Pavement parking.

[ericmark]

A new study by The Bikeability Trust and Living Streets demanded a nationwide ban on pavement parking, mandatory cycle training in the national curriculum, and a default 20mph speed limit in urban areas.

We have seen in Wales where push-bikes are overtaking cars, as the 20 MPH does not apply to push-bikes, and the national cycle race had to select a new route, as the support cars could not keep up with the push-bikes.

And I see in my own estate where to use the EV charging point, the car needs to be parked on the foot path.

I see the word "pavement" as a problem, as clearly the road is also paved, in fact around here it is often the foot path which is not paved, so a law stopping pavement parking would be silly, due to the English language not that I am totally against stopping parking on a foot path, but first define what is a foot path.

I would want to ban parking next to drop kerbs, as I know the problem when in a wheel chair or mobility scooter when you find one has to back up many yards to get off the walkway, and I know it is very tempting to drive down the road at 4 MPH as one does not know if one can leave the walkway.

I have also seen the stupid signage, where the walkway is designated as a combined walkway and cycle route, with no cancel signage, and then a notice in English only saying "No cycling on the pavement" there was only a need for end of cycle way sign. And since not in Welsh, it had no law behind it.

There are things which will make it safer for cyclists and pedestrians', like banning Aramco barriers unless there is a walkway behind them, being knocked into a hedge is bad, being trapped between a vehicle and Aramco barrier is much worse. The same applies to railings on corners, and speed humps which take the vehicle surface to same level as walking surface.

Where I lived in North Wales in Shotton, I could ride to Chester on my bike, one two routes without riding on the road, here in Mid Wales going from Llanfair to Welshpool be it riding a bike or walking, one risks ones life, I can only go to Welshpool in the summer, as train does not run in the winter. And can't take bike on a bus, and things are too far apart to walk around Welshpool.

The problem is, people who want new rules are blinked, they only see what they have where they live, and those rules are likely unworkable in other areas of the UK. As to mandatory cycle training, since in the country one relies on a car how about mandatory car training, should children be taught to drive, in the same way as taught maths etc? Then the bad habits of dad, would not be passed to his children.

 

[Koolpc]

Woof?

 

[Murdochcat]

If they banned pavement parking around here, you wouldn’t get down most roads at all

 

[johnny2007]

It's all a plan to keep us in cages, poor and miserable.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I would want to ban parking next to drop kerbs,

I think parking obstructing a dropped kerb is already illegal. In most of the country, being parked on the footpath is not, unless there is a local byelaw preventing it - It is though, illegal to drive on or off the footpath, needing a policeman to actually see that done. In my opinion, long past the time when it ought to be made illegal, and an instant fine, to be on the footpath with a vehicle. Around here, it is rife, and with simply no need in most cases, as it serves no need or function, just lazy drivers, who habitually think it fine to obstruct the footpath, though I have no objection, where there is an obvious need to do it, such as when making large, heavy deliveries.

The problem is, people who want new rules are blinked, they only see what they have where they live, and those rules are likely unworkable in other areas of the UK. As to mandatory cycle training, since in the country one relies on a car how about mandatory car training, should children be taught to drive, in the same way as taught maths etc? Then the bad habits of dad, would not be passed to his children.

Bad habits, are a matter of lax enforcement. Enforce the rules, and the bad habits will have to be paid for, and will therefore disappear. Driving standards have reduced, as policing has been reduced. They only 'firefight' now, instead of being active in preventing breaches of the law now. Chances of being caught by the actual police now, speeding, almost nil. Chances of anyone being remonstrated with for the wrong signals on a roundabout - nil.

 

[norseman]

I think parking obstructing a dropped kerb is already illegal. In most of the country, being parked on the footpath is not, unless there is a local byelaw preventing it - It is though, illegal to drive on or off the footpath, needing a policeman to actually see that done. In my opinion, long past the time when it ought to be made illegal, and an instant fine, to be on the footpath with a vehicle. Around here, it is rife, and with simply no need in most cases, as it serves no need or function, just lazy drivers, who habitually think it fine to obstruct the footpath, though I have no objection, where there is an obvious need to do it, such as when making large, heavy deliveries.



Bad habits, are a matter of lax enforcement. Enforce the rules, and the bad habits will have to be paid for, and will therefore disappear. Driving standards have reduced, as policing has been reduced. They only 'firefight' now, instead of being active in preventing breaches of the law now. Chances of being caught by the actual police now, speeding, almost nil. Chances of anyone being remonstrated with for the wrong signals on a roundabout - nil.

Interestingly I was 'pulled' on bank holiday Monday evening (first time in decades & by an un-marked car) on suspicion of being un-insured.
The WPC was very polite & accepted my explanation that the car's insurance had been renewed 48hrs. before but perhaps not yet showing on MID.
In fact it took until yesterday for it to do so .. It seems computers also observe bank hols!

 

[Old Salt]

Parking on grass verges is not allowed where I live, roads are passable but most of those parking on the road cant be arsed to use their driveway. It makes it harder for delivery trucks to get by but only annoys me when they park so far from the kerb that some of them could call a cab to get them indoors.

 

[norseman]

Parking on grass verges is not allowed where I live, roads are passable but most of those parking on the road cant be arsed to use their driveway. It makes it harder for delivery trucks to get by but only annoys me when they park so far from the kerb that some of them could call a cab to get them indoors.

Sounds like what is needed is a few delivery truck drivers with poor ability to judge the width of their vehicle. A few broken mirrors might encourage the selfish/lazy to park responsibly.

 

[ericmark]

If they banned pavement parking around here, you wouldn’t get down most roads at all

This is the problem, what may seem logical in one area, may be illogical in another.

I see up the road from me, some one has an EV, and in the garden there is an EV charging point, and only way to use it means parking on the raised pavement. It is in Wales, so the work would have needed registering, so we can assume the local council sanctioned the EV charging point.

most of those parking on the road cant be arsed to use their driveway.

Guilty as charged, I have a driveway both front and back of house, rather steep, but there, and I do use it when I am not intending to use the car for some time. But it is a steep climb from the lower drive, so often leave one car on the road.

However further up the road, we see loads of houses where the built in garage has been made into a room, and the drive way is too short and steep so it has been turned into a garden etc. So no longer useable as a drive.

Further into the village, a car park has been provided, but it is quite a walk from the houses, so we have a chicane to stop speeding traffic and then an area used for parking, which together are far too long. But no one complains, as we would do anything to persuade wagons to use another route.

 

[norseman]

I often wonder how many car owners that park on the road, because their garages are full of household junk, tell their insurers that the car is garaged overnight.

 

[Old Salt]

I have a huge drive and gravel parking area. If it came to it I reckon I could get at least 7 cars on my drive (2 bedroom bungalow) before anyone gets the idea its a mansion. I hate on road parking with a vengeance. If any scrotes want to key my car or nick the cat at least they have to go out of their way to do it.

 

[ericmark]

I can also get two cars on rear drive with room to turn them around and select which one I want to take out, likely could squeeze in four, front drive one car if you don't want it blocked in, but would fit two one behind the other, main problem is the drive is steep, both front and rear, and I always put a brick behind the wheel just in case, and leave it in gear.

But not all homes have that option. And if some one want to nick the cat, parking a car on the drive will not make any difference, my three cats roam free, my main problem is neighbours cats using the cat flap and stealing our cats food. One of our cats does not like using the flap when the micro chip recognition is used. What that has to do with parking on the walkway I don't know?

The old Vauxhall Agila would fit in most garages, but most modern cars are too wide, so would not fit anyway.

 

[securespark]

If they banned pavement parking around here, you wouldn’t get down most roads at all

Half of those people parking would be liable to be had up for obstruction if that were the case.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

If it came to it I reckon I could get at least 7 cars on my drive (2 bedroom bungalow) before anyone gets the idea its a mansion. I hate on road parking with a vengeance.

Similar amount of space here, but lacking space to turn, so it's almost LIFO, like a Y, with garage/workshop on one arm. My car is always in the garage, unless in actual use.

One neighbour has three cars, had space for three, but built an extension out onto the drive, so only space for two - third one now sits permanently obstructing the road, only rarely used. Me - I would charge a premium, for on road parking.

 

[Old Salt]

My cat is actually a catalytic convertor!