Bad Parking?

[tvrgit]

Edinburgh propose to fine drivers who park further than a foot from the kerb. Control of bad parking, or cash raiser?

Full story here:
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=654892005

[miniandy]

Bit OTT, but if you're a crap parker then you should be punished!

[streaky]

Not the first time this has come up (somewhere other than Edinburgh though). Must remind SWMBO not to go there, when she parks she needs a visa to get to the pavement! - Streaky

[stepej]

los angeles said:

I don't mind. High kerbs are a throwback to the days of the horse, and the need to get a "leg-up" onto saddle, or carriage.

Some of us can't remember that far back

[Flat in Fifth]

streaky said:

Not the first time this has come up (somewhere other than Edinburgh though). Must remind SWMBO not to go there, when she parks she needs a visa to get to the pavement! - Streaky

Included in Traffic management bill section 81.

namely

81 Prohibition of double parking etc.
(1) In a special enforcement area a vehicle must not be parked on the carriageway in such a way that no part of the vehicle is within 50 centimetres of the edge of the carriageway.

This is subject to the following exceptions.

(2) The first exception is where the vehicle is parked wholly within a designatedparking place or any other part of the road where parking is specifically authorised.
A “designated parking place” means a parking place designated by order under section 6, 9, 32(1)(b) or 45 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (c. 27).

(3) The second exception is where the vehicle is being used for fire brigade,ambulance or police purposes.

(4) The third exception is where—
(a) the vehicle is being used for the purposes of delivering goods to, or collecting goods from, any premises, or is being loaded from or unloaded to any premises,
(b) the delivery, collection, loading or unloading cannot reasonably be carried out in relation to those premises without the vehicle being parked as mentioned in subsection (1), and
(c) the vehicle is so parked for no longer than is necessary and for no more than 20 minutes.

(5) The fourth exception is where—

(a) the vehicle is being used in connection with any of the following—
(i) undertaking any building operation, demolition or excavation,
(ii) the collection of waste by a local authority,
(iii) removing an obstruction to traffic,
(iv) undertaking works in relation to a road, a traffic sign or road lighting, or
(v) undertaking works in relation to a sewer or water main or in relation to the supply of gas, electricity, water or communications services,

(b) it cannot be so used without being parked as mentioned in subsection
(1), and
(c) it is so parked for no longer than is necessary.

(6) In this section “carriageway” has the meaning given by section 329(1) of the Highways Act 1980 (c. 66).
(7) References in this section to parking include waiting, but do not include stopping where—
(a) the driver is prevented from proceeding by circumstances beyond his control or it is necessary for him to stop to avoid an accident, or
(b) the vehicle is stopped, for no longer than is necessary, for the purpose of allowing people to board or alight from it.

(8) The prohibition in this section is enforceable as if imposed—
(a) in Greater London, by an order under section 6 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (c. 27);
(b) elsewhere in England and Wales, by an order under section 1 of thatAct.

[Zod]

There are three people in our street who simply cannot park. They all leave their cars with the rear end sticking out into the road and the kerbside rear tyre at least a metre from the kerb. Fines might encourage them to learn to park a car.

[WildCat]

I am sure I read that our traffic wardens can issue fine for this. Ist part of all that stuff that came out mit the £100 fine/yellow box stuff.

But in any case - I can park a car purrrrrrrr-fektly anyway. Ist never been a problem. Have never been able to understand people saying they cannot park. Ist easy!

[havoc]

If you open the link then the picture there shows a foot-wide drain-ditch between the kerb and the road. Would you want to drive into that?!?

[tvrgit]

havoc said:

If you open the link then the picture there shows a foot-wide drain-ditch between the kerb and the road. Would you want to drive into that?!?

Exactly.

I have had a quick survey as I walked to the shop for my lunch and back, and well over half of the cars I saw (including mine, just) were parked more than a foot from the kerb - but still within marked bays and within the 50cm (foot and a half) mentioned in the Act quoted above.

30cm rule - combined with over-zealous private anti-parking army - I see problems!

[havoc]

tvrgit said:

30cm rule - combined with over-zealous private anti-parking army - I see revenue!

[tvrgit]

havoc said:

tvrgit said: 30cm rule - combined with over-zealous private anti-parking army - I see revenue!

See my opening post - you gottit!

[xxplod]

I'm all for this. I sure if research could be done on this, we would find that people who are incapable of parking properly are the same people who belong to the Middle Lane Owners Club. They are also likely to be the sort of people who bump into your car in car parks (obviously - being crap at parking) and then drive off.

So, as far as I'm concerned 'em!

[WildCat]

xxplod said:

I'm all for this. I sure if research could be done on this, we would find that people who are incapable of parking properly are the same people who belong to the Middle Lane Owners Club. They are also likely to be the sort of people who bump into your car in car parks (obviously - being crap at parking) and then drive off. So, as far as I'm concerned 'em!

Actually Liebchen - I would love to see a fine for those inconsiderate fts who never bother to wheel shopping trolley back to trolley park leaving it free to roll into cars und damage them or allowing chav kids to play in them und nearly collied mit car (und no daoubt calim damages for car woner for being silly enough to park in car park or supermarket chain for being silly enough to have car park In fact - I see not reason why you should not pay £2 or £3 to hire trolley 9und have it refunded as soon as you return trolley to trolley park. Ist only way for some fts

It was a near miss at supermarket tonight - Liebchen as I had to dash und lunge to cop the trolley before it hit my car - having been pushed by the ft who shoved it - und she got clawed when she told me to F off when I spoke to her about it. She even turned on water works und tried to tell me about her bad day at work.. Not interested - und if she'd dented my car, I would have more than added to her bad day!

Then unlocked her bicycle und wobbled off with badly placed panniers of shopping und a heavey back pack! I read the evening paper in the car before bothering to set off ... felt safer with her getting a good distance away from me by then ... Und I never drive if a bit cross.

[Gren]

Notice the above 'legal speak' says 50cm from the edge of the carraigeway. Now would that carraigeway include that drainage ditch?

[Flat in Fifth]

Gren said:

Notice the above 'legal speak' says 50cm from the edge of the carraigeway. Now would that carraigeway include that drainage ditch?

"carriageway" means any way (other than a cycle track) comprised in a length of road over which the public have a right of way for the passage of vehicles and which has a suitable surface for the exercise of that right.

Now the "road" includes the carriageway and the footpaths.

I would say that the gutter shown in the photo is part of the carriageway and is included in the measurement as the surface is suitable, at a pinch, for the passage of vehicles.

Why Edinburgh chooses 30cm instead of the regulatory 50cm is a moot point. Extra revenue potential, surely not, as if!

Yours cynically,
FiF