Streetscape & Design
Parking Sign System
125 units installed
Parking is tough in New York City, and not just because it's hard to find a space. Two factors make it even more difficult:
- the sheer number and complexity of regulations
- bad graphics and placement standards dictated by government rules that are tough to change
The standard parking signs were an eyesore and didn't serve drivers who misinterpreted the information, and either unwittingly parked illegally or missed a parking opportunity.
CIC's new parking regulation sign system:
- Eliminates standard sign features that militate against clarity and effectiveness
- Eliminates confusing and ambiguous abbreviations and reader-unfriendly typography
- Creates new graphic standards that facilitate reading and comprehension
- Creates templates and a custom database for the design and production of any parking sign
Although each separate change was relatively minor, the overall improvement in the signage is significant. The system represents a dramatically different approach to the city's parking signs: one that is user-driven and not regulation-driven.
The sign post and frames are custom aluminum extrusions, and a stainless steel sleeve attaches the sign posts to the sidewalk and protects the powder-coated finish from scratches.
The system sets a new standard for New York City's parking signs. More significantly, the process that developed it and the principles underlying the resulting design can be applied to virtually any community in the US or around the world.
