Stack parking solutions are becoming crucial for major areas and large city use. These systems can help increase parking space, resulting in more visitors with fewer headaches trying to track down a space for their vehicles. They also offer many advantages for cities and city planners themselves. There are many reasons the cities and the businesses and organizations that reside there should incorporate these modern parking solutions. Learn about the benefits of stacked parking to answer the question, “Why do cities need multi-level car stack parking?”
What Are Multi-Level Stack Parking Systems?
Multi-level stacked parking systems are structures that feature semi- or fully-automatic mechanisms to stack and move vehicles throughout the structure. These mechanisms utilize steel pallets and platforms that traverse multiple levels to place and retrieve vehicles. These systems also utilize motion and pressure sensors to monitor which spaces are available in the parking garage. Multi-level stack parking systems can create more parking availability in less space, which is desirable for cities, businesses, and venues.
Types of Multi-Level Parking Systems
Stack parking systems are a unique type of multi-level parking system, not to be confused with a traditional parking structure. Conventional multi-story vehicle structures feature rows of free spaces that the driver selects and parks manually. Traditional structures don’t utilize vertical space as stack structures do. For example, 3-tier car lifts, or tri-lifts, can house three cars in a single traditional parking spot by utilizing vertical space.
In addition, semi-automatic stack parking structures utilize car lifts to stack parking spaces, creating double the parking in one space. These systems still require drivers to park in the available spaces by parking and exiting their car on the stacking platform. The mechanism will then raise the car into a free space.
Why More Cities Need Multi-Level Stack Parking
Many cities around the world have already started to adopt stack parking systems to create more parking availability and increase efficiency. However, many modern cities still have yet to utilize automated parking to its full potential. These are some of the many benefits of stacked parking systems and the reasons more cities should invest in multi-level parking systems.
Less Space, More Parking
One of the biggest benefits of stack parking for businesses and cities alike is how these structures optimize space. Stacking systems allow visitors to park multiple cars in the same amount of space by utilizing the vertical space in your commercial garage. You can almost double the number of parking spaces a parking garage provides by simply integrating this parking technology. This allows cities to accommodate more guests with the same amount of space.
Rather than expanding your parking structure to increase vehicle storage space, installing stacking systems will accomplish this task without eating into space your city could otherwise use for landscaping and planning.
Fewer Maintenance Needs
Automatic parking systems require less maintenance and fewer repairs than traditional structures. While traditional commercial garages may need repainting and paving in less than 10 years, the average equipment life cycle for stack parking structures is 15-20 years before you need to replace parts.
With fewer maintenance needs, you’ll save money on repairs, and you can keep your parking garage open and operating for longer periods. Repainting and repaving projects can cause you to lose customers and visitors. Fortunately, you won’t have to close your stacked parking structures as often due to fewer maintenance requirements, which leads to more customers and revenue.
Increase Parking Safety
Unfortunately for many businesses and cities, traditional parking garages are often a target for thieves and other criminals. Many visitors report thefts or feel unsafe in traditional garages, especially at night. However, stacked parking systems enforce control over who can enter and exit parking structures, which helps reduce thefts and helps visitors feel safer. In fully-automated parking structures, visitors simply need to wait in a well-lit lobby while the system returns their vehicles.
Because stacked parking systems offer more space for additional vehicles, they also reduce the number of people parking on the street around your city. This can help reduce accidents and dangerous parking habits.
Environmentally Friendly
In this modern age, where citizens are more concerned about their carbon footprints than ever, reducing your community’s environmental impact is crucial to city growth. Stack parking systems are more sustainable due to their smaller size requirements, which leaves more space for landscaping and trees.
The fact that they are semi- or fully-automatic also means fewer emissions from parked vehicles. Drivers will no longer need to waste fuel and produce emissions by driving in circles trying to find an open parking space. This also leads to less oil and other car-related leaks that can collect in your structure and get washed away with rain runoff.
Yet another way that stacked systems are more eco-friendly is thanks to their lower energy needs. You don’t need to illuminate every corner of your stacked parking garage because visitors won’t need to traverse each level. Simply utilize minimal lighting fixtures in areas where you'll need to perform maintenance and inspections.
City Facilities That Can Utilize Stack Parking
There are many facilities around the average city that can benefit from stacked parking systems. Hospitals and hotels, which both see hundreds of visitors per day, can greatly benefit from 3-tier car lifts and other parking solutions that generate additional space. It can also help to install additional parking solutions near large city attractions, such as shopping malls and tourist destinations. Any larger attractions where visitors are constantly coming and going daily can utilize stack parking systems. These businesses and organizations will notice happier customers and better reviews thanks to fewer parking headaches for customers.
Hopefully, examining the numerous benefits of automated parking has helped explain why cities need multi-level car stack parking. If you’re interested in proceeding with an updated car parking system after reading about the benefits these installations offer, you can learn more and browse automated parking solutions here at Harding Steel. We offer a variety of car lifting and stacking systems, including 3-tier car lift models, carlofts, and more. Visit our online store or contact one of our professionals today to find the right parking technology for your location.
