18 - Presentation on Back In Angle ParkingItem No. 18
Memorandum
TO: Grayson Path, City Manager
FROM: Andrew Mack, Director of Planning and Development
Cheri Bedford, Main Street Manager
SUBJECT: Back in Angle Parking
DATE: June 20, 2023
BACKGROUND:
The City of Paris hosted the Regional Plan for Health Conference in August of 2022. This
conference focused on city walkability and pedestrian safety by connecting citizens to every day
destinations through walking and biking. The information received is being evaluated for a
proposed update to the city's comprehensive plan. One of the recommendations that came out of
the conference was to consider a back in angle parking trial on a short term basis. In addition,
following the conclusion of the downtown STOP sign study, an ad hoc Downtown Traffic
Committee was formed to study additional measures that can be taken to help make the downtown
safer for pedestrians and traffic. The Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem serve on this committee. The
back -in angle parking is an item of study that this committee is seeking to pursue.
Back -in angle parking is considered a safer alternative to front -in angle parking for the public for
the following reasons:
1. Back -in angle parking is a safer position for driver and passengers to enter and exit the
vehicle when going to and from the sidewalk. Back -in angle parked car doors, trunks and
hatches open to the sidewalk instead of the street
2. Back -in angle parking provides drivers with better vision of pedestrians, bicycles, and other
motor vehicles as they exit a parking space and enter moving traffic.
3. Back -in angle parked cars can drive onto the drive lane efficiently without backing out
blindly into oncoming traffic.
4. Back -in angle parking reduces accidents.
5. Back -in angle parking is easier than parallel parking by requiring 1 less turning movement.
STATUS OF ISSUE:
Based on previous information provided to the City Council, the Back in Angle Parking trial will
begin on Friday July 7, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. on the west side of the plaza.
Janice Ellis
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Attachments:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cheri Bedford
Monday, June 19, 2023 11:56 AM
Cheri Bedford
Back -in Angle Parking -STUDY Coming to Downtown Paris, Texas in JULY
Back in Angle Parking FB (8.5 x 11 in).png; PRESS RELEASE- BAParking final.docx
SIGNAL, STOP, REVERSE
Back -in Angle Parking Trial
July 7 — 29, 2023
CONTACTS:
Cheri Bedford, Main Street Manager coed ord(u)paristex ws, ov 903-784-9293
Andrew Mack, Director of Planning and Community Development amacU&,paristexas.gov
Starting Friday July 7, 2023 at 9:00 a.m., shoppers, visitors and citizens have the opportunity to participate in a
back -in angle parking study on the west side of the downtown plaza where parking is currently head -in angle
parking. The trial will last for 3 weeks and will end on Saturday July 291H
What is back -in angle parking? Back -in angle parking is a safer type of angle parking. Instead of pulling into the
parking spot and backing out into oncoming traffic when exiting, cars back into the parking spots, allowing them
to make eye contact with oncoming traffic when exiting the parking space. Back in angle parking is being
mandated in some states when other improvements are being made.
Back -in angle parking works similar to parallel parking. It's as simple as 1, 2, 3:
1. Signal a right turn to warn other drivers.
2. Pull past the parking spot and stop.
3. Reverse into the parking spot.
Back -in angle parking is considered a safer alternative for
following reasons:
1. Back -in angle parking is a safer position for driver
passengers to enter and exit the vehicle when going
i
1,,
the sidewalk. Back -in angle parked car doors, igna 2, St<>gi 3. Reverse
hatches open to the sidewalk instead of the street
2. Back -in angle parking provides drivers with better vision of pedestrians, bicycles, and
vehicles as they exit a parking space and enter moving traffic.
3. Back -in angle parked cars can drive onto the drive lane efficiently without backing out
oncoming traffic.
4. Back -in angle parking reduces accidents.
5. Back -in angle parking is easier than parallel parking by requiring 1 less turning movement.
the
and
to and from
trunks and
other motor
blindly into
In addition to increased safety, back -in angle parking requires less space as compared to parallel parking which
means more downtown on -street parking spaces are available; and will not be converted to parallel spaces in the
future.
Some disadvantages to back in angle parking may include:
1. Some drivers find the backing maneuver awkward, particularly if they have limited backing experience
or the vehicle has poor rearward visibility. This can be overcome by intelligent use of side mirrors and
reversing cameras.
2. Inexperienced drivers may take a wider clearance from an adjacent vehicle, resulting in less efficient use
of available space
3. With standard angle parking, the driver takes very little time to park, whereas back -in angle parking forces
traffic to wait until the maneuver is completed, and could result in congestion.
4. On a two way street, some drivers may attempt to pull into the parking stalls from the opposite side of the
street. Paris has one way streets, so this does not apply.
In preparation for the study, the parking stalls on the west side of the plaza will be closed on July 5-6t" to install
the new parking pavement marking. The City of Paris Traffic Department will cover the existing parking lanes
with a temporary markings. "Parking lines will be angled against the direction of traffic indicating that the
driver must back into the spot. The spaces will also marked by signs that provide step-by-step directions on
how to pull in. There will be a few cars backed in for an example to follow.
Main Street volunteers will be on site Friday July 7t", between the hours of 10 a.m. — 5 p.m. the first day of the
study. All who take part in the back -in angle during this time will be given a commemorative button and asked to
fill out an opinion card on the experience. The opinion cards will be collected at the end of the day and entered
into a drawing for a custom T-shirt with the saying "I backed into Downtown Paris Texas".
Following the conclusion of this study, city and state officials will consider feedback received and evaluate the
success and shortcomings of the Back -In Parking Study. From there, a presentation will be made to City Council
on the results and whether or not to make the changes on a permanent basis for all the angle parking spaces around
the downtown square.
Only one side of the plaza will be impacted by this trial. As usual, there is parallel, head in, and off street
parking available throughout Downtown. A map of the study area in addition to off street parking is
available at Paristexas.gov/parking. Scan the QR code to access webpage.
Actions we have taken in preparation for this:
- Press releases were created and sent to all media channels 3 weeks in advance.
- All downtown business, Farmers Market vendors, Main Street board and HPC were
notified.
- Information is being promoted by the chamber.
- A webpage placed on the city website with an animated video with details on how to park
(Paristexas.gov/parking) was created.
- Flyers for distribution to the stores
- City of Paris Facebook roll out info on Monday June 19, 2023.
- Temporary pavement markings were ordered by public works.
- Parking stalls will be closed for restriping on Wednesday and Thursday to prepare for the
trial
Copies of the press release and flyer are attached with this memo.
BUDGET: Signage and striping tape will come out of the Traffic Departments Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Presentation only, no action is required.
Beginning July 7, 2023- July 29, 2023