Pavement obstruction

Bruce4

Hi all, I am considering getting a mobility scooter, but pavements around where I live often have cars partly parked on pavement. How much space can I expect local council to maintain for safe passage ? Are there any rules or regulations which cover obstruction of pavements ?

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

The reality is the council can't go down every road every day, and even when they do, they can only ticket cars, not physically move them.

While it shouldn't be this way, we are best just trying to avoid roads with daily pavement parking. If that's not possible, then roughly measure a few gaps next time you go out to see whether a scooter would fit. There are a few roads near me where pavement parking even limits walking, let alone anything wheeled.

If police are involved, they will usually use a width of 1.2 metres. But that's often unrealistic in a residential area so I wouldn't get too caught up on that.

Wibbles

I often take photos of cars blocking the pavement and save them for "future use" !

It makes me feel better about them.

The law may be changing nationwide to make parking on pavements illegal (at the moment - it is only illegal in London)

Wibbles

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1126372#Comment_1126372

Rules apply to disabled and enabled drivers !

66Mustang

When he was a young detective in about the 90s, my dad was told to investigate a crime where a lady on a mobility scooter driver had supposedly vandalised a rather nice sports car.

It seemed odd to put a detective on a case like that even in those days, but the sports car was owned by the boyfriend of an officer that worked at my dad's station. Of course I'm only saying that for context, and would not think about implying causation.

It turned out that the car had been parked not just inconsiderately but illegally on a busy road. The scooter rider had damaged the car by scraping along one side of it while trying to squeeze past on her scooter.

For better or worse, the law at the time meant the scooter driver could have been prosecuted for criminal damage. However, the driver would have to be prosecuted for his traffic offences, too. This would have meant his insurance would not pay out for the damage.

No charge was made against the scooter rider, and the PC who was the partner of the car driver stopped speaking to my dad!

luvpink

@Bruce4

Hi and welcome to the community.

Where I live the pavements are very narrow and vehicles quite often park on them, obstructing access for mobility scooters, wheel chair users and pushchairs.

Its a real problem and there doesn't seem to be a solution.

People live in properties with no off street parking and a lot of them have multiple vehicles.

The council tried to implement resident permits to lessen the amount of vehicles parking but it was rejected by the residents and they complain about tourist parking and school pick up time parking.

It does cause a problem for emergency vehicles.

I see mobility scooters having to use roads but I don't know the rules regarding that.

Wibbles

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1126515#Comment_1126515

Class 3 mobility scooters can be used on roads (max 8mph)
They must be registered with the DVLA
They require lights, mirrors, and indicators
Class 2 scooters (max 4mph) cannot be used on roads (except crossing)
Motorways are prohibited for all mobility scooters

Bruce4

Sadly, where I live about 99% of houses have garages and most also have a drive. But most seem to park outside either on or off the kerb (even dropped kerbs on corner) for sheer convenience and council will not get involved unless I take a photograph. Just have to take the chance.

luvpink

@Bruce4

Yeah unfortunately that is a problem in many areas.