes for front-in angle parking.
- May be used when bicycle lanes are present.
- Can be included in resurfacing projects.
example
Image Source: FHWA, 2021
Complimentary Countermeasures
REFERENCES AND RESOURCES
FHWA. On-Street Motor Vehicle Parking and the Bikeway Selection Process. 2021. FHWA-SA-21-009. https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/tools_solve/docs/FHWA-SA-21-009_On_Street_Motor_Vehicle_Parking.pdf
CONTACT:
Chris VanDyke
Research Scientist | Program Manager
chrisvandyke@uky.edu
