Pavement Parking

Pavement parking causes an obstruction and forces people to continue their journey on the road, putting them in danger. This is a problem for everyone, but it especially puts blind and partially sighted people, parents with pushchairs and young children, wheelchair users, and those with mobility problems at risk.

Three years ago, in 2020, the Department for Transport consulted on proposals to ban pavement parking in England. 15,000 people responded to that consultation, but we are still waiting for action.

Parking on pavements is, for historic reasons, already illegal in London and Plymouth. After new laws were introduced by the Scottish Parliament, pavement parking is also illegal in Scotland. People living in England have waited too long for this issue to be fixed.

What is the solution?

Sight Loss Councils, together with Thomas Pocklington Trust, believe that a new law should be introduced that makes pavement parking illegal. This can be subject to enforcement by police and local council parking wardens and enforcement officers.

Legislation should allow for local councils to exempt certain streets by exception where that is justified to ensure the effective functioning of the highway.

The government should also introduce an awareness raising campaign to highlight the impacts of pavement parking.

Help us take action by writing to your MP

We know the government does not plan to introduce legislation on new transport measures in this Parliament. But we shouldn’t have to wait until after a General Election for action to be taken. We are asking you to write to your MP to urge them to act to introduce a pavement parking ban now.

Write to your MP

Help us take action by writing to the Secretary of State

Join us in writing to the Secretary of State. We need him to lay out the government’s plans and understand how important the issue of pavement parking is for blind and partially sighted people.

Write to the Secretary of State

Sight Loss Councils (SLC) are encouraging our members and partners across the country to endorse this campaign by writing to their own MP. We are also working to ensure that pavement parking is firmly on the agenda for local authorities. This includes through highlighting how dangerous it is for BPS people to be forced onto the road.

A blind man using a white cane, is walking on the road, around a car which is parked on the pavement.Urgent call to address pavement parking dangerIn communities nationwide, the act of pavement parking poses a serious threat to safety. It significantly impacts those who are blind or partially sighted, parents with pushchairs, young children, wheelchair users, and those with mobility challenges. Read more
Dave Smith, Engagement Manager for South East England, is shown walking on a pavement in Brighton with his long cane. His support worker is walking next to him, and several people are walking on the path behind him.Travelling blind: my injury caused by pavement parkingSight Loss Council Engagement Manager, David Smith, like many blind and partially sighted people, has collided with vehicles due to pavement parking. Read more
A black car which has parked on a pavement next to a tall hedge, taking up over half of the pavement.Pavement parking means I can’t leave the house aloneRowan Stansfield, who is partially sighted, feels she can no longer go out of the house alone because cars parked on the pavement do not leave space for her wheelchair to get past. Read more
Lucy Williams, Senior Engagement Manager for South England, with Haren and Harry, South West London SLC volunteers, and Fiona Duenyas, Public Affairs Manager at Lime. They are stood by the entrance to the awards cermony, in front of a CiTTi Awards banner.London SLCs attend 2023 CiTTi AwardsLondon Sight Loss Councils have presented an award, and been nominated for two awards at the 2023 City Transport and Traffic Innovation (CiTTi) Awards for their work to make our streets accessible. Read more
An abandoned Lime e-bike, in the middle of a path in a park.Sight Loss Councils partner with Lime for new campaign to help keep streets safe for allSight Loss Councils have today announced a partnership with Lime - the world’s largest provider of shared electric bikes and scooters - in an initiative to ensure that the streets are safe and hazard-free for all. Read more
A close up of the front wheel of a TIER e-scooter. The e-scooter is turquoise, with TIER written on the frame, by the wheel.TIER and SLCs launch joint campaign to highlight parking etiquetteTIER, the world’s largest provider of shared micro-mobility, and Sight Loss Councils (SLC) have today launched a joint campaign to highlight proper parking etiquette. Read more
Streets for all - Phase 2 Graphic, image of a man riding an e-scooter in top left and a person holding a cane, approaching two obstructive a-boards.Podcast: How #StreetsForAll is campaigning for e-scooter safety and accessible streetsThe latest episode of the Blind Spot podcast, features our #StreetsForAll campaign, which focuses on e-scooter safety, pavement parking and inaccessible streets. Read more
Campaign banner for Streets for All campaign, depicts a man on a escooter and a cane being held over pavement.Streets For All ResourcesFrom accessible street design guidance to information for e-scooter operators, find resources from our Streets for All campaign. Read more
Equal pavement pledge banner showing drawing of woman walking with her cane and guide dogSight Loss Councils back Equal Pavements PledgeSight Loss Councils have joined forces with London pan-disability group Transport for All to promote the importance of accessible streets as part of our #StreetsForAll campaign. Read more
Image showing cars parked on pavementInquiry into Pavement ParkingThe Birmingham & Black Country Sight Loss Councils submitted a response to the Transport Select Committee’s Inquiry into Pavement Parking. Read more
feet and white canes surrounding an e-scootere-scooter operator Lime responds to concerns of blind peoplee-bike and e-scooter operator Lime has responded to the concerns of blind and partially sighted people by developing new safety messaging for riders and committing to explore options for an acoustic vehicle alert system. Read more
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