14 February 2024 , 14:29
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Pavement parking should be banned - as 'footpaths are for pedestrians and roads are for motorists' agree thousands of Mirror readers.
They were responding to our poll Should pavement parking be banned? With a massive 2,099 saying yes, while just 607 said no.
But many readers kept to the middle lane, saying the decision was far from black and white. A number of you said such a ban would just lead to cars cluttering up our roads, leaving little room for traffic to get through, 'let alone an emergency vehicle'.
Currently, it's only illegal in London to park on the footpath, but a new report has called for the law to be rolled out across the whole country.
The Local Government Association (LGA) says inconsiderate parking presents 'a real hazard and a potential danger to life', with motorists often putting older people, wheelchair users and those with pushchairs at risk by forcing them into the road.
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Presently, councils simply lack the required powers to tackle the problem, with the LGA consulting with them over how best to ramp up action. The report found other problems associated with pavement parking include damaging the surface - leading to costly repairs - and creating trip hazards.
The Department for Transport (DfT) concluded its consultation into the potential empowerment of councils back in November 2020. However, there has been no official announcement since then.
A DfT spokesperson said: “Everyone should be able to navigate their streets without obstacles, and while local authorities already have powers to prohibit pavement parking through local regulation, we have consulted on further helping them take action. The response to this will be published in due course.”
Scotland was the first country in the UK to make pavement parking illegal earlier this year.
''I've NEVER had recourse to park on a footpath'
Many of you commented on our original story. Here's a selection of what some of you had to say:
Dave1943: "I thought I was going to see a fatality when a jogger ran into the road to avoid a car parked on the pavement. He went straight in front of a car. How the car driver missed him was a miracle."
Miliesko: "I think people tend to forget the basic rule. The road is for vehicles and the pavement is for pedestrians."
Nas58: "If everyone parked entirely on the roads there would be no way vehicles will get through the roads. Even if one car could get through it means that one of them, if another is coming the other way, would have to back up all the way back to let the other through. Our road would not be wide enough to get emergency vehicles through ... at all. I think it would be ok if some selfish people would leave enough room for wheelchairs and mobility scooters to get through, which is very possible in our road and often do."
Mfi: "Most streets in the UK would be impassable for delivery, emergency or private vehicles if pavement parking was banned so don't know what the answer is."
Xiodinex: "As a wheelchair user it's difficult enough navigating the poorly maintained pavements and lack of, or oddly, placed dropped kerbs without having to double back on myself, cross over, and progress on the other side before then having to cross back over in order to get past cars blocking the path."
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Stonehaven2: "I've been a driver for more than 60 years now and I've never had recourse to park on a footpath. I agree that in the terraced ex-miners rows in the North East, if parking was allowed on both sides of the street, emergency vehicles would be unable to get through. I really think that the law should come into force sooner rather than later and ban vehicles parking on pavements or designated footpaths."
Mutcer: "Of course cars should be banned from pavements. I have seen cars with all four wheels off the road. Many drivers seem to consider themselves above the law. They moan about speed limits, speed cameras and humps and claim it is a tax on drivers. Pavements are for pedestrians."
KarenG1-: "I don’t think it’s a black and white situation regarding a ban. In the NE of England where I live there are many streets of terraced houses without garages that have narrow access roads. If cars are parked on both sides of the street, on the road, not half on the pavement, there would not be enough access for any vehicle let alone an emergency vehicle. I am in support of a ban, where it’s practical."
Bilmac: "Most definitely yes it should be banned with severe penalties for any offender. This is long overdue as the motoring public appear to have no regard for anyone but themselves nowadays."
Graham782: "To ban pavement parking would make our narrow roads even narrower and possibly unnavigable. So in certain circumstances it makes sense to park halfway on the pavement. This move would not only be the Nanny State once again dictating what we should do, it would also be another attack on the motorist and a further use of the motorist as a Cash Cow."
What do you think? There's still time to take our poll, then expand on your decision in the comments: