Vehicles blocking pavements

Lenore29

hi my name is Lenore I have just started exploring my local area in my Electric wheelchair. I have noticed many vehicles obstructing  paths making it extremely difficult for myself and other people to pass safely. has any body else experienced this? if so, how would I Report this. and what would happen next.

Sandy_123

Hi @Lenore29 welcome to the forum
It can be very annoying when cars park like that, obstructing pathways and views to cross over. 
I've seen police stop and ticket cars for doing that, when they've drove past. 

I would say ring your local council and ask which department you need to speak to about it. They may advise you. 
Hope it doesn't put you off going out

OverlyAnxious

This is a difficult problem and I do experience it a lot.  I'm not a wheelchair user but have balance and vertigo issues and don't feel safe having to step down large kerbs or walk in the road around parked cars. 

However, the reality is that there are just too many cars and not enough parking spaces.  Weekends are the worst for this as most people are out at work on weekdays.  

I think there are two different things you can do here.  First one is to find routes that are generally quieter and safer, avoiding places with lots of homes but minimal parking.  Secondly, if you see a particular car frequently parked over the path without good reason (ie - alternative parking options) then they can be reported for obstructing the footway.

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @Lenore29

Welcome to the community! I hope you are keeping well?

I would also recommend contacting your local MP on this issue. They'll be able to help and / or advise. 

2oldcodgers

Lenore29 said:

hi my name is Lenore I have just started exploring my local area in my Electric wheelchair. I have noticed many vehicles obstructing  paths making it extremely difficult for myself and other people to pass safely. has any body else experienced this? if so, how would I Report this. and what would happen next.

I fully appreciate your issues but looking at it from another angle - if cars had to park actually on the road it could have other consequences. Would a fire engine, an ambulance etc be able to get past these cars in an emergency?
If it is a question of double parking (both sides of the road, then double yellow lines could be installed on one side. The next question would then be where do these cars go? Most other streets and roads are already full of parked cars.
The number of cars on the road will only keep on increasing so the problem is only going to get worse.
Maybe a few large public car parks could be built but car users that park there would have to pay for the privilege. 
I don't see an answer to this problem unless the government fund a massive car park out of town where everyone parks and gets a bus to come back to town  to get home. 

Alex_Alumni

Hi @Lenore29 as a wheelchair user myself I can certainly relate, there is nothing more frustrating to come across when trying to get somewhere and go about your day, it can feel very frustrating and invalidating. 

I did find this information from my own local council:

Where no waiting restrictions are present on the road, parking on a grass verge or pavement is not illegal. However, a driver may be open to prosecution if their vehicle is persistently damaging a verge, parked dangerously or causing an obstruction

It sounds like the driver involved has been causing an obstruction, so I'd also encourage you to speak to your MP and your local authority about this. 

I think part of the trouble is an accessible street design, pavements should be wide enough to accommodate everyone, but this isn't always possible!

2oldcodgers

Alex_Scope said:

I think part of the trouble is an accessible street design, pavements should be wide enough to accommodate everyone, but this isn't always possible!

Additionally when new housing estates are being built little regard for parking of cars is given.
A new estate close to me allows a garage and one space on the drive for a 4 bed detached home. Invariably over time the garage either becomes the normal dumping ground or is developed into living accomodation leaving only one parking space on the drive. The roads through the estate are just wide enough to get a bin lorry down. Many are now parking the 2nd car on the front lawn! Heaven help if he residents have a visitor or son/daughter with cars - Yes park on the footpath seems the logical answer - which is what they do!

Wibbles

I too find it impossible to get around my local streets due to parked cars - plus also there is a lack of dropped kerbs making it  very hard to even get to my local post office, 200 yards away - I have looked in to the law concerning parking vehicles on pavements and, apart from London and Exeter where pavement parking is ILLEGAL - The law does not say "no parking on pavements" - It does say "do not obtruct pedestrians"

Alex_Alumni

Thanks for sharing this @Wibbles, I didn't know it was illegal in London and Exeter myself. The impact of pavement parking is a frustration that many share, as it's often our only choice to navigate the streets!