Chris Andrews
Question:511 Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Transport his proposals to improve the problem of parking wholly or partly on footpaths in urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1489/10]
View answerTuesday, 19 January 2010
Questions (452, 453)
Written answers
Under the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 it is already an offence to park a mechanically propelled vehicle on any part of a footpath and I have no plans to change this.
Footpaths are provided for the safety of pedestrians to segregate them from passing or parking traffic. Mounting of footpath kerbs by vehicles is potentially an unsafe practice.
It is also important to have a minimum width of passable footpath for the safe passage of wheelchairs or prams/buggies, and to bear in mind that footpaths have been constructed to a certain weight bearing standard and provide access points for utilities.
Local authorities have other options including, for example, restricting parking to one side of a street or the indenting of the footpath to provide onstreet parking.
Chris Andrews
Question:512 Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Transport his proposals in relation to the parking of vehicles in residential areas with narrow streets. [1490/10]
View answerThe Restriction on the parking of vehicles at any location on the public road is a matter for the road authority concerned.
Public roads must be kept clear for the safe passage of vehicles, particularly emergency service vehicles. In residential areas with narrow streets where the parking of vehicles on both sides causes congestion, obstructs access to vehicles or blocks traffic flow a range of options is currently available to local authorities including, for example, restricting parking to one side only of a street or the indenting of the footpath to provide an onstreet parking area.
Accordingly, I have no proposals to amend the Traffic and Parking Regulations in this regard.