Traffic wardens to crack down on pedestrian access
By Drivers could face a parking ticket from March if they park across a dropped kerb and block pedestrians crossing the road.
Bristol City Council will take up powers introduced by the Department for Transport in 2008 – and enforce only when vehicles are parked across dropped kerbs on a corner or at a clearly marked area for crossing.
Cllr Jon Rogers, Cabinet Member for Transport and Sustainability said: “Dropped kerbs are there for a purpose – to help pedestrians safely cross our roads. This is especially true for the elderly, disabled or parents with prams who rely even more on them for safe crossing.
“It can therefore be very frustrating to find a car parked across them leaving the pedestrian no choice but to cross off a higher kerb.
“We will take a common sense approach. All enforcement will be discretionary and our civil enforcement officers will have full training. They will be instructed to concentrate on cars parked on corners or blocking clearly marked crossing points.”
Enforcement will not be carried out where there are legitimate reasons to park such as deliveries, emergency services and waste collection.
dropped kerb, therefore blocking the way for pedestrians crossing the
road.
Bristol City Council will take up powers introduced by the Department
for Transport in 2008 that have since been taken up by many local
authorities around the country.
The Council proposes to enforce only when vehicles are parked across
dropped kerbs on a corner or at a clearly marked area for crossing.
Enforcement will not be carried out where there are legitimate reasons
to park such as deliveries, emergency services and waste collection.
Cllr Jon Rogers, Cabinet Member for Transport and Sustainability said:
“Dropped kerbs are there for a purpose – to help pedestrians safely
cross our roads. This is especially true for the elderly, disabled or
parents with prams who rely even more on them for safe crossing. It can
therefore be very frustrating to find a car parked across them leaving
the pedestrian no choice but to cross off a higher kerb.
‘”We will take a common sense approach. All enforcement will be
discretionary and our civil enforcement officers will have full
training. They will be instructed to concentrate on cars parked on
corners or blocking clearly marked crossing points.”
It's not only dangerous for pedestrians trying to cross the road. Parking on a corner makes it dangerous for cyclists turning into the road as you have to virtually go onto the wrong side of the road as you turn.
It may have been illegal, but it is only since June 2009, that it became something that the Council could act on. Previously it was only the police.
This should make life a lot easier for everyone crossing the road.
They'll be able to ticket all those commuters coming in on the South Bristol Ring road then, won't they? Seriously, why is it seen as newsworthy that car drivers will face penalties for illegally obstructing the pavement? It's always been illegal, and for some reason BCC hasn't seen fit to enforce it. Bring it on, I say!
Doesn't seem to have been picked up by those car haters at the BEP.