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In the Members’ Forum at Full Council (Tuesday 18th July), Green Councillor Charlie Bolton will call on the Mayor to take action on the issue of motorists parking on the pavement, pointing out that it is common in many streets across Bristol and in his own ward of Southville.
Councillor Bolton said: “For those with children, vulnerable groups, or those with disabilities, pavement parking can represent a real threat. When a parent with a pushchair and toddler is forced out into the road by a car blocking the pavement the danger to life is obvious. Pavement parking creates a hostile environment for those with disabilities – wheelchair users can get blocked in, unable to go around or past parked cars. Those with sight issues might hurt themselves walking into parked vehicles or be forced to walk in the road with oncoming traffic.”
Councillor Bolton will move a motion asking the Mayor to adopt the recommendations of a petition by the Bristol walking alliance, which calls on the Mayor to raise awareness of the impacts of pavement parking on residents and support local and national initiatives to prevent it. Parking on pavements is not currently against the law outside of London but the Walking Alliance argues the Mayor could use Traffic Regulation Orders to prevent it locally until the necessary national legislation exists.
In 2015, the charity Guide Dogs placed Bristol in the top ten worst cities for pavement parking. The charity’s research suggests that 87% of blind or partially sighted people have experienced trouble with a pavement parked car.