News / pavement parking
Urgent calls to ban pavement parking across city
Calls are being voiced to end pavement parking in Bristol to ease journeys for disabled people and parents pushing prams.
Green Party Bristol have launched a petition asking people to join them in asking Bristol City Council to put a city-wide stop to the practice.
The petition states: “Many areas of central Bristol have narrow roads and pavements, and so when cars and vans park on the pavements, they block them.
is needed now More than ever
“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.”
We have officially launched our petition to ban pavement parking in Bristol!! 3,000 signatures and it will have to be debated so please sign and share!!! https://t.co/aFdVLpWG9h
— Cllr Emma Edwards (@bristol_pip) October 13, 2022
A problem that has plagued the city for years, Bristol has long been regarded as one of the worst in the country for vehicles blocking its public walkways.
In 2017, former Green councillor 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.
Similarly, Bristol Walking Alliance have worked for years to put an end to the problem, calling pavement parking “discrimination against people who walk and deters more people from walking”.
In Sustrans’ Walking and Cycling Index 2022, it found that 70 per cent of respondents thought that having few cars on pavements would help the shift from driving to walking – making streets and neighbourhoods safe, welcoming and comfortable for everyone to walk in.
But there is currently no explicit law that bans the practice in Bristol and councils have limited powers to ban it, according to the Greens.
Not good ignition heating – especially at this time of day people walking to work & school #Totterdown #pavementparking#Bristol pic.twitter.com/fPYb1dhIJ3
— Totterdown, Bristol (@Totterdown_) October 14, 2022
The group pointed to Sheffield where parking on pavements is banned, meaning vehicles parked on a footpath next to controlled crossing zigzags, bus stop clearways, parking bays and unrestricted roads can be fined.
Previously it was only the police who were allowed to issue fines for parking obstructions, but Sheffield City Council now has formal powers to take action.
The petition continued: “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.
“Pavements should be for people, not cars. Please add your name to our petition to ask Bristol City Council to take action on pavement parking.”
The petition aims to trigger the council in debating the issue at full council.
Main photo: Betty Woolerton
Read next:
- Residents continue their plea to stop pavement parking in north Bristol
- ‘It is cars parking on pavements that we should worry about, not e-scooters’
- ‘Pavement parking in Bristol should be banned’
Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
