Are there regulations governing the size of car parks in Switzerland? Can you by law tell me how big these have to be?
Ruth Largo, Zurich
The Swiss Association of Road and Traffic Experts (VSS) has standards. These are recommendations that may become legally binding through the approval authority. However, the geometry of car parks depends on many parameters. Basically there are longitudinal, inclined and vertical parking lots; There are also different comfort levels (A, B and C). The width of the road or the lane running along the parking spaces, the width of the road with parking spaces at bends, the angle of the inclined parking spaces and, finally, the terrain available at the base also play a decisive role.
Vertical parking spaces for passenger cars are usually 5 meters long and 2.40 meters wide. In fact, it’s getting closer: The current VW Golf VII is 4.26 meters long and – measured from the exterior mirrors – 2.03 meters wide. Compared to the first VW Golf in 1974 (length 3.70 m, width 1.61 m), the popular compact car has grown an impressive 14.8 percent in length and at least 11.7 percent in width. Remember: You must also be able to open the doors in the parking lot.
Do you have a question for our experts? Then send them to: BLICK editorial team, keyword AutoBlick, PO Box, 8099 Zurich or www.tcs.ch/experte. Our experts are happy to assist you.