In our car-free-dom we walk about on our local pavements regularly. It is really annoying that when walking around we do not only have to breath-in what is coming out the back of passing motor vehicles, as well as have to suffer the noise they make, but also quite often be obstructed by them parked on the pavement.

In the UK Councils have recently called for a ban on pavement parking. There are even suggestions in my home city that it is banned. Pavement parking has been reported to be one of the biggest complaints by people who walk around where they live. And, repairing pavements that have been regularly parked on can be costly. A particular issue is that pavement parking forces people (particularly wheelchair users and people with pushchairs) into the road.

I recognise that some residential roads around our home are narrow and many houses do not have driveways or garages. As well as houses and flats without dedicated parking facilities often being in less wealthy parts of cities and towns. However, the simple solution is of course more car-free families!

In the UK a national government consultation on pavement parking concluded a few years ago. The outcomes of this consultation are still unclear. However, if we want to encourage more people to walk around their local areas for all the health, air quality, noise and community benefits then of course we need clear pavements. Being forced into the road by somebodies motor vehicle taking up public space dedicated for walking is just plain wrong!