Fury as drivers block bike lanes
A CYCLING group has demanded action over an ‘epidemic’ of drivers dumping their cars on bike paths and pavements.
One cycle lane, which runs along Cornbrook Road in Stretford, has become frequently blocked by cars in recent weeks, they say.
Greater Manchester Police’s Stretford division say they have had ‘a lot of complaints’ about parking in the area.
An officer slapped a BMW driver with a ticket for blocking the cycle lane.
Trafford council say they are aware of the issue, but they are unable to restrict parking on the road as there are no traffic regulation orders (TROs) in place.
Council bosses say they have been ‘pushing’ police to take action for some time and will be conducting a review into harsher enforcements in the area.
But Claire Stocks, of the Walk Ride campaign group in Manchester, said that the problem is only increasing across the region due to a huge increase in cars using the roads and fewer traffic management strategies in built-up areas.
She told the M.E.N.: “Increasingly, drivers are seeming to park in very anti-social ways and we are seeing it up and down the country. We want the government to introduce a pavement parking ban, but we also believe local councils can do more to introduce bans in specific areas.
“We have a problem because there are so many more cars on the roads. There are probably four times as many cars on the road now as when I was young. When people get behind a wheel, they often see a space and just think they can leave it there if there is no sign telling them not to do so. It is often because people are trying to avoid high parking costs, especially in cities and we know built up cities are not able to deal with so much heavy traffic and there isn’t the space to park.
“Many people don’t realise the impact they are having blocking a pavement or cycle lane and I think it is often not deliberate but it is ignorant. We see it with delivery drivers too, who are in a rush and park up willy-nilly wherever they can. “It’s impacting those who are trying to get around without a car. Cities like Manchester are pushing for a better travel network, whether that be on public transport, cycle lanes or pedestrianising areas.”
The Department for Transport (DfT) announced in June 2020 that local authorities in England will be able to use CCTV to fine drivers who park up or load illegally in mandatory cycle lanes.
Trafford council acknowledged the parking issue beside Cornbrook, which is seeing a popular cycle route regularly blocked.
They added that they take a ‘strong view’ against the paths being blocked and recognise the problem extends ‘beyond’ Cornbrook into nearby areas such as Trafford Park and Gorse Hill.
Councils have to apply for a Traffic Regulation Order, where the proposed scheme is drafted before various processes of consultation.
A spokesperson for Trafford council said: “We have been made aware of this issue, however, there are currently no traffic regulation orders (TRO) in place that restrict the parking of vehicles on that road. While we therefore can’t enforce it, local councillors have been pushing the police to take action for some time and we welcome action taken by GMP using their powers.
“We would remind drivers that they should not park where they would cause an obstruction, particularly on cycle paths.”
The M.E.N. approached GMP for comment.