How Far Should Parkers Have to Walk

In this reprint of an article originally published in 1994, the authors discuss the various conditions that should be taken into account to determine how far people using parking garages should be asked to walk. There is a lack of consensus, reflected by the various measures for what is considered maximum walking distance, ranging from 300 to 600 feet for retail customers and 1,200 and 1,500 feet for employee parking. Special events can command walking distances as great as 2,000 feet. The article is based on "Pedestrian Planning and Design" (Fruin), which is the most widely quoted reference on the subject. Fruin asserts that walking distances are more situation-related than energy-related. That includes the purpose of the trip, the individual making the trip, the available time for making the trip and the environment in which the trip takes place. The authors propose additional considerations, including types of users, frequency of the trip made, the familiarity of the user with the facility, the perception of security, and presence or absence of barriers or conflicts. Also, the cost and availability of alternatives is important. The authors explore applying the same concepts of Level of Service (LOS) used for roadway conditions to walking condition. Fruin's data is examined and analyzed for different conditions, and hypothetical LOS measures are calculated.