Parking on pavements: Readers have their say
READERS have been having their say on the prospect of a nationwide ban on pavement parking.
The practice is already outlawed in London, with those who breach regulations facing a £70 fine.
Now, the Government is proposing to ban parking on pavements across England to ease journeys for disabled people and parents pushing prams.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said last year: “Parking on pavements means wheelchair users, visually impaired people and parents with pushchairs can be forced into the road, which is not only dangerous, but discourages people from making journeys.
“A key part of our green, postcovid recovery will be encouraging more people to choose active travel, such as walking, so it is vital that we make the nation’s pavements accessible for everyone.
“Pavement parking presents a clear safety risk when parked cars occupy the pavement and force vulnerable pedestrians to move into the road.”
We asked readers whether drivers should be fined £70 for parking on pavements.
Leah Wilcox said: “They need to start making some roads wider. I park up on the kerb sometimes as it’s safer for cars to get past my car but I’d never do it so that a pushchair or wheelchair can’t get past.”
Ace Fisher wrote: “If it blocks anything passing, yes [they should pavement.” Martyn Kersey said: be fined]. There are places where “Previously when we lived in Aviation the pavement is two-plus cars wide Lane, Burton, we had no and with one car on there it doesn’t choice but to park on the pavement affect anybody. However if a due to the narrow cul de sac wheelchair and a dog can’t pass by road and no space anywhere to comfortably then fines should be park.” given..” Sarah Collier wrote: “I had trouble
Karen Langslow said: “Yes [they yesterday. A few yards from should be fined]. It’s a nightmare my house there were three scaffold on Rolleston Road at night sometimes. lorries parked on one side of We with mobility issues find the pavement (the whole pavement), it difficult to get passed and further down cars on the pavement.” another company lorry,
Dot Atkinson felt and a van parked on the issue was not the pavement on the straightforward. opposite side, I had She wrote: “It is to walk in the road.” a tough one. If Donna Chambers you have a drive said: “Definitely, then, yes, there’s if on the no reason you pavement. It’s so should take up a maddening when space in the street they obstruct the but if you don’t have a whole pavement so I have drive, or a garage some- to walk in the road around the where then you want your car out- car. Where I live we have a lady in side your house where you can see a wheelchair who struggles to get it. round so many of the selfish people.
“Unless councils can provide The road is for cars, the pavement parking areas for cars in each for people.” street, away from the houses, Michael Leach said: “If a wheelchair, allowing free access to emergency mobility scooter or pushchair vehicles, then where do they cannot comfortably get expect everyone to put their cars? through, then yes.”
People with more than one car Alison Lydon posted: “If a should maybe be made to rent a wheelchair, mobility scooter, garage or something.” pushchair or blind person with a
Alan Jenkins said: “It depends guide dog can get past I don’t on the width of the road. But you think it’s an issue. If they can’t, should not be allowed to block the then yes, a fine.”
Ann Yardley said: “A new neighbour has decided that it’s perfectly all right to park his “tank” (well, that’s what it sounds like) not only on the pavement but on his neighbour’s garden as well.”
Linda Stead, who is particularly affected by pavement parking, said: “Not sure about a fine but if it was made illegal maybe people would think first. As a mobility scooter user some pavements are a nightmare anyway without having to negotiate round cars.”
Melissa Mee said: “It depends on the roads. My street is a bus route and we have big pavements, so we have to park on pavements so bus can get past.”
Geraldine Laud said: “Yes, they should be fined. In the street where I live, I see mothers pushing pushchairs on the road because of drivers being arrogant.”
John Pyne said: “Yes, no question about it. We need a tow away system like in Spain and France.”
Alison Byrnes claimed sometimes there is no alternative to pavement parking, adding that developers are partly to blame by building houses too close together, not allowing sufficient driveway spaces.
She said: “Blame the developers and planners - no vision and common sense.”
James Mckenna said: “Yes. I got fined in London for doing that 12 years ago and I was only trying to find directions. Only there for three minutes. I told the person it was OK to do that where I came from he said tough.
“I appealed against but still had to pay the fine.”
Amanda Sefton came out against fines, unless roads are widened. She added: “It’s an impossible choice - face a fine for blocking the pavement (and wheelchair/pram users) or obstruct the road and prevent cars and emergency vehicles passing.”
Finally, Susan Smith was firmly in favour of fines, saying: “Yes. Roads are for cars, pavements are for people walking.”