Decision seen as ‘major milestone’ for walking and wheeling accessibility
SCOTLAND’S national walking charity has hailed Edinburgh’s pioneering decision to enforce a city-wide pavement parking ban.
Coming into effect today [January 29], the ban will stop vehicles parking on pavements by crossing points and next to dropped kerbs.
Drivers could face up to £100 in fines should they break the new rule which is aimed to stop vehicles from blocking pavements in order to make the streets safer and more accessible for pedestrians – especially for those with mobility difficulties and visual impairments.
Paths for All has welcomed the ban and praised Edinburgh as the first Scottish city to enforce the legislation which is part of The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019.
The ban comes after a national survey commissioned by the charity found 60% of Scots would like to walk and wheel more often for routine purposes.
Kevin Lafferty, CEO of Paths for All, said: “We support the new pavement parking ban which is to be enforced across Scotland. No longer will vehicles obstructing pavements and dropped kerbs be a barrier for people trying to safely navigate through their neighbourhoods.
“Speaking as CEO of Paths for All, I hear from countless community members across the country who feel restricted by pavement parking in their daily lives. Parents unable to push prams, wheelchair users forced into roads, and people with sight loss unable to access paths.
“However, this ban tangibly breaks down accessibility issues and clears the way, quite literally, for more Scots to walk and wheel safely every day.
“We’d like to praise Edinburgh for being the first city to enact this ban, and we hope the rest of the country will follow suit shortly.”
According to the national survey on public attitudes towards walking, Paths for All found that roadside pavements are the most frequently walked urban location (61%) within Scotland, with 46% of the total population cited cars parked on pavements as an issue they encounter when walking or wheeling locally.
For groups who face health inequalities, the problem is even more pronounced, as the percentage was higher amongst people with a mobility impairment or long-term illness (62% had experienced), people who said that their health was bad or very bad (60%), and people aged 45 or over (51% experienced compared with 41% under 45).
Pavement parking isn’t just an inconvenience, people are being forced to alter their walking routes because of it. Overall, 14% of people surveyed have had to change their route. This increased to 19% amongst people with children in the household, 20% amongst people with a disability (versus 10% with none) and 29% amongst people with bad or very bad self-reported health.
Stuart Hay, Director of Living Streets, said: “This poll highlights how widespread pavement parking is and the big job that the Scottish Government and local councils face in tackling an issue that affects all pedestrians, including children, disabled people and older citizens.
“It’s welcomed that the capital is taking action, but other councils need to deal with dangerous and anti-social parking too.”
Kevin Lafferty added: “Our charity’s goal focuses on getting the people of Scotland moving, regardless of age or ability. We believe movement and activity should be open to everyone and this decision will help make that vision a reality, marking a significant leap forward in the right direction.
“There’s still more work to do, but today we’re celebrating a major milestone in making communities around Scotland more accessible for all.”
Paths for All has a clear and simple aim, which is to get Scotland walking: everyone, every day, everywhere. Walking outdoors is a fantastic way to boost your mood, clear your head and benefit from fresh air in local parks and green spaces.
For more information on Paths for All, visit: https://www.pathsforall.org.uk/
