Illegal footpath parking ‘lazy’ and ‘annoying’

A transport writer is calling for more education about the consequences of Aucklanders parking their cars on the footpath.

Transportblog editor Matt Lowrie said he has been noticing an increase in the number of offenders recently.

“They’re being lazy, or they think they’re being helpful to other drivers by getting off the road,” Mr Lowrie said.

However, Mr Lowrie said education would make drivers more aware of certain people who need much more of the footpath than most, such as those who use wheelchairs, are blind or people pushing prams.

“I’m perfectly able to walk around a car . . . people in wheelchairs can’t get past,” Mr Lowrie said.

Disability educator and wheelchair user Vivian Naylor said she encountered a footpath parker a week ago.

Ms Naylor said the vehicle had parked halfway up a driveway, blocking the entire footpath.

She had to wheel off the pavement onto a busy Onehunga street in order to avoid the car.

“It’s a typical attitude of ‘I’ll only be here a few minutes’,” Ms Naylor said.

“Then suddenly ‘Oh, somebody’s coming along who actually can’t get past me without the dangerous manoeuvre of getting out onto the road’,” she said.

Ms Naylor said her blind colleagues were also “really annoyed” about footpath parkers.

Auckland Transport spokesperson Mark Hannan told Te Waha Nui in an email that they issue infringement notices on a very regular basis.

Courier drivers are the most common offenders, Mr Hannan wrote.

High St footpath parking. Photo: Daniel Walker

Courier Post Auckland manager Warren Jackson said they don’t encourage their drivers to park illegally on footpaths.

Mr Jackson said, however, the inner-city area is more difficult to park in due to roadworks and loading zones being repurposed as temporary bus stops.

“The couriers have had to become a little more innovative in their solutions,” Mr Jackson said.

Ms Naylor of CCS said she would support an education campaign.

However, she said a more permanent solution was for pedestrians to assert their rights, and not let irresponsible drivers get away with as much.

“This is our piece of land. We’re safe on it, and we wish to remain safe on it,” Ms Naylor said.

Aucklanders who see a car obstructing the footpath can call Auckland Transport on 09 355 3553 to report it.