Park on road, not footpath
The footpath is for feet. As the warmer months approach, people are asked to keep their cars off the sidewalk so children, people pushing prams and mobility scooter users can get past with ease.
Let’s Go spokeswoman Liz Beck said it was an ongoing issue and the road was the safest place to park cars.
‘‘If we can have people actually park their cars on the road, that’s what the road’s designed for,’’ she said.
‘‘I think sometimes people park on the footpath or the grass berm because they think they’re making it safer, but actually by parking on the road you’re narrowing the road and reducing speed and making that road environment safer for all users.’’
Beck said many schools are encouraging their children to travel actively, so safety was extra important.
‘‘Kids should be able to walk and cycle and scooter safely to school, so please just think a little bit further ahead. Think about where you’re parking your vehicle.’’
New Plymouth District Council parking warden Margy, who can not have her last name published, said they speak to drivers or leave warnings on offending cars. After that they issue $40 tickets.
‘‘In the suburbs we have numerous complaints especially near rest homes where there’s a lot of people with mobility scooters and disability walking frames.
‘‘We hear some terrible stories about people in mobility scooters. They don’t have the turning ability that a vehicle would. We’ve been told people are in tears because they’re stuck, they can’t get out of where they’ve got themselves, thinking they can get around a car.’’
It’s not illegal to park with its wheels on the berm, as long as the car is not blocking the footpath, she said.
‘‘Cars can pull up on to the footpath thinking they’re doing society a bit of a favour. If you can’t get a pushchair or a mobility scooter or anything like that past the vehicle that’s trying to do a favour by parking off the road it’s a huge disservice either way.’’
Often residents near schools ring to let the council know when the footpath is blocked and children were walking past using gardens or on the road, she said.