Why do so many people park on the pavement?
Posted by 90sdadguy@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 376 comments
What's the deal with parking on pavements, either fully or partially?
Firstly, a pavement is for pedestrians, or more importantly those with accessibility needs (e.g wheelchairs or buggies), so it's just very selfish.
Secondly, at least around where I live, it's completely pointless because the argument that you're keeping the road clear is invalid when cars still need to give way to get past your pavement parking. In fact, in that case you're causing issues for both pedestrians and traffic.
Why do so many people do it?
CynicalFaith_@reddit
Small country with a car centred society. In the last 10 years my street which is a wide street in comparison to others in my town has gone from mostly empty roads to cars full up both sides. This is only going to get worse.
The only real solutions are to carve up the country as a whole and restart or implement effective and fast public transport all across the country
RevolutionaryPace167@reddit
The poor lived in the terrace housing.
ComprehensiveAd8815@reddit
Sometimes the road is not wide enough to accommodate two cars parked either side. This is a problem with our infrastructure. My street was built in 1936, it is a narrow roadway built at a time when this social class of people did not own a family car, there are 74 semi detached houses. They have small front gardens but no driveways or garages. There are 150 cars in the street. In 1987 when there were only about 28 cars in the street a fire engine went down and smashed in the sides of cars parked on the roadway, ever since then each side parked with a wheel on the pavement, this then gives space for cars to pass one way down the street. The surrounding streets are the same, there is no space for mass parking, the area is central but it’s the north east so there fuck all bus and rail infrastructure. It’s not an ideal solution but what you gonna do? Ban cars? Knock the street down, limit it to one car per house? None of these things will happen. This is no excuse for pavement parking, this is a lived experience of the way in this scenario.
Hamsternoir@reddit
My street was built 25 years ago and is just as bad. New builds now are just as bad if not worse.
Physical-Staff1411@reddit
Councils make use build narrow roads to stop people parking on them. They also force us to provide inadequate parking provision for houses. (I’m currently building a five bed house and only allowed two spaces)
They live in this dystopian world where everyone walks. It’s ridiculous.
Pure-Nose2595@reddit
Two car spaces for one house is sensible. The kids don't need to drive.
Misskinkykitty@reddit
Kids are increasingly living at home well into adulthood. In my area, most people are converting front gardens into family driveways.
Sharing a car is rare, unless you all work the same job and shift.
Pure-Nose2595@reddit
They can buy scooters and stop clogging up the roads. A house of six people each going to work with four empty seats is stupid.
Misskinkykitty@reddit
Aye, a scooter will be perfect for my engineering career. I'll just have to learn juggling and driving simultaneously.
Pure-Nose2595@reddit
And your family is famously the only one to exist, perfectly representing all households ever.
Misskinkykitty@reddit
In my northern area, trades are the most common types of employment. Not all of us are city kids.
Pure-Nose2595@reddit
I live in the north. Trades are not the most common types of employment.
Physical-Staff1411@reddit
What planet are you on.
Pure-Nose2595@reddit
Earth. The English bit in particular, where I can sit on my balcony at rush hour and watch cars crawl at 10mph because they are too big and too many of them for the number of people they're carrying.
A car is meant to carry multiple people. If you use one on your own, you're wasting space and clogging up the fucking road.
Physical-Staff1411@reddit
Yawn. Sounds like an infrastructure problem. What’s your problem with people driving?
Pure-Nose2595@reddit
"just one more lane bro, just one, i promise it will be different this time"
[camera pans to gridlocked ten lane per side californian freeway]
elliomitch@reddit
Which council and what’s their reasoning? When my dad built his garage he had the opposite issue, he had a minimum number of spaces required and turning room for those cars.
Physical-Staff1411@reddit
Across every authority I deal with.
Their reasoning is they want less cars. A non car dominant scheme which encourages people to cycle and use public transport.
Building a garage is a very different prospect to a new house.
Similar_Quiet@reddit
My local authority imposed minimum standards on my estate. We're less than a mile from the town centre.
4 beds need 3 off-road spaces, 1 beds need 1, everyone else needs 2.
Seems reasonable except a garage counts as a parking space and lots of the garage owners don't bother. Some of the drives are long and those people have to park in sequence, so they don't bother.
elliomitch@reddit
Yeah my 10 year old estate is a bit similar, although driveways and garages are very generous, and there’s a lot of visitor parking bays and very wide pavements so blockages aren’t an issue. I guess a lot may have changed in the last 10 years tho!
Misskinkykitty@reddit
My second rental was a new build with an attached 'parking garage.'
I could fit my miniature Toyota inside, but you couldn't open the doors.
Similar_Quiet@reddit
I know what you mean about garage widths, but the garaged people on my estate with no pavement to park on manage to use theirs. I think they're ok.
elliomitch@reddit
Oh right, fair enough. Is this predominantly in urban spaces or even out in the suburbs?
I agree with the push towards car-free living but I feel like reducing driveways is the worst way to do it 😂
Physical-Staff1411@reddit
Trying to build in rural locations is very difficult as locations aren’t considered sustainable as you’d need to own a car.
elliomitch@reddit
What a PITA!
GrandMasterBash@reddit
Ha that was my reason for not going ahead with a five bed new build purchase. 550k for two parking spaces and a road you wouldn't be able to park on. Nope.
Physical-Staff1411@reddit
We’ve built a double garage ‘for storage ‘ and ensured the drive can fit 4.
Embarrassing we have to be deceitful to build something that’s practical.
ComprehensiveAd8815@reddit
Indeed… and here we are with the drivers getting blame for the poor decisions of the council and developers. Yes there are those selfish pricks that park willy nilly. Not that the militant pavement people would even begin to understand that infrastructure is the problem by both cause and effect. But then again… I don’t even have a car.. there are 150 cars in my tiny street, there is nowhere to put it!
Hamsternoir@reddit
We have one block of flats with ample parking round the back but it involves walking. So they park on a main road which causes havoc at peak times. Others have parking for two, three if you include the garage which the odd person does use for the intended purpose. But one will fill the whole drive and the other two are on the road.
ComprehensiveAd8815@reddit
There are always lazy dickheads
DeadBallDescendant@reddit
Penalise cars that are unnecessarily big.
SUVs the worst culprits as cars found to be getting 1cm wider every two years – AirQualityNews
Working_Bench_6780@reddit
You have far too much spare time on your hands . What's next? Penalties for dwarves as they are too short to be seen over car bonnets .
DeadBallDescendant@reddit
I do this in my work hours, not my spare time.
opopkl@reddit
A ban on large cars parking on narrow streets would be a start.
ComprehensiveAd8815@reddit
Where do the cars go? Who is going to enforce this and how much is that going to cost?
opopkl@reddit
Parking enforcement has been a thing in this country for many years. We're well equipped for it.
ComprehensiveAd8815@reddit
Not really working well is it, hence the post about pavement parking and all that nonsense.
BringBackHanging@reddit
In large parts of London there are restrictions on pavement parking, they are enforced and it works generally very well.
ComprehensiveAd8815@reddit
Not near me, the problem is the tiny Victorian housing stock, tiny streets where people have two wholly unnecessary cars is the problem. The problem is we havnt built enough housing. So the housing we do have is overcrowded and “un traditional”
RevolutionaryPace167@reddit
Not to split hairs here, but Victorian terraces used to house a couple of families in each house.
ComprehensiveAd8815@reddit
Not really, they were single family dwellings on the whole unless you lived in a slum.
Misskinkykitty@reddit
How do you know they have two cars unnecessarily? Does the entire family commute to the same workplace/School?
ComprehensiveAd8815@reddit
There are six train stations and three DLR stations within 10 minutes walk.
Misskinkykitty@reddit
Damn, that's amazing. They discontinued the railway here in 1940. Not like I could afford daily train tickets though.
blozzerg@reddit
London has an excellent, fast, reliable, extensive public transport system that runs more or less 24/7.
The buses near me are three an hour, take five times as long to get anywhere than driving, are unreliable, don’t go to some key areas and the last one is at 11:30pm.
BringBackHanging@reddit
That's nothing to do with enforcement. The person i replied to said you couldn't enforce it. I said you can, and in London, they do.
opopkl@reddit
That's true. People park anywhere they want now. The only enforcement I know of is by the robots in private car parks.
One-Picture8604@reddit
Perhaps something their drivers should consider before assuming they can just store their private property on the road.
Namiweso@reddit
But they can store their private property on the road?
27106_4life@reddit
We should probably change that
ComprehensiveAd8815@reddit
Good luck with that
72dk72@reddit
Alternatively where streets have pavements both sides of the road, remove one so the road is wider...... Still a pavement for people to walk/use their wheelchairs on.
Grimdotdotdot@reddit
So I step out of my house directly onto the road?
What if my door opens outwards?
72dk72@reddit
Not all streets are like that though. Many have front gardens. Needs to be case by case example. If the door opens outwards it can be switched to inwards. Oddly all my houses I have lived in the doors have opened inwards (9 in total)
72dk72@reddit
I also don't think you are meant to have doors that open outwards if it's straight onto a public area. Eg pavement as you can open it onto a member of the public.
tomelwoody@reddit
completely unenforceable
NuclearMaterial@reddit
Not with a large enough pair of calipers.
inevitablelizard@reddit
It's infurating to see large SUVs being pavement parked. Not enough space to park one but they just get one anyway and make it everyone else's problem. At least the people pavement parking normal hatchbacks aren't actively trying to take up even more space.
DeadBallDescendant@reddit
No, they're trying to avoid being clipped by the SUVs ploughing down the road.
FehdmanKhassad@reddit
if it keeps going at that rate cars will be 6.7km wide in 2049!
signed-up-to-up-vote@reddit
It's not exponential though, it's describing a steady growth of 1cm every two years leaving us with an average of 193.3cm wide by 2049...
Unless you're talking about the year 2049! (2049 factorial) In which case even with steady growth, the cars width will wrap around the earth an unimaginable number of times...
FeatherlyFly@reddit
You'll be able to travel between the stars without ever leaving the comfort of your car.
DeadBallDescendant@reddit
And probably about 5m high..
Car bonnets becoming half centimetre higher every year, driving road safety fears – study - Clean Cities Campaign
27106_4life@reddit
Yes. Van cars from one side of the road. Easy enoigh
ComprehensiveAd8815@reddit
Where do the other cars go?
27106_4life@reddit
They don't have to be there. If the road was built before cars were needed, then cars aren't needed
ComprehensiveAd8815@reddit
Absolute nonsense
fabulousteaparty@reddit
This is the case where I live. It's a purely residential street and it's safe/easy enough to go around if needed.
NoisyGog@reddit
Yes. It’s incredibly common. The answer is to not park there.
ComprehensiveAd8815@reddit
Ok, so where would the 150 cars go then? Where you gonna shove them?
Sensitive_Tomato_581@reddit
Honestly, if youre that precious about have ur car near your house you shouldn't buy a house where you can't if your solution is vulnerable people being forced into the road.
ComprehensiveAd8815@reddit
Unfortunately our housing stock from the Victorian era and the infrastructure alongside it cannot accommodate everyone. Unless we go on a mass demolition and building spree not to mention mass transit across the country it is what it is, it’s shit.
Sensitive_Tomato_581@reddit
That still doesnt make it ok to park on a pavement - there are plenty of non-victorian alternatives.
ComprehensiveAd8815@reddit
No, it dosnt but… where are all of the cars going to go?
Tao626@reddit
That's only an answer if you have a solution for "where do they park instead?" as presumably, this wouldn't just effect 1 person on a street.
You could argue people just not have cars, but unless you live in one of the areas where alternatives aren't total shit, you can't expect people to get by day to day in a modern day that requires reliable transport but also not actually provide anywhere for people to actually put their transport if restrictions start getting tossed around.
Hence why it's only in London that you just flat out can't mount the curb whilst everywhere else it's advisory. The rest of the country doesn't get the same treatment to alter and introduce infrastructure to make things match modern needs. "Just don't park there" pushes moves and creates more problems everywhere else if there isn't a decent "somewhere else" for them to go.
Colloidal_entropy@reddit
Also illegal in Scotland.
Howtothinkofaname@reddit
Huh, didn’t know it wasn’t allowed in London. No one has told the people or traffic wardens around me.
Tao626@reddit
Then direct them towards the highway code:
Howtothinkofaname@reddit
Yeah, I wasn’t saying you were wrong I was just saying I didn’t know. I was surprised because all the streets around me are very heavily parked on the pavement.
Tao626@reddit
I wasn't sure either way, I tried to keep it neutral and just provide the facts.
I've only been to London once, so I can't say much outside of providing what the highway code says is the law there.
Ricky_Martins_Vagina@reddit
The street I grew up on felt almost like a main road, just with a very low volume of traffic. But I remember the road was easily wide enough to play on / play football on / weave up and down the street on our bikes / 2 way traffic etc.
Now when I drive up that road it feels like it may be a one way street with cars lining both sides all the way up, with the T junctions being the only places to pull in and let incoming cars pass.
I also feel like people rarely use their driveways for parking anymore (again, maybe cars are relatively wide now compared to when the houses were built), but years ago it always felt really vulnerable leaving the car out on the street.
Similar_Quiet@reddit
That's why you park it on the pavement, less vulnerable then.
Ricky_Martins_Vagina@reddit
Aye I've heard this sub loves it when you do that
inevitablelizard@reddit
Similar, I have to part pavement park outside my house and I hate that I have to do it. But if I don't, there's nowhere else to park because every street has this problem. And I can't get rid of the car, because then that's no job and no life.
It's a car dependence trap and as someone who wants this problem addressed it annoys me when out of touch people from big cities go "just park somewhere else" and when you reply that's not possible it's "don't have a car then". Which just doesn't work.
The underlying problem is that we have had decades of car dependent planning decisions, with increasing car dependence being encouraged, in places where the space just does not exist for it. Made worse by cars themselves getting larger. And then add in the housing crisis - young people stuck living at home for years, and family homes being converted into HMOs, both of which increase the number of cars per house.
The actual root of the problem needs to be addressed. Public transport, alternatives to the car, action on the housing crisis, and measures to discourage oversized cars. Then enforcement action.
I have however seen it in places where there is no excuse for it, when there is plenty of space to just park on the road. We should immediately be enforcing it places like that.
shadereckless@reddit
It's not really a problem with the infrastructure, should the houses be moved to accommodate needlessly oversized cars?
No, no they shouldn't
ComprehensiveAd8815@reddit
Building roads that are single car widths is the first mistake, not the width of the car. But yes car widths are ridiculous, there are cars bigger than actual transit vans which used to be the pain in the ass and block all of the light. I’m not saying that I judge people in stupid big fat cars but I fucking do.
presterjohn7171@reddit
Yep, that's exactly the same story in my road. People are generally sensible though and literally just put a tyre width on the pavement. People that selfishly go overboard blocking prams tend to get keyed if they do it regularly.
TheHeroYouNeed247@reddit
Entitled drivers that care more about their cars and traffic than people.
I see delivery drivers parking in loading bays with two wheels up on the pavement, no reason whatsoever.
Edinburgh became the first city to ban all pavement parking, even in places with no yellows. It has made a massive difference to wheelchair and buggy users.
NoisyGog@reddit
Yep. See about 90% of the replies in this thread.
Ooh poor me, the road is so narrow.
Yeah. It is. Too narrow to park on, so go somewhere else.
beepbop24hha@reddit
And what do you do if all the roads are like that because the houses were built when cars were not as common. Where do you move 100s of cars when there is no alternative?
glasgowgeg@reddit
If you want a fancy double oven that's 120cm wide, but the space you have is only 70cm wide, what do you do?
beepbop24hha@reddit
Not really a great analogy, I have a small car and we only have 1 car in the household. I work a 30 minute drive away and in an area that has no trains and public transport is unreliable (the last bus home from where I work to where I live comes at 5pm). Jobs in my area are few and far between and when one does go the competition is massive.
I also can’t ride a bike and all the streets near be are the same, narrow and not enough room. There are no public car parks and even the main road which has more space is 95% completely full of cars who live in that road. So again, what else you suggest that’s actually doable?
glasgowgeg@reddit
Not having a 120cm oven when you only have space for a 60cm one.
NoisyGog@reddit
That’s exactly what I’d like where I live. So we park round the corner, or at the other end of town, or in the big car park.
Mdl8922@reddit
There are also places where there just isn't any other viable places to park. 80 houses down my road, 26 with driveways. 16 residents parking spaces. That's That's 38 houses with nowhere to park, plus the fact that most houses have more than one car. Bumping up on the verge/pavement is the only option for loads of people unfortunately.
TheHeroYouNeed247@reddit
Good honestly, fuck taking up housing space for parking spots.
It's not the only option, you can also use public transport, bikes or escooters that you can take inside. People are just lazy and think they have a right to somewhere to park their transport luxury.
Mdl8922@reddit
Out here in the sticks if you've not got a car you're stuck mate. There are two buses a day, no (legal) e-scooters, and an hour or so to cycle to town/school etc, it's just not practical to not drive.
In a city or even a decent town you could probably get away with not having a car, but in the country they're a necessity.
opopkl@reddit
I'd imagine that there are plenty of places to park, then.
Misskinkykitty@reddit
Nope, there's hundreds of streets with pavement parked cars on both sides.
You can't park on the single track roads or other people's private land for obvious reasons.
This_Suit8791@reddit
So where is that then? You can’t just go and park in a field as it’s owned by someone and it’s not like the council go and put car parks on the edges of towns and villages so people have a place to park when at home.
Mdl8922@reddit
Yeah, on the pavement.
Gauntlets28@reddit
You sound pretty inconsiderate, honestly. Not to mention wildly out of touch. Say they got rid of on-road parking - it's not like they're just going to build houses on existing roads, is it?
TheHeroYouNeed247@reddit
I'm extremely inconsiderate towards cars in metropolitan cities, yes.
Gauntlets28@reddit
Well good for you, diddums. I hope someday you get to realise your dream of being the sole focus of a major metropolitan area.
TheHeroYouNeed247@reddit
Nah. Luckily, my council and city residents agree with me. We are already taking measures to force selfish car owners out of the city centre. Parking enforcement has been heavily expanded and lez are lessening the disruption and pollution that these luxury vehicles cause.
Mdl8922@reddit
He posts on r/fuckcars. That explains a lot.
TheHeroYouNeed247@reddit
Do I?
Stri6@reddit
Not everyone lives in a city where public transport is easy to come by.
TheHeroYouNeed247@reddit
But I do, that's why I think this. Sort your own city out.
Dogtag@reddit
This fact seems lost on so many people it's wild.
glasgowgeg@reddit
If I want a bike shed and I don't have space for one, I don't get one. I don't abandon it on the pavement because it's convenient for me.
No, the other option is not having a car, but they conveniently ignore that option.
Mdl8922@reddit
Yeah, bin off driving to work, just sign on the dole instead.
glasgowgeg@reddit
If you have a car, you're not limited in terms of where you live.
Move elsewhere you have space to park and drive further to work.
Also, where do you live that has a 100% car ownership rate?
Mdl8922@reddit
I live in a village in the New Forest. 100% car ownership in the village, probably not. In my part though yeah, I think I'd bet every house has at least one car.
If you live here without a car you're pretty limited in terms of getting anywhere. There are 2 buses a day and no e scooters/bikes, so cars are a necessity to get to work/shops/doctors etc, unless your schedule fits with the buses.
glasgowgeg@reddit
Are those who don't own a car all unemployed?
Mdl8922@reddit
I don't know, I can only speak for the part where I live, where they do all have cars.
There is fairly high unemployment locally though, yes.
glasgowgeg@reddit
What did you mean by this then?
"Yeah, bin off driving to work, just sign on the dole instead."
If they're not all unemployed, this argument falls at the first hurdle.
Mdl8922@reddit
Because those who do work, need to get there somehow, and with no public transport, they're stuck without cars.
glasgowgeg@reddit
You literally just said you didn't know if all those without cars are unemployed or not.
Mdl8922@reddit
Yeah, I don't know everybody in the village. I also said I don't know if there are any without cars, as all the ones in my area have cars.
glasgowgeg@reddit
So why are you making silly claims about how not owning a car must mean you're on the dole?
alphahydra@reddit
Clearly it doesn't have to be a perfect 1:1 relationship between car ownership and employment to make the connection that giving up a car necessary for your current job or career because of limited street parking at home is, for most people, not a realistic prospect in a country where the average person is two-and-a-half paycheques away from homelessness.
glasgowgeg@reddit
If it's not 1:1, it's not necessary, merely more convenient.
iloveturtlesoop@reddit
It’s pretty clear to me who is being silly here, and it’s not the guy you are replying to 🫶
joefraserhellraiser@reddit
So the people who need a car for work don’t get to work? It’s not really an optional choice if they need a car.
glasgowgeg@reddit
They should live somewhere that accommodates a car then, they don't park like a selfish wee guy because it's convenient to them.
joefraserhellraiser@reddit
Blue badge holders as well? Pack of cunts with their limited mobility right?
glasgowgeg@reddit
How do pedestrians in wheelchairs get past a car parked on the pavement?
You can drop the "oh woe is disabled people" act when pavement parking directly makes things more difficult for folk in wheelchairs.
joefraserhellraiser@reddit
There’s no “act” going on here, are you ok?
glasgowgeg@reddit
You're pretending you care about accessibility for disabled people whilst actively defending something that makes life more difficult for them.
You're either a hypocrite, or it's an act.
joefraserhellraiser@reddit
It’s a counter to you argument, no one is “pretending” but you glossed over that and responded with more waffle. Some blue badge holders park closer to their home / on curbs because they themselves have mobility issues and need to. Should they be banned from having cars as well?
They aren’t breaking the rules doing it, they are following them.
glasgowgeg@reddit
It's not a counter at all, it's defending making things more difficult for people in wheelchairs by pretending to care about blue badge holders.
The highway code says you must not drive on or over a pavement other than to access private land, or in an emergency.
Parking on a pavement is neither of those things.
joefraserhellraiser@reddit
I’ve got a blue badge you mong, there’s no pretending here.
glasgowgeg@reddit
If you're just going to engage in ableist personal attacks, you can get blocked.
IdealLife4310@reddit
"the other option is not having a car, but they conveniently ignore that option."
I understand you're probably extremely autistic and don't get it, but that is not in any way a reasonable suggestion.
glasgowgeg@reddit
"Don't own a thing you cannot accommodate" is actually an incredibly reasonable suggestion.
Try and engage without ableist personal attacks.
IdealLife4310@reddit
Nice strawman that ignores reality, autisms really shining through, bud
glasgowgeg@reddit
You're just doubling down on personal attacks rather than actually presenting an argument.
Gauntlets28@reddit
Thing is, a person can walk around a car. A car, if the road is blocked, is just blocked.
glasgowgeg@reddit
It's incredibly difficult to navigate a wheelchair around a car actually.
Gauntlets28@reddit
Well then, they should go a different way? Wheelchair users have my sympathy, but you can tell in advance if a pavement isn't wide enough.
glasgowgeg@reddit
Or the motorists should stop being selfish and entitled, and park legally.
Obviously not, you just said they should fuck off elsewhere to suit your convenience.
Gauntlets28@reddit
Who's being selfish here, the people that are just trying to park in a way that doesn't impede traffic, or the people that expect the world to revolve around them? We should work towards a world in which there is better accessibility for disabled people, sure, but the reality is that the world isn't built like that currently, and quite possibly can't be in a lot of cases without massive amounts of money that nobody has.
If I'm presented with an inconvenience, I find some other way of doing what I need to do, I don't expect everything to revolve around me. That would be selfish.
glasgowgeg@reddit
Why'd you delete/edit all your comments mate? Is it because you accused me of something I didn't say because you didn't read the username properly?
Gauntlets28@reddit
I haven't? They're all there? And yes, you're right, I thought you were the guy talking about vandalising cars. But then again, most people, if they suspect the person has replied to the wrong comment, let them know that instead of arguing the toss with them in defence of the other guy.
Also, do you not have anything to say about the RAC link that proves that it's not in fact illegal to park on curbs in most of the country?
glasgowgeg@reddit
Definitely not there when I check.
You're forgetting the apology for the incorrect accusation btw.
I directly addressed it twice. The first time when I said:
"There's no way to legally park on a pavement, the highway code prohibits driving on pavements."
The second was when I asked you:
"How do you get on the pavement to park without breaking the cited section of the highway code?"
You ignored both of these.
glasgowgeg@reddit
The person parking on the pavement, in 100% of situations.
That would be the selfish drivers expecting that they should be allowed to block the public right of way because they want to park in a way that's convenient to them.
So you never park on pavements? Great, you're not who's being discussed.
Similar_Quiet@reddit
You sound pretty inconsiderate, honestly. Not to mention wildly out of touch. Not everyone lives a bourgeois two legged existence.
mumwifealcoholic@reddit
What about prams, kids on cycles and folks with wheelchairs?
Gauntlets28@reddit
Surely prams and wheelchairs can also go around? We do have dipped curbs for a reason. As for kids on cycles - you're not supposed to cycle on the pavement anyway, it's illegal.
mumwifealcoholic@reddit
You can cycle on the pavement till 8 years old legally.
I’m not letting my kid on the street with the selfish pricks so many drivers are. We cycle on the pavement, fuck your car.
We give people on foot right of way all everytime.
glasgowgeg@reddit
Surely cars can be parked legally elsewhere?
Ok-Advantage3180@reddit
Not everyone has that close access for a proper parking spot. For me it would be a 15-20 minute walk to somewhere with proper parking and my town has barely enough parking as it is
maythesunalwaysshine@reddit
We live on a narrow road, so if everyone parked on the road, there wouldn't be enough room for the bin lorry, ambulance or fire engine.
Colloidal_entropy@reddit
If you are obstructing traffic you should park elsewhere. The road is primarily for moving traffic.
theocrats@reddit
Woah there! Are you suggesting someone walks a little further?
Same_Adhesiveness_31@reddit
I get your point but this wouldn’t be possible where I live or several places I have lived. Currently every street on my estate has the same issue, where do all these cars go? Previous addresses have had better streets near by but god forbid you try to park there, best case you come back to a ‘fuck off’ note, worse case you’ve been keyed. Before that the nearest place you could realistically park that had wide streets was all permitted because the rich fucks that lived there they didn’t like the local office workers parking where they live.
Colloidal_entropy@reddit
Years ago my grandparents rented a 'lock up' garage in a row of them near their house to store their car. Like all of your property you should have somewhere to store your vehicle(s) which doesn't obstruct the public highway (including pavement).
Same_Adhesiveness_31@reddit
I remember these growing up, all have since been knocked down, not seen a housing estate built with them since the 70s
DimensionMajor7506@reddit
What about people who can only realistically park on narrow roads? We live on a wide main road. Double yellows all down it. No houses on this road have a driveway. The only places to park are narrow side roads off the main road. We already have to park far from the house and walk. No one living near us is parking on the side roads to be lazy. It’s just the only place to park that isn’t a ridiculous distance to walk.
Nikolopolis@reddit
Because it would block the road otherwise... Next stupid question.
PigHillJimster@reddit
On our estate it appears to be because they fill their garages with rubbish no one would want to steal, and leave their expensive cars outside on the street, then claim to park on the pavement so they aren't blocking the road for others.
Psycho_Splodge@reddit
You can't fit a modern car in a standard garage.
PigHillJimster@reddit
I can fit both my 2011 and my wife's 2015 built cars in our car port.
Perhaps people should be smarter and make better choices when purchasing cars and only buy ones they can fit in their garage?
Psycho_Splodge@reddit
You can't buy what doesn't exist. Garages on 40 and 50 year old houses are too small for most family sized cars.
PigHillJimster@reddit
Our estate was built in 2008. My car is 2011, my wife's car, 2015. We can fit both cars in our car port.
I am not talking about 40 or 50 year old houses.
Misskinkykitty@reddit
In 2014, the brand new build property I rented had a parking garage.
My tiny toyata could fit into it, but I couldn't open any of the doors. You had to leave via the boot.
PigHillJimster@reddit
Perhaps you should have checked before purchasing the property, and bought a different property instead.
Misskinkykitty@reddit
I was born here and cannot afford to leave.
Didn't know you could request a specific location upon your birth.
Psycho_Splodge@reddit
Car port isn't a standard garage. And garages are still generally built to those standards.
PigHillJimster@reddit
The Carports and Garages on our estate are all the same width and length.
They are are built underneath coach houses, with one bay for the coach house, and another bay for neighbouring houses.
The ones that have walls at the back and a door on the front we call garages.
The ones that don't have walls at the back, nor a door on the front, we call car ports.
Awkward_Chain_7839@reddit
Ours doesn’t fit the car unless it can teleport or drive itself in there. Whoever was driving wouldn’t be able to get out!
ProtoplanetaryNebula@reddit
We are a strange country, aren't we? I don't know anyone who keeps their car in a garage as they are too small for our cars.
Tbh, even if I technically could fit my car in my garage, it would not make sense for me unless I could easily walk up to the car, open the door properly and get in like you can do in an American garage.
boldstrategy@reddit
Brand new housing estate near me, 1 parking spot (average house has about three), narrow roads where you can't get two cars by, and people want to park outside their house.
I don't know why councils allow it, or refuse to adopt the roads.
matt205086@reddit
Because the developers don’t build the roads to the correct standard so the council won’t adopt them.
Rick-Daddy@reddit
Lots of comments about The Council, but in many places there are two tiers with different responsibilities - borough/ district (housing) and county (highways). Even where there's just one (unitary) the developers often ignore what the council wants because they don't have powers to do more than set guidelines and developers just go with nationally set regulations.
JealousCheek7265@reddit
Why would the council want to adopt anything on new build estates? It just means additional maintenance costs.
CaptainSeitan@reddit
For which they collect council tax...
CheekyYoghurts@reddit
That already collect council tax lol
Your argument is invalid
CaptainSeitan@reddit
How is my argument invalid?
They do not collect the council tax until the road is built, we pay council tax for services including roads, it's them shirking their responsibilities, just because it's common doesn't make it right.
Eoin_McLove@reddit
Yes but this way they get the council tax and less maintenance costs
JealousCheek7265@reddit
Indeed.. but they collect council tax either way. Why would they take on additional liabilities unless forced.
opopkl@reddit
New estates tend to have curvy roads which makes it more difficult to park tidily. Also, new estates tend to have more houses crammed into tight spaces. There's virtually no garden and no drive.
Morph_The_Merciless@reddit
Exactly so!
In a lot of new build estates all of the straight bits of road are taken up with dropped kerbs for driveways. Makes life great fun if you have to go into them for work after 5pm 🤦♂️🤦♂️
Vehlin@reddit
Councils love adopting roads that are built to the correct spec. Most developments don’t get their roads adopted because you make more money making an unadoptable road
ToffeePoppet@reddit
Somewhere I walk every day parks a van with a wheelchair ramp half on the pavement. The other side is an overgrown hedge, so barely room for one person to squeeze past. They could safely park fully on the road, it’s a housing estate side street not main road. I just don’t get it, you’d think a wheelchair user would be more aware of the need for a clear pavement.
27106_4life@reddit
Salt the hedge
27106_4life@reddit
Because drivers are the most entitled group of people in the UK, after dog walkers
monster_lover-@reddit
The road isn't wide enough for both a car to be parked and say a fire engine to drive down it.
Greatgrowler@reddit
Some people are just arseholes and to them it has become normalised. I live on a new estate and every house has at least two spaces. The roads are plenty wide enough to be able to park fully on the road and still allow a dustcart or fire engine through yet people just routinely park covering large portions of the pavement.
Charyou_Tree_19@reddit
Oh no! Now I have to squeeze past in my scratchy wheelchair. Oops.
NerdoKing88@reddit
Okay we get it, you're middle-upper class. Your off street parking is a luxury us common folk can't all afford
Specialist_Emu7274@reddit
Eh cause the roads are often too narrow for a car on either side to allow a larger vehicle through. Often every street is too so can’t really park elsewhere. The pavements around me are more than big enough to have car wheels on them & have wheelchairs/buggies easily able to get through. The tree roots pulling up the pavement is probably more of an issue.
dhthms@reddit
Nobody wants to drive a car that fits the parking situation
Buy a fiat panda
beepbop24hha@reddit
There are 111 houses on my street with no driveways or front gardens to convert so that would be 55/56 cars (probably way more depending on how many households have additional cars) that would need to find parking elsewhere if we did it so cars parked on the road on one side only.
That would work IF our town had additional parking to accommodate the growth but it doesn’t, the roads in my town are pretty much identical so there is no where else we could park our cars.
deepspacetelemetry@reddit
Narrow roads that get blocked if you park fully on the road. As long as you leave room for pedestrians, it's fine.
Home_Assistantt@reddit
They do it cos even though they shouldn’t, it’s rarely enforced and apart from in major cities, it’s not illegal.
shingaladaz@reddit
Rubbish trucks
Fragile_reddit_mods@reddit
Because if you don’t care straight up cannot get past half the time.
DisMyLik18thAccount@reddit
Because cer owners are selfish, and abeleism is more prevalent than you think
Harrry-Otter@reddit
I think it is the space reason.
Assuming a single carriageway road, two cars parked opposite each other partially on the pavement will still have space for at least one vehicle to get between them, possibly two depending on. Two cars parked opposite both on the road would block the road.
opopkl@reddit
Parking should be banned on one side of the road, then.
Harrry-Otter@reddit
Probably, but I’m not sure that many councils have the time or funds to go and put double yellows on any narrow road they find. They probably also don’t want to lose their seats for doing so.
Colloidal_entropy@reddit
Ban unless specifically permitted
Harrry-Otter@reddit
Still would be incredibly unpopular since you’ve effectively halved the number of residential car parking spaces.
Colloidal_entropy@reddit
It's the law in London and Scotland
Harrry-Otter@reddit
London also has the lowest percentage of car ownership and far better public transport than anywhere else.
Colloidal_entropy@reddit
And Scotland?
Harrry-Otter@reddit
In truth I didn’t even know it was banned there, maybe ask some Scots how it’s been received.
Nine_Eye_Ron@reddit
That should be the solution.
_disasterplan@reddit
Something's gotta give and unfortunately pedestrians can suck it up, right?
Harrry-Otter@reddit
I guess this is just what happens in a country that in a lot of places, was not designed for mass car ownership.
_disasterplan@reddit
Some of it is poor design; even in new build areas there aren't enough parking spaces but you also see houses that have 2-3 cars and a van, which all needs to go somewhere. Near me they've built additional dedicated bays at the end of the street but people won't even walk 30 seconds to them, they couldn't countenance not parking directly outside their front door. Hell, some won't even use their own side driveway and opt for the pavement out front instead.
Go_Nadds@reddit
Parking entirely on the pavement should never be acceptable but I think there are shades of grey for popping one wheel on.
Wide path but narrow road? Go for it, not obstructing any prams etc and the road is clearer for traffic.
Narrow path and narrow road? Park elsewhere and walk a bit.
Brido-20@reddit
Because so many people are lazy and selfish, so instead of parking further away they park wherever is convenient to them and screw everyone else.
See also: double parking outside shops.
spokenwealth@reddit
Convenience, for the driver.
ProtoplanetaryNebula@reddit
it's not convenient for the driver though. It's a lot more convenient to park on the road, you have to manage mounting the kerb and when you park at an angle the door could hit the road and damage the door. In a wide street with loads of space on either side you don't see anyone parking partly on the pavement. For the driver this is more hassle and more effort.
Similar_Quiet@reddit
This isn't my experience. Lots of people just park on the pavement because that's how you park a car.
There's a road near me with a school on. So I see a lot of people doing it. The road is wide enough for two busses to pass normally. You need to leave space on the pavement for hoards of kids.
Half the people dropping kids off mount the kerb to do it, just a couple of wheels. They're blocking a whole lane of traffic if they do, and a lane of traffic if they don't.
Mundo7@reddit
“manage mounting the kerb” 😂
if you can’t do that you shouldn’t be driving full stop
ProtoplanetaryNebula@reddit
Everyone can do it. What I was saying is that it’s effort, even if it’s a small effort. So the people aren’t being lazy / selfish, they are putting in extra effort in order to help others.
glasgowgeg@reddit
Entitlement, you mean
Remote-Pool7787@reddit
Actually it isn’t. It’s more convenient to just park on the road, which in most places you’re completely entitled to do
Perfect_Confection25@reddit
I do it so that vehicles can still use the road.
(But I do it in such a way as not to block the footway)
piratedataeng@reddit
Believe it or not but 95% of the population do not need a wheelchair. Therefore there’s a 95% chance they aren’t inconveniencing anyone. That’s pretty good if you ask me
Empty-Elderberry-225@reddit
There flat out isn't enough parking where I live (historic conservation village) and roads aren't wide enough for people not to park on pavement. Down my road, some of us have driveways and there is enough space on the road for people to not have to be on the curb, but that isn't the case for most of the village. My road was added within the last century.
It's also incredibly popular with tourists over summer so the car park gets full and there are big tour coaches taking up several on-street spaces each.
I dont support pavement parking but I can fully understand why the locals do it, particularly when you consider that the average age of people in villages tends to be higher so there may be mobility issues preventing them from being able to walk from further away as well.
itsfourinthemornin@reddit
Most houses own at least one car these days, with some owning more than one vehicle and simply not enough space. Example house across from me has three - adults have one each then the lady is a taxi driver and has a white TAXI cab. Three cars, one home.
Lots of people have started doing it near me and it's absolutely trashed the grass. Funnily they are all complaining about the state of the grass and paths because of "delivery drivers parking on the grass." Funnily I never see any of the supermarket delivery vans or even takeaway delivery parking on the grass, it's all the locals so they can be right outside their front door over taking a few steps over the road or up the road. Boggles my mind a bit.
Errror_TheDuck@reddit
Drivers care about their cars, and think by parking on pavement there is less chance of their cars behind hit/scratched.
I’d be curious to see if there is any data on do cars get scratched more from passing cars, or from pedestrians having to squeeze past.
If you don’t leave at minimum enough space to get a wheelchair past your car, you’re a jerk who shouldn’t park on pavement.
getoffthebandwagon@reddit
We had a neighbour who had their car badly keyed recently, always pavement parks and tight too. Obviously (and rightly) complained to everyone loudly.
The irony? He has a whole side driveway that could fit at least 4 cars. He just doesn’t want to reverse back, or on occasion let his wife’s car out.
And, of course, still parks on the pavement, even after that.
opopkl@reddit
Sometimes I will write "Shit parking" on a side window with my finger if the window is dirty enough.
Initial-Letter3081@reddit
Where I live everybody has a drive or a parking spot but they still park on the pavement outside their houses. People will find excuses but It's just bone idleness.
Sensitive_Tomato_581@reddit
As a mother of twins and previous pusher of buggy people are lazy entitled sh*ts who buy houses without drives but then think they should be able to park infront of their homes even when there isnt space forcing wheel chair users, prams, etc into often dangerous traffic.
DrHydeous@reddit
On the road nearest to me where this happens, it's because if everyone parked fully on the road there wouldn't be room for the number 50 bus to get past. Would you prefer that they blocked public transport?
A better question is why is it tolerated. And local councils tolerate it because they recognise that having cars contributes significantly to quality of life.
742963@reddit
Most new estates don't even have pavements - They don't complain
Most villages don't have pavements - They don't complain
Alot of councils put the parking spaces on the pavement - They don't complain
Nanamoo2008@reddit
A lot of people do it because the roads aren't wide enough. On roads like that, if everybody parked fully on the road, then other vehicles can't get down the road. Then when something like a fire engine needs access, they can't get through.
The problem isn't just people parking on the pavements, it's people NOT leaving room for pedestrians, wheelchair users etc to get by too. Not everybody who pavement parks is an inconsiderate AH.
The street where i used to live was very narrow, if cars on 1 side parked fully on the road, it was hard to get down the street. It was also on a bus route. People HAD to park partially on the pavement or else no other traffic could get along the street.
Dull_Ratio_5383@reddit
While parking on the pavement isn't illegal per se.
the Highway Code states you "should not" park on the pavement (Rule 244).
Driving on the pavement is illegal, so unless your car magically teleports in the pavement, you're breaking the law while driving into it for parking.
So the degree of inconsiderate AH varies it's never not wrong.
glasgowgeg@reddit
This is entirely location dependent, it's illegal in Scotland.
Dull_Ratio_5383@reddit
Well, even further illustrates my point
ProtoplanetaryNebula@reddit
It's not selfishness, parking on the pavement actually takes extra effort. It's easier to park on the road and you don't run the risk of kerbing your wheels. People do this because if the road is narrow they allow other cars to get past. They think what they are doing are being nice and doing people a favour.
Where I used to live I used to hear the opposite of what you are saying. A neighbour would tell me off for not mounting the pavement when parking, as it makes it harder for him to get his transit van past.
GrandMasterBash@reddit
This.
dickbob124@reddit
It is selfishness. People buy unnecessarily large cars and then find they can't park them on many British streets, so take up pedestrian space. We didn't have this problem 15+ years ago when regular family hatchbacks were the popular vehicle choice. Now everyone wants the biggest car they can afford and it's causing problems.
This_Suit8791@reddit
Or can’t afford in some cases (that’s why leases are so popular these days). I love cars but absolutely hate the size of them all are now and most are totally pointless in the amount of extra space they have. Most are very slightly wider and a while taller they only offer an inch or two extra headroom which doesn’t make much difference. No family of 5 or less people need a bigger car than a standard golf hatchback, people who want more boot space could then get a saloon or estate, everything else is unnecessary.
I think in some streets situations it’s necessary to park at least some of the car on the pavement, like narrow terrace streets.
ProtoplanetaryNebula@reddit
Depends, the place I was talking about, I moved there 19 years ago and I had a Ford Escort from 1996 at the time.
Awkward_Chain_7839@reddit
It’s like that where we are. Partially on the pavement or no one can get through if there’s cars parked either side of the road. Luckily, if people pay attention (and 95% of people on my estate do). You can partially park on the pavement and still leave ample room on the pavement. I’m hyper aware of making sure I do this because my brother was in a wheelchair and having to go around parked cars stole what little independence he had.
I don’t know why the council approved such narrow roads and wide pavements!
ProtoplanetaryNebula@reddit
Yep! What most people do is balance it out, so they are leaving space for the wheelchair user and the ambulance.
EpicFishFingers@reddit
Why do we keep asking this? It depends on the road but given the choice between inconveniencing a pram, or blocking a bus or an ambulance...
Automatic-Expert-231@reddit
Not to block the road
Not to damage the car
WorhummerWoy@reddit
If a car is in my way on the pavement, you better believe it's getting damaged.
Gauntlets28@reddit
Yeah, no, that's called vandalism and is a crime, prick.
glasgowgeg@reddit
In many parts of this country parking on pavements is a crime.
Gauntlets28@reddit
And in most parts of the country, it isn't. Whereas vandalism is recognised everywhere. If you like it so much, I hope you get your window smashed in.
glasgowgeg@reddit
The part I live in, it is.
I don't leave my house blocking pavements.
Gauntlets28@reddit
Oh well, if your city has a special bylaw, that must be justification to commit an even worse crime. Because that makes so much sense.
If you go around mindlessly damaging people's property, then you should be fine with people smashing your stuff up over something petty, or else you're a hypocrite.
glasgowgeg@reddit
It's not a "special bylaw", it's just the law.
Pavement parking is illegal in all of Scotland.
Gauntlets28@reddit
Members of the public definitely shouldn't feel free to damage private property just because they feel like taking the law into their own hands. That's called vigilantism, and is universally seen as a bad thing by civilised people everywhere. I'm glad that you don't do that, but I don't see why you should be making comments defending criminals in the first place.
Yes, people should obey the rules of the road in the places they're in, obviously. That doesn't give people the right to commit crimes of their own in retaliation.
glasgowgeg@reddit
There's no way to legally park on a pavement, the highway code prohibits driving on pavements.
Why are you defending criminals?
Gauntlets28@reddit
This is a UK-wide subreddit, and outside of Scotland and London, it is not illegal to park on the curb. Your citation of the Highway Code is just plain wrong.
When I started this argument with you, I didn't know you lived in the one part of the country where it was a crime - I assumed that standard UK law applied.
As for defending criminal behaviour - I've already said that people should obey the rules of the road in the place they're in - that goes for other laws as well. That doesn't mean that actively breaking the law is okay if it's in retaliation. Which is what you have repeatedly said.
glasgowgeg@reddit
"You MUST NOT drive on or over a pavement, footpath or bridleway except to gain lawful access to property, or in the case of an emergency"
Parking on a pavement is not an emergency, read your highway code.
Like driving on/over a pavement, which makes all pavement parking (except in an emergency) inherently illegal.
Where?
Gauntlets28@reddit
Wrong.
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/parking-on-the-pavement/
glasgowgeg@reddit
How do you get on the pavement to park without breaking the cited section of the highway code?
You also didn't give any examples of what you accused me of. Did you finally realise that I'm not the same person?
Gauntlets28@reddit
No, I added them as an edit. Feel free to read again.
Mdl8922@reddit
"But they were parked on the pavement" isn't gonna be a valid defence against prosecution though.
WorhummerWoy@reddit
I really doubt that the police will have the time, inclination and evidence to catch me.
And if they did, then so be it, I'll get a small fine and carry on. If just one person thinks twice about being a dick and blocking the pavement because they got a little scratch on their door the last time they did it, then I've done my civic duty.
Appropriate-Cycle-31@reddit
What if they catch you being weird and vindictive and they and their mates just decide to kick your head in? That’s the kind of thing that happens in Brum.
I get this is some weird revenge fantasy flex. So have at it.
WorhummerWoy@reddit
Then they're getting banged up.
And I regain the moral high ground.
Win, win, win
Appropriate-Cycle-31@reddit
Obviously. I should have guessed that.
mumwifealcoholic@reddit
Prosecution for what exactly?
Mdl8922@reddit
Criminal damage/vandalism I'd imagine.
mumwifealcoholic@reddit
lol..ok. Good luck with that.
Icy_Interest4070@reddit
A car being scratched by a pram or zipper as you try to pass isn't getting prosecuted in any court.
Mdl8922@reddit
Accidentally probably not, this fella has stated intent though, which would be a crime.
Icy_Interest4070@reddit
Not sure police get their crack data analyists on Reddit for a car scratch
Mdl8922@reddit
I also very much doubt it. Witnesses, Ring doorbells and dash cams etc would be the concern.
OK_LK@reddit
It might be in Scotland
It's illegal to park on pavements here
Mdl8922@reddit
Valid point. Can't imagine that'd be able to be used as a defence though? I'm (clearly) no expert but I'd imagine that someone breaking the law doesn't enable me to break the law? Understand your point though.
glasgowgeg@reddit
"I was illegally parked and someone scratched my car" isn't a brilliant argument to make.
OK_LK@reddit
I don't know how the law would play out if someone accidentally scraped a car as they passed with their buggy or in a wheelchair
Mdl8922@reddit
If it were deemed reckless or deliberate then they could prosecute. Fella already indicated intent in his replies so that would fall under deliberate criminal damage I'd assume.
RobertTheSpruce@reddit
No one is getting prosecuted for the zipper of a bag accidentally dragging on the paintwork of a poorly parked car or accidentally bumping a wing mirror.
Mdl8922@reddit
Accidentally probably not, this fella has stated intent though, which would be a crime.
RobertTheSpruce@reddit
I'm not sure the police are going to be checking IP addresses and reddit comments to find intent for a scratched Nissan Juke.
Mdl8922@reddit
Well no, but if a Ring doorbell/dash cam etc sees it, that's all the evidence they need.
RobertTheSpruce@reddit
The point is that you wouldn't making look intentional would you.
Mdl8922@reddit
Haha, you'd think not but I've seen the videos of people scratching Teslas etc, they're not subtle.
Plus they would only need it to look reckless, not necessarily deliberate.
notouttolunch@reddit
I understand that you’re a criminal, then.
glasgowgeg@reddit
Plenty of places where parking on the pavement is illegal, making them criminals too.
WorhummerWoy@reddit
In many ways than that! But do I give a fuck if I get some form of petty revenge against selfish cunts?
Not really
Automatic-Expert-231@reddit
Two wrongs don’t make a right my friend
AhoyWilliam@reddit
It's already blocking the road somewhat by being parked on there, partially or otherwise.
Electronic-Shoe341@reddit
I don't know but today I walked into someone's wing mirror because I'm partially sighted and I didn't see it. The person was taking up just shy of half the pavement & a wheelchair would have struggled to get down there.
DeadBallDescendant@reddit
Funnily enough, I bet the driver had closed the mirror on the road side, so it wouldn't get damaged.
Electronic-Shoe341@reddit
That wouldn't surprise me!
gorgo100@reddit
My wire shopping trolley full of ninja stars, brillo pads and old keys often struggles to get past these twats. I'm not partially sighted, but I do hope their paintwork isn't affected.
Electronic-Shoe341@reddit
Unfortunately, accidents happen
Helpful-Fennel-7468@reddit
Shouldn’t be a surprise in a country that hates pedestrians.
Red_Barry@reddit
Fine them.
https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/news/new-restrictions-pavement-parking
InformationNew66@reddit
UK is a country on an island, with limited space. Many houses are small as well as streets. Motorization came much later than streets. Narrow streets offer no other option.
Public transport is almost non-existent outside of London (maybe major cities) so you can't just tell people to take a bus.
ZakFellows@reddit
Given how narrow some of the roads in my area are and the fact that large trucks are expected to go up and down, the one thing that ruins it is someone not using the pavement to park.
The same way that people use turning spots as a free parking space. That’s not what it’s fucking for
el_duderino_316@reddit
People park on the pavement on a street near me because if they didn't, a fire engine wouldn't get through. (That has happened since I lived here.)
The problem is the houses and tiny roads were built before multi-car ownership was the norm. It is an infrastructure problem, not a driver one.
mumwifealcoholic@reddit
Don’t have multiple cars. We make do with one car. Is it hard sometimes, sure. But we aren’t selfish pricks.
el_duderino_316@reddit
We have one car, too.
Dull_Ratio_5383@reddit
More than infrastructure is a "too many cars" problem
The US has been in a loop of making more and more car centric infrastructure and the only thing the accomplished is to increase demand for more cars, it's an endless downward spiral of car dependency.
el_duderino_316@reddit
Yeah, that too.
flyhmstr@reddit
Alternatively if you cannot park without going o to the pavement perhaps park somewhere else
el_duderino_316@reddit
I agree in principle, but all that will do is spread the problem in an estate of narrow streets. People own too many cars.
Stage_Party@reddit
It was so bad down my road that they added double yellows because emergency vehicles got stuck quite a few times and had to force their way through.
Has anything changed? Well, where people actually respect the double yellows (which isn't much), drivers speed.
Fucking ridiculous.
Henno212@reddit
Lack of public transport in some areas
When suggestions are made to add a rail link in, uproar which is a shame
Wizzpig25@reddit
There are too many cars for the available space on the roads and driveways.
glasgowgeg@reddit
Park elsewhere then, it won't kill you to walk a couple of minutes to your car.
Wizzpig25@reddit
But somewhere else is often full of cars too.
I live in the countryside and don’t have a problem, but this is a genuine issue with towns and cities that weren’t designed with the volume of cars we have today in mind.
One of the more frustrating things from my perspective is the number of new build estates being built with deliberately winding roads and inadequate parking. They often end up with horrific numbers of cars abandoned on pavements and on blind bends because of inadequate design. I’ve heard that limiting parking spaces is meant to reduce the number of cars, but that logic just doesn’t work and just leads to problematic spaces.
glasgowgeg@reddit
Shockingly I don't care about what's con
Boo hoo, the convenience of car drivers
Shockingly I don't actually care.
If I want a bike storage hut and don't have anywhere to keep it, I don't get one, I don't just block public paths with it because my convenience supercedes everyone else.
adamjeff@reddit
You clearly have never owned a car in an urban area.
glasgowgeg@reddit
You've clearly never had to help a family member in a wheelchair navigate into the road to get around selfish motorists who prioritise their convenience over the access of pedestrians.
day__raccoon@reddit
Some of us are disabled blue badge holders Jan 👍
glasgowgeg@reddit
Then you'll have a space and won't need to park on the pavement
mumwifealcoholic@reddit
Obviously they don’t mean you.
_a_m_s_m@reddit
Lack of better options for mobility. Whether that, busses, trams, cycling, trains or walking.
So lots of people drive, these people tend to want to keep the car nearby, many live on streets built before the advent of the car. Thus pavement parking is born!
Henno212@reddit
I want a honda city turbo 2
opopkl@reddit
Residential parking permits priced according to vehicle size would sort it out. Fiat 500 is £5 a year, a Range Rover is £1200.
Ill-Case-6048@reddit
Because you don't give houses drive ways.
badger906@reddit
I’ve never understood people who buy houses without drives and then have multiple cars.. like I don’t own a horse because I don’t have a field.. I don’t leave it in the street.
“Oh this house is perfect let’s buy it”… no.. you have a car you need a drive.. it’s not perfect!
My village gets a bus every 20 minutes, takes you 10 mins up the road to the local city or 30 minutes the other way to a town. The train station 10 minutes away by bus has links to every part of the uk. What is the village full of.. people who commute by car and make the high street hard to navigate because they’ve got multiple cars..
I know I’m going to get downvoted to shit for having a logical opinion. And bombarded with people justifying their house choice with lack of parking..
mumwifealcoholic@reddit
Because they are selfish pricks.
NoisyGog@reddit
It’s selfishness, and total lack of self/situational/spatial awareness. Main character syndrome, really.
You’re now on the pavements, so you’re blocking and inconveniencing people there, and you’re also not actually off the road, so you’re blocking and inconveniencing people on the road, too.
Bonus points for doing it on a single lane road, and/or on double yellow or zigzags. More bonus points for doing it right at a junction. More bonus points for doing it at a drop kerb or crossing.
And of course, the cherry on top, and a million bonus points for switching on your hazard lights, as if they mean you can park fucking anywhere.
There are rare occasions where the pavement is actually wide enough and you won’t be affecting anyone whilst you nip in with your shopping or whatever. We all know that, but anyone with a brain cell knows that’s not what this thread is with.
Gauntlets28@reddit
Putting two wheels on the curb doesn't "block" anything. You'd have to have properly mounted the pavement to have caused any kind of inconvenience to anybody. Whereas on many streets, the roads are so narrow that parking fully on the road could prevent access to people, including ambulances.
So really, who's more selfish, the person making the pedestrians have to go slightly further to the left than they might otherwise have, or the people who would prefer someone to not receive medical attention just so they can keep walking in a straight line?
glasgowgeg@reddit
They're selfish and entitled. Their convenience is more important to them than those who use the pavements.
Not really much else to it.
Spax123@reddit
Some areas just have a shocking lack of proper parking considering the busyness of the area. Where I used to work there was only 1 fairly small car park which was almost always full unless you got there stupidly early in the morning, I was usually only able to get parked there on sundays or bank holidays. I usually parked on a residential street down the road from work, but I always made sure I wasn’t blocking anyone’s drive, wasn’t parked too close to a T junction, and left enough space on the footpath that someone with a pram or wheelchair could easily get round. The road was wide enough that it wasn’t an issue if cars were parked on either side too.
HonestBobcat7171@reddit
Simple. Because the highway code does not forbid it. Unless a sign explicitly states otherwise, it is perfectly permitted in most areas of the UK. There are exceptions, like London... but then they are also explicitly called out. The other reasons are... convenience and safety - as others have mentioned, some roads are too narrow to pass if a car is parked, and some are downright dangerous to park on.
No-Structure-8125@reddit
Not enough driveways, people have more cars per household now, roads aren't wide enough, various reasons.
There are roads a few towns over from me that are two way, but because not a single house has a driveway, both sides of the road are full of cars.
It's shit, but when a country doesn't prioritise fit for purpose infrastructure, what else can people do? Take all the road works we have here for example. I don't know any other country that puts main gas lines and water lines under the road. Everyone else puts them under the pavement, so they don't need to dig up the entire road when something goes wrong and cause loads of traffic and frustration.
Itz_420_Somewhere@reddit
Because retards keep crashing into my car if i park it on the road so i park it more on the path.
New_Line4049@reddit
Cars have got bigger. Roads haven't. The average number of cars per household has increased, the average number of cars that can be parked off road at a house has decreased. The cars have to go somewhere. Yes, parking partly on the pavement doesnt completely remove the obstruction to the road, but it does ensure the road isn't completely blocked. If you don't park on the pavement at all the usable road is even narrower, and that's a problem if a larger vehicle like a lorry, van or even large SUV needs to pass.
Its not a good solution, but if those in charge of vehicle regulations won't limit the max size of cars allowed on our roads, and our urban planners won't build roads and parking to handle modern vehicle sizes and numbers what the fuck do you want? Should people open a portal and park in Narnia???
Oli99uk@reddit
People will park on pavements because they don't want to block other cars. car is king for them.
CCTV and autofines should rolled out really. Cut the admin. Money can go to the local authority to repair the damage they do
RaincoatBadgers@reddit
Partially up the kerb is due to a road not being wide enough.
The road up by my old house was a bus route and if you park "legally" with all 4 wheels on the road, then busses can't get passed easily, and they have a track record for just crashing into cars, breaking mirrors etc..
So you park 2 wheels up, makes the road safer and easier to use.
I think it's fine, so long as someone could reasonably fit a big double pram or something past your car.
If you're totally obstructing the pavement then that's not really a nice thing to do
frogfoot420@reddit
I live on an incredibly narrow street, terraced south wales. Plenty of times the binmen have skipped collection because they simply can’t get down it.
I’m surprised the traffic warden hasn’t come around, people always park on double yellows that lead to a blind junction.
Lettuce-Pray2023@reddit
Drivers are by nature - self absorbed. SUV owners are the worst by far - drive aggressively and park aggressively. But hey as long as they are comfortable.
OptionalQuality789@reddit
Just entitled drivers being entitled
WVA1999@reddit
How dddddddddddddare you, I pay my taxes.
/s
_a_m_s_m@reddit
For anyone interested “road tax” has not existed since 1937 it’s replaced VED is not ring fenced for just roads.
WVA1999@reddit
Still doesn't stop motorists moaning though
_a_m_s_m@reddit
Unfortunately 😔
Icy_Interest4070@reddit
People are selfish. Even roads where there's enough space for a jumbo jet you'll still get at least two wheels on the pavement.
Gauntlets28@reddit
Traditionally it's seen as selfish not to put your left wheels on the curb, because you may be obstructing the roadway. You're meant to leave enough space for people to pass though if possible, but it's a compromise based on the fact that so many British roads are so narrow. And you say that it's pointless to park on the curb if people still have to give way to get past, but parking on the curb can be the difference between giving way occasionally, vs not getting past at all.
RobertTheSpruce@reddit
Because they think that it's convenient for them and bollocks to anyone else.
SpudAlmighty@reddit
It's a simple problem of there's too many cars and too much entitlement. We need to get back to cars not being so affordable. So many households here have 2/3 even 4 vehicles. They park 2 on the drive and 2 on the pavement. That's just wrong.
Sharkaithegreat@reddit
If you park on the road then noone would be able to use the road...
Dull_Ratio_5383@reddit
The problem is simply that people have far too many cars.
I live in a cul de sac and every household except us have more vehicles than parking spaces, these cars have to "live" somewhere. To drive in and out of my neighbourhood you need to zigzag all the way out on an intricate chaos of car parked everywhere.
Most of the pavement tends to be cluttered with cars too, so the default is having to walk on the road.
A Japanese friend told me that in Japan you need to have a dedicated parking spot for each car owned(not sure if it's true) , it might be too much to implement here, but something along a monthly parking fee would be a good system.
It makes sense as the road belongs to the public in general... If you are going to use a chunk of it to store your car forever it's only fair that you pay for it.
Fearless-Dust-2073@reddit
Too many cars that are too big, not enough space.
Even roads built in the 40s and 50s weren't designed for every family living there to own a car, and now every household has at least one car. The main road through my town is built-up on both sides, terraces with no off-road parking, and the road cannot be widened. If cars were parked off the curb, there would be enough room for one car to get through. Not in each direction, just about 7 feet of road.
It's a problem for everyone. It's unsafe, especially for more vulnerable people like people with young children and disabled people. It causes additional traffic when someone has to stop on a main road so they can carefully slot their car into the single available space a quarter of a mile from their house. Near schools where people should be extra careful, they're usually stressed, rushing and the cars encroach on the protected areas just because there is nowhere else for them to go.
The solution would be to reward people for giving up their cars and invest heavily in nationalised public transport, but nobody wants to give up their car. We have the same core problem with cars that America has with guns; logically it's obvious what the solution is and most people recognise it, but they're just not willing to inconvenience themselves to make it happen.
Boogaaa@reddit
Because God forbid someone doesn't park directly outside their house/ wherever they're going. That and fuck disabled people and those pushing prams.
People get incredibly selfish in their cars, whether it's with parking or when actually on the road.
chukkysh@reddit
I don't have a problem with it as long as there's enough space for a double pram to comfortably get past. On small roads with hardly any traffic, it doesn't represent much of a risk. It's better than blocking the road to emergency vehicles, bin lorries and other residents.
If your parking forces pedestrians onto a live carriageway, that's obviously a whole different issue. I doubt many people would support that.
People who argue against parking on the pavement are really saying that only people with their own driveway or off-street parking space should own a car.
filbert94@reddit
Many housing.estates and towns were built in the 1800s. Most of.my.town was. Cars are a necessity for most people but the roads aren't, and will never be, wide enough.
Before anyone says use public transport or park elsewhere.
For many, public transport is unreliable, expensive or doesn't serve their route to work. To park elsewhere would mean councils having to provide car parking that is safe and nearby. Which they won't because they don't have the land.
To truly solve this, the following needs to happen
less reliance on "being present in a location"
centralisation of workplaces and living
increased reliability and affordability of public transport
- affordable and accessible car share schemes
douggieball1312@reddit
More and more workplaces trying to ban working from home for employees who could work fine from home during the pandemic isn't helping either.
mattamz@reddit
Loads of houses were built before everyone had cars. When I delivered pallets it was easier going down new build streets in a lorry than older houses.
Secret-Sky5031@reddit
because a lot of houses don't have space, like the side street to me, there's no way you'd be able to park cars on the road and still be able to drive down it.
It might be selfish but it's absolute necessity, and there's no other way around it, you're just seeing it from your viewpoint, and an 'ideal world' but that's not the reality
Outrageous_Jury4152@reddit
You obviously have never drived in your life.
Nimble_Natu177@reddit
SUV driver detected, opinion rejected.
Outrageous_Jury4152@reddit
You care what car people drive? Sad.
Scottish_squirrel@reddit
It's illegal in Scotland. Not seen it fully being enforced yet though
Psycho_Splodge@reddit
The place I regularly do it is wide enough that it's not obstructing the pavement and allows for two cars to park opposite each other without obstructing the road.
Electronic_Cream_780@reddit
Because they are more worried about their precious cars getting scraped than they are about the safety of pedestrians. Because you know, own a car and you own the whole ruddy road, pavement included.
robhaswell@reddit
Our street has bays along both sides, but if you don't park with half a wheel on the curb the bin lorries can't get down. This applies to all cars, not just SUVs. Doing so leaves ample room for wheelchair users and everyone else who needs to use the pavement.
It's actually quite hard to parallel park onto the edge of the pavement. We wouldn't do it if we didn't have to.
Obvious-Water569@reddit
Most of the time there's absolutely no need. But I used to live on an extremely narrow dead-end street. If you didn't mount the curb, there's no way an abulance or fire engine would ever get down the road.
JoeyJoeC@reddit
The in-laws street is so narrow, you have to drive on the pavement to use it. There's a grass verge the residents wanted to have changed into parking spaces but one house objected to it and so they didn't do it. Now it's a fly tipping site instead.
RobertoZeDerbi@reddit
Our road isn’t wide enough for cars to park normally.
It’s just accepted as the done thing to park pretty much fully on the kerb. When people do park “normally” they get sneered at for parking like a tit.
Fortunately it’s a cul de sac so it’s pretty safe to walk down the middle of the road and none of the houses are wheelchair accessible anyway.
InternationalRich150@reddit
In my experience, so the yummy mummies get close to the school so they don't wear their uggs out too much.
Had so many arguments with people when I lived near a school. Driving your massive range rover up the pavement 20 feet and nearly missing one of my kids because you can't see them,not gonna bring my best side out.
Joshthenosh77@reddit
Where I live if they didn’t , you would just about get a push bike through the middle
AdultSwim1066@reddit
They must like the scratches they received on the pavement side. Adds a certain patina to the paint work.
Nimble_Natu177@reddit
Because they have SUVs on finance that they have no idea how to drive, and barely knew how to drive the small hatchback they owned before that.
DeadBallDescendant@reddit
Because cars are so wide today, people are scared of parking normally.
Douglesfield_@reddit
Because apart from Scotland and London it's not actively enforced because apart from those two areas it falls to the police and they've got better things to do (except where there are yellow lines).
Why the govt hasn't kicked it over to councils to enforce, I'll never know.
ViridianKumquat@reddit
On some residential roads the marked bays are narrow enough that my Toyota Aygo can just squeeze into them without mounting the kerb, but it's not hard to see why drivers of larger vehicles might need to pinch a bit of the pavement.
Jimathay@reddit
I said the same in a similar post a while back - I'm slightly hesitant to use the term as it's often used in a derogatory sense, but this is, in the purest sense, caused by "car brain".
People, when in their cars, get into car brain mode, and so subconsciously think things like "where can I park my car that will limit the inconvenience of other cars like me" (ie I don't want to block the road as best as I can), or "I need to be at this house, so I need to park next to this house".
I believe that 99.9% of the time, it's never malicious blocking of pavements, it's just a lack of thinking about the whole "shared infrastructure" bigger picture.
Still frustrating, and often when challenged, people will double down and get defensive, which is even more frustrating.
You get the whole "where else am I supposed to park?", like there's a divine right to stick your car as close as is humanly possible to your destination, regardless of who you inconvenience.
terryjuicelawson@reddit
Probably worried about getting their wing mirrors bashed off. They should always leave space for a wheelchair to get past though, that becomes selfish. Doesn't bother me otherwise.
BlueberryLemur@reddit
It depends on where you live and what your road’s layout is. Where I live if you don’t park on the pavement, at least partially, there’s just enough room for a small car to pass you. If you drive an SUV or a lorry, there simply isn’t room. The council had a great idea years ago to limit parking space to decrease car use and that obviously worked out great 🙄
BaBeBaBeBooby@reddit
In newer housing estates it's because they don't build the roads wide enough. So blame the councils who approve the development.
mistere12c@reddit
Sometimes there's nowhere else to park, but usually it's just plain old selfishness
FloydEGag@reddit
Because a lot of people are both thick and shit and think only of themselves and their own convenience
GeggingIn@reddit
Perhaps, they are massive twats.
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