Cars parking on pavements

[ultraviolet]

It was good to read a bit in the Courier highlight the number of cars who now park on the pavement rather that on the road especially highlighting the ones who seem to do this as the norm on High Street and the inconvenience it is to runners and walkers. I have to wholeheartedly agree and find it rather annoying when out walking that I have to make my way round cars parked on the pavement. Shouldn't I do that on the roads? Actually was surprised to read it is illegal. Is it? And if so why are so many people doing it?

[muppetanimal]

On a similar note regarding the parking habits of some local motorists:


Highway Code para 239:

“...wherever possible...do not park facing against the traffic flow”


Highway Code para 248 (Parking at night):

“You MUST NOT park on a road at night facing against the direction of the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space.”


Parking at night is covered by the rules regarding lighting up times, so even if it is 8.15 am and the street lights are still on you are not allowed to park facing oncoming traffic on "their" side of the road ...... users of Main Street, Longrow and elsewhere take note.

My suggestion ...... Maybe it is about time that we had a traffic warden willing and able to sort out the "park where you like" attitude of the inconsiderate few.

[LANDROVER ROGER]

Pavement parking is one of my pet hates.I have had a go at several people over the years.I remind them that wheelchair users and people with children in prams would have to go in to the roadway to pass their vehicle.Muppetanimal made a good point.I do think that certain people need to re-read The Highway Code.Don`t get me started on double parking!

[booboos]

Parking on pavements only illegal in London. See section 244

https://www.gov.uk/waiting-and-parking/ ... 239-to-247

Obviously if the vehicle was causing an obstruction, it could be deemed dangerous and a ticket issued.
As for the bit about High Street, if it's the bit I'm thinking about, the pavement is about 12 feet wide there so surely it's not an issue?

[howlsatthemoon]

Sorry booboos, I think you have selected reading, according to your link:-

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

As I see it you cannot park on the pavement unless there are signs which permit it. To my knowledge there are no signs on high street, or anywhere else in the town, which allows anyone to park on pavements. So it does'nt matter if the pavement is 5ft or 100ft wide you are not allowed to park on it unless there are signs that say you can.

[booboos]

Sorry booboos, I think you have selected reading, according to your link:-

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

As I see it you cannot park on the pavement unless there are signs which permit it. To my knowledge there are no signs on high street, or anywhere else in the town, which allows anyone to park on pavements. So it does'nt matter if the pavement is 5ft or 100ft wide you are not allowed to park on it unless there are signs that say you can.

Oops! You're right, didn't read it properly!

[howlsatthemoon]

I see a few of the posts on here refer to the highway code, although there are certain aspects in the highway code which are law, but there are also things in it which are only recommendations (common sense) and not actual law. So please don't think that if it is in the highway code it is law.

[howlsatthemoon]

On a similar note regarding the parking habits of some local motorists:


Highway Code para 239:

“...wherever possible...do not park facing against the traffic flow”


Highway Code para 248 (Parking at night):

“You MUST NOT park on a road at night facing against the direction of the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space.”


Parking at night is covered by the rules regarding lighting up times, so even if it is 8.15 am and the street lights are still on you are not allowed to park facing oncoming traffic on "their" side of the road ...... users of Main Street, Longrow and elsewhere take note.

My suggestion ...... Maybe it is about time that we had a traffic warden willing and able to sort out the "park where you like" attitude of the inconsiderate few.

Surely if the council have parking restrictions in place then the streets that have parking restrictions are a recognised parking space.

[muppetanimal]

Howlsatthemoon appears to be fighting the corner of the "Park Anywhere" brigade. Parking restrictions (e.g. on Longrow or Main Street) on the public highway does not in effect create legally recognised parking spaces, it only provides acceptance that parking on a carriageway will be permitted within the given restrictions. A lay-by is a recognised parking space, an outlined space in Glasgow beside a parking meter is a recognised parking space, whilst parking your car on the road outside the Golden Ocean is technically not in a recognised parking space but on part of the public highway covered by parking restrictions.

As for the highway code, it is indeed a far simpler document for a member of the public to study than the volumes of statutory legislation that encompasses the subject area of that learner drivers handbook. The example that I gave about parking at night (para 248) is an easy to read and understand single sentence, but Howlsatthemoon seeks to imply that this, and other, parts of the Highway Code may not in fact be the law. The chapter and verse legislation summed up in para 248 is from:
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The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986

Parking in darkness
101.—(1) Save as provided in paragraph (2) no person shall, except with the except with the permission of a police officer in a uniform, cause or permit any motor vehicle to stand on a road at any time between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise unless the near side of the vehicle is as close as may be to the edge of the carriageway.
(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) do not apply in respect of any motor vehicle—
(a) being used for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or for defence purposes (including civil defence purposes) if compliance with those provisions would hinder or be likely to hinder the use of the vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used on that occasion;
(b) being used in connection with—
(i) any building operation or demolition;
(ii) the repair of any other vehicle;
(iii) the removal of any obstruction to traffic;
(iv) the maintenance, repair or reconstruction of any road; or
(v) the laying, erection, alteration or repair in or near to any road of any sewer, main, pipe or apparatus for the supply of gas, water or electricity, of any telecommunication apparatus as defined in Schedule 2 to the Telecommunication Act 1984 or of the apparatus of any electric transport undertaking,
if, in any such case, compliance with those provisions would hinder or be likely to hinder the use of the vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used on that occasion;
(c) on any road in which vehicles are allowed to proceed in one direction only;
(d) standing on a part of a road set aside for the parking of vehicles or as a stand for hackney carriages or as a stand for buses or as a place at which such vehicles may stop for a longer time than is necessary for the taking up and setting down of passengers where compliance with those provisions would conflict with the provisions of any order, regulations or byelaws governing the use of such part of a road for that purpose; or
(e) waiting to set down or pick up passengers in accordance with regulations made or directions given by a chief officer of police in regard to such setting down or picking up.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Need I say more ?

[howlsatthemoon]

Howlsatthemoon appears to be fighting the corner of the "Park Anywhere" brigade.

Am I!!! Please show me where I have said this???

As I read it you are allowed to park (at night) as long as you are not facing the line of traffic, but I still maintain that as the council has parking restrictions on Longrow and Main street then they are admitting that the streets are recognised parking places.

How sad is it when people are complaining about the direction a car/van is facing when parked.

And yes, I am saying that parts of the highway code are not law.

[muppetanimal]

Hmmm ..... As well as he Bolgam Street carpark there are 5 designated parking "spaces" towards the centre of town as I remember but lots of other "places" where a vehicle may be parked . (A disabled bay outside the Victoria Hall, two beside the pelican crossing on Main Street, and two designated parking "spaces" adjacent to the roundabout at the side of the Factory Shop). The "spaces " in the Bolgam Street carpark are delineated, in other words they are enclosed within white lines which makes them "SPACES" and not "PLACES" as per various government regulations.

The devil as with all things legal is in the fine detail
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How sad is it when people are complaining about the direction a car/van is facing when parked.

As this is a road safety issue (being able to see red reflectors when a light is shone on them) I cannot understand why anyone would not consider this to common sense.

[Bonnie Lass]

In Sydney (when parking beside a road) you have to parking in the direction of the traffic flow - you get a heavy fine if you don't. It makes sense, so much easier to pull out and drive away without causing a hazards.

[WC1]

I saw an amazing example of inconsiderate parking on the pavement this morning in Main Street. A motorist bumped his car up on to the 'nib' at the pedestrian lights and left it there while he went into the newsagents. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

[Stebyr]

I can see a problem arising from all these posts. The council will see it as an excuse to charge for parking in designated areas.

[smiles]

There should also be some limit to the number of vechiles a household should have outside their house. Or at least show some consideration. Family over the road have 3 cars, one for the Dad, one for the mum, one for the son and now a work van!!! Fecking nightmare parking on our street now. No wonder people park on the kerbs. Soon be the walls!!