On 04/02/2024 11:52 am, Simon Mason wrote:
Drivers in Northern Ireland are being urged to ‘Think Before You Park’ ahead of the introduction of new parking restrictions later this week or they could face a fine.
The new rules, which come into operation this Friday, November 3 aim to crack down on the problem of pavement parking.
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said the new parking restrictions will help to address this issue by prohibiting parking wholly or partly on a footway at a number of specific locations.
a bus lane;
the limits of any bus stop in a lay-by or any bus stop as delineated by markings on the carriageway at any time;
the limits of any bus stand in a lay-by or any bus stand as delineated by markings on the carriageway at any time;
the limits of any mandatory cycle lane as delineated by markings on the carriageway at any time; and
the limits of any mandatory school keep clear as delineated by markings on the carriageway at any time.
The Rule also revokes and re-enacts existing prohibitions on footways.
All vehicles found to be in breach of the new restrictions will receive a £90 Penalty Charge Notice, discounted to £45 if paid within 14 days.
Drivers are being urged to abide by the new rules and to show consideration at all times when parking to ensure they are not causing an obstruction and inconvenience to others.
A Dfi spokesperson said: "The Department treats vehicles parked in contravention of parking restrictions very seriously with Traffic Attendants employed across Northern Ireland to help keep traffic moving freely and safely.
"Parking on pavements is a particular area of concern. Drivers often mistakenly think they are doing the right thing by keeping the road clear but fail to consider the needs of people on the footway causing them inconvenience and often putting them in
danger.
"This is a particular risk for people with disabilities, older people, children, and people pushing prams who may have to go onto the road to get around the parked cars."
https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/northern-ireland-drivers-face-fines-28015452
All very well in its own way, but for residential streets, the only
really effective legislative change would occur if households with no off-street parking were simply not permitted to keep a motor vehicle at
all. And if those which do have some off-street parking were limited to
only the number of vehicles which can be fitted onto that space.
It is such an obvious solution and would have several effects, including
making the ownership of small pockets of land in residential areas a
valuable asset because off-street parking spaces could be rented out (or
even sold freehold or leasehold).
Of course, pedestrians in Northern Ireland, as in the rest of the UK,
are more in danger (while on the FOOTway) from speeding chav-cyclists. I certainly don't support FOOTway parking, but chav-cyclists are only
against it because they want the FOOTways cleared for *their* use. They
could not care less about pedestrians, mobility scooter users, etc.
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