News / pavement parking
Petition to ban pavement parking gains momentum
A petition to ban pavement parking has reached 1000 signatures.
Launched by Bristol Green Party, the petition calls for an end to pavement parking in Bristol.
Campaigners are demanding that Bristol City Council uses its existing powers to ban pavement parking in Bristol where it can.
is needed now More than ever
They are also calling on the government to strengthen councils’ powers to ban pavement parking where bans are needed.
A petition to ban pavement parking on Sandy Park Road has also been launched by Brislington West Liberal Democrat councillor, Andrew Varney.
Pavement parking has plagued Bristol for years, and the city has long been regarded as one of the worst in the country for vehicles blocking its public walkways.
In 2017, Green councillors campaigned to raise awareness of the issue and lobby for a complete ban on the practise, saying it poses a real danger to the most vulnerable groups.
Campaigners said the petition is needed to stop cars from making it unsafe for pedestrians.
https://twitter.com/bristol_pip/status/1672595812172308481
“Many areas of central Bristol have narrow roads and pavements, and so when cars and vans park on the pavements, they block them,” said campaigners.
“This makes it hard to walk safely, especially for those with disabilities, those pushing prams and buggies and those with low vision. People in wheelchairs or on mobility scooters are also badly affected.
“Pavement parking can also force people into the road, putting themselves at risk from traffic.”
The law on pavement parking is a grey area, and councils have limited powers to ban it.
But campaigners point to Sheffield, where the local council is clamping down on pavement parking in city-centre streets where the law allows them to.
The laws means vehicles that park on a footpath next to controlled crossing zigzags, bus stop clearways, parking bays and unrestricted roads can be fined.
“Bristol could do the same right now, and could call on the Government to strengthen council’s powers to ban pavement parking where bans are needed,” said campaigners.
“Pavements should be for people, not cars.”
The petition needs to reach 3,500 signatures to be debated at full council.
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read next:
- Urgent calls to ban pavement parking across the city
- ‘Pavement parking in Bristol should be banned’
- Cotham Hill pedestrianisation praised byActive Travel
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