Pavement Parking

Ticked

Scenario. Car parked partly on footpath, mother with pram and toddler tries to squeeze past rather than risk busy road, scratches car. Same scene, person in wheelchair damages car. Who is at fault? Personally, I think it's the car driver, but what is the legal position?

donnac2558

The driver, the road is for cars the pavement for people walking.

System

donnac2558 wrote: »

The driver, the road is for cars the pavement for people walking.

Unfortunately parking on the pavement is completely legal unless explicitly banned.

House of Commons Standard Note SN01170 gives a good bit of info on pavement parking

Cotta

What have you done Ticked?

JulieElizabeth

Whilst I agreed it is totally legal to park on the footpath unless indicated otherwise, I have to agree that if a pram or wheelchair scratches the car, then morally I think the driver is at fault

byjimini

There used to be a website that would provide stickers (you paid for P&P) to put on cars that parked badly, ie across two bays and blocking pavements.

I think sticking one of those on is about as much as you can do, sadly. I'd suggest putting a photo of it, along with the registration, on social media and contacting various local media outlets if it's a repeat offender.

Ticked

Cotta wrote: »

What have you done Ticked?

So far -nothing! I admit to parking on the pavement in the past, but no more. Pushing the OH in a wheelchair for the past year has changed my attitude, cars on the pavement are a real pain in the gizzard, especially if there isn't a dropped kerb close by. I've watched folks with prams struggle past them, and seen small children on little bicycles come very close to leaving expensive scratches on cars.
Also, our side road meets the main road on a bend. Two houses had their garden walls moved back to give a decent sight line. This left a wide footpath and frequently there are cars parked on it, completely blocking the view. Makes joining the main road pretty hairy at times. Surely, if pavement parking is legal, this should be an exception?

warmhands.coldheart

I would never go out onto the road to get around a car parked on the pavement when out with the kids or pram.... If there is any room at all I squeeze on past..... if mirrors get bashed or cars get scraped then tough sh-1t...... Sorry but legalities aside, it just poor bl00dy manners and selfish....

RikM

I note that briefing paper paper says that while parking on a pavement is mostly legal, driving onto it to park is not!
Kind of makes sense, pavements are for pedestrians, not vehicles.

Frankly, if someone obstructs a pavement through parking, I suspect they have no recourse if their vehicle is damaged by someone attempting to use the pavement for it's proper purpose.

System

They have every recourse to chase for the cost of repair. As in an RTA a stationary vehicle on the pavement can not be held liable,
Morals play no part in a small claims action, only the law. If a pedestrian causes damage to a stationary vehicle then the pedestrian is liable for the repair costs.

As for it being an offence to drive onto the pavement, yes it is but it can only be dealt with as it is occurring by somebody with the power to do so I.E. policeman.

darwin-rover

There was a fly on the wall cop show last year, and they showed people getting ticketed for blocking a footpath . The argument was - pedestrians were having to walk on the main road.


The amount of bad and inconsiderate parking you see every day is appalling. And usually there's absolutely no need for it. The amount of times you see a car parked on the footpath or in the road and theres a car park nearby I couldn't count.