Parking on pavement.

[tiggerblue10]

I remember many years ago when it became illegal to park on the pavement. Why did this happen? I regularly drive up and down a narrow road with loads of cars parked either side and hardly any gaps. The other day it took my around 15 monutes to get through this road because neither the car in fronto of me or the car coming towards us would reverse. BTW I was well back from the car in front but there was nowhere for me to reverse into.

Should I write to my MP to ask for more white-lined designated areas or will I be wasting my time?

[cruciverbali]

As far as I am aware parking on the pavement (if it is wide enough) isn't illegal, unless in so doing you break some part of the Highway Code or other Law of the Land. For example, you must leave enough room for pedestrians to pass by safely.

[tiggerblue10]

If narrow roads had white-lined areas then pedestrians, pushchairs and wheelchairs would still have enough room to get through.

[daniela31]

when these houses were built, it is possible that not many residents had cars, so it is probably a nightmare to live there and be able to park outside your own house.
The best idea would be to have parking on one side only, in angled parking bays. Should be able to get more cars parked, not obstructing the pavement, and traffic free hassle.
Suggest it to your local council.
:-)

[daniela31]

that should have been hassle free traffic.

[tiggerblue10]

I think the road is still to narrow for angled parking. i think they should put white lines 2 foot into the pavement. That should give a bit more room to manouver.

[Ethel]

In some areas pavement parking is prohibited by a local Act of Parliament, and it may be prohibited elsewhere in particular streets or parts of streets by traffic regulation orders. But enforcement may be a problem unless the local authority is able to take on the responsibility through the arrangements being developed under the Road Traffic Act 1991. The various physical measures described in this leaflet are however largely self-enforcing.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/tpm/tal/parkin gmatters/pavementparking

[DrFilth]

we have a similar problem , cars always park half on the pavement. i have seen a wheelchair user having to cross the road to the other pavement or use the road because on this kind of parking. it is in the highway code but nobody bothers


244
You MUST NOT park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it. Parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments and people with prams or pushchairs.


[Law GL(GP)A sect 15]



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[tiggerblue10]

Thanks Ethel. I have emailed them.

Dr Filth, if white lines were introduced as boundaries then this should allow for wheelchair access.

[logic]

Driving a car up a kerb may cause serious damage to the tyres, which may not manifest itself until the vehicle is doing high speed on a motorway,
the results could be disastrous.