Parking On Pavements

[sprayermick]

A very good friend of mine is a powered wheelchair user and yesterday was trying to get to the pharmacy to pick up his pills, to get there his route takes in a busy main road for about a mile or so but the pavement on the side he was traveling on had been dug up for pipe laying so he crossed over at a pedestrian crossing only to find that a little way up the main road there was a row of terraced houses where the owners had parked their cars on the pavement completely blocking it for anybody in a wheelchair or for anybody pushing a pram etc. is it illegal to park cars on the pavement?

[gina32]

No apparently not

[BlueToffee]

My understanding is that it is illegal, but not frowned upon by the authorities if, and only if, there is no obstruction.

Wheelchairs and prams having to go into the road to pass these vehicles is dangerous, they should be reported to the police who can issue a fixed penalty for obstruction.

[SlackAlice]

Depends a lot on the local council. Around here you can park on the pavement where permitted by white parking bays and signage. Park outside of these white bays or on unmarked pavements and you will get a ticket.

Any blockage of a pavement causing users to have to use the road is an infringement to be passed on to your local council or local police. How fast they proceed after that is up to them.

[Zacs-Master]

And just to add,
Local authorities (in England) can make an order prohibiting parking on the pavement. If this is the case, then there will be signs which clearly point out on a particular road where parking on the pavement is specifically prohibited. The penalty for contravening this will be a fixed penalty notice.

Otherwise, parking a vehicle on the pavement could lead to an offence of obstruction being committed. This could result in a fixed penalty notice being issued to offending vehicles. It can also cause danger/nuisance for pedestrians and wheelchairs users.

[Wak]

Whilst I agree with all the above comments I would also suggest that your friend contacts his local chemist and ask if they can deliver his prescription on a regular basis.
All the chemists around my area seem very keen to deliver just to keep the business

[sandyRoe]

It's the same in my street. The pavements are narrow and cars parked with two wheels on them effective block them for people with prams or mobility aids.

[Hypognosis]

Maybe they should legalise the vandalism of obstructively parked cars but only for wheelchair users?

[sandyRoe]

No. That would take the spark of excitement from it.

[boxtops]

Good idea re home delivery, most chemists will do that now.

[Hypognosis]

@SandyRoe

Heh heh! :-)

[cassa333]

Next time take a photo with your friend unable to get past and take it to the local police station (if they have a counter that is) or ask a pcso to visit you and show them.

[Old_Geezer]

Of course it is illegal, but sometimes where the authorities have failed in their duty to ensure a wide enough road it is seen as the only solution to the issue of having nowhere to stop whilst avoiding problems for traffic trying to pass. Rather than get at the drivers again maybe the solution would be to ask the local authorities to compusory purchase a strip of everyone's garden in order to supply the road and pavement that is needed.

[Fudiot]

s for being illegal... that depends on your local Police and Council. In our case in Birmingham, they each state that it is the other responsibility....