Is It Illegal To Park On Pavements?

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amp88

amp88

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I think it's illegal to park on pavements in the UK but my family disagrees. I've found several conflicting answers by searching, so I was wondering what you guys think...? I don't know if there's a nationwide law covering it or if it's up to local councils.
 
I've just realised there's a difference in vocabulary here. Pavement in the UK is a kerb in North America (i.e. a raised edge at the side of the road for pedestrians to walk on).
 
It sounds like...sidewalk?

You're allowed to park on sidewalks? That's definately not legal here.
 
I do beleive it is illegal to park on a public pavement, it doesn't matter if there's yellow lines or not.

In fact I think it's illegal to just park with 2 wheels on the kerb, though I will say that on some narrower streets this is almost needed to allow cars to pass. It's just not a law that's enforced as much as say, parking on yellows.
 
as its name implies, sidewalks are places to walk... not park. It's as simple as that. Pedestrians have the preference in this case. If you park on a kerb, you're interrupting the flow of pedestrians and hence, you're an obstacle, and you'll probably get fined for it.
 
It's not allowed here, but I do recall seeing a lot of cars parked with 2 wheels on it on narrow streets of Paris.

It was also quite weird to see cars parked in the opposite direction of the adjacent lane, as I've never seen that anywhere in North America. It's seems to be quite practical, as you don't have to do a u-turn to take a free spot (and that's if it is not already been taken by then).
 
You can park on (over, rather) a sidewalk if the sidewalk runs through your driveway.
 
driving theory test
218. DO NOT park partially or wholly on the pavement unless signs permit it. Parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs, the visually impaired and people with prams or pushchairs.
Click to expand...
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As daan points out, the answer is "yes". It is illegal to place even a molecule of rubber on the pavement.
 
Funny this subject should be brought up. With bikes riding on pavements being illegal, and people doing it quite often here, cars being parked on pavements is an even more common sight.
 
If you own the section of pavement or have the owners permission it is legal (i.e. on a section of pavement which your house legally extends on to), if it is the property of another party (such as the state) and you are parking without permission you are acting illegally.
 
Commonly known as 'footpaths' here, as far as I know it is illegal here unless the footpath was made privately on private land.
 

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