Double parking is 'anti-social'

Double-parked cars could cause obstructions for emergency services

Double-parked cars on Bristol's streets is "anti-social", according to the city's transport boss.

Councillor Jon Rogers said the issue could be "a matter of life or death" for emergency services.

Some people living in Clifton have noticed a rise in double parking on some of Bristol's streets.

One resident told BBC Bristol: "You get people coming in for the nightlife and then people that live around the area that try and park, [plus] you get people that are working.

"There's just nowhere to park. It's unbelievable," she said.

Another added: "It does cause a problem but it depends how well they've parked, how long [the car is] there for and how narrow the road is."

Mr Rogers said the issue was contributing to the city's reputation for traffic problems.

"For the police and emergency services this could be a matter of life and death. Cllr Jon Rogers

"People are parking in a way that is anti-social," he told BBC Bristol.

"You cannot double park in a street - one of the reasons for congestion in the city is the way in which people are parking."

The Liberal Democrat councillor warned the issue could prevent quick access to some of Bristol's narrower roads.

"For the police and emergency services this could be a matter of life and death."

Mr Rogers thinks drivers should act responsibly when parking their vehicles.

"I know in some streets people say there's just not enough parking.

"If there are areas where double parking is a problem then it's a joint effort [between the police and the council].

"If there's double-yellow lines then the law says then this becomes a civil offence and our officers can actually enforce it.

"If there are no double-yellow lines then it is a police matter - it's an obstruction issue."

Avon and Somerset Police issued a statement which said: "In Bristol parking is decriminalised and therefore enforcement of double yellow lines and traffic regulations is the responsibility of the council.

"However where a vehicle is causing an obstruction (eg double parking, parking on corners etc.) then the police may take enforcement action to have the offending vehicle removed."

My view is that we really need to have a crackdown so that people who do double park know that they are in severe risk of getting a ticket Elfan Ap Rees, North Somerset Council

Down the road in North Somerset, however, parking is not decriminalised.

It is the responsibility of the police to enforce but whether an illegally-parked car will be dealt with is still unclear, according to Elfan Ap Rees, the deputy leader of North Somerset Council.

"I do think there is an issue here... because police are left to deal with individual matters, he said.

"One policeman might walk along and say 'oh well, it's not causing an obstruction, I won't do anything' whereas somebody else might.

"I do think that it has gone a bit too far - my view is that we really need to have a crackdown so that people who do double park know that they are at severe risk of getting a ticket.

"People are thinking 'I'm going to get away with it and if I get a ticket once every six months it's going to be worth it'."

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Is double parking an issue in your part of Bristol, Bath or Weston? Let us know with the form below and we'll publish a selection of your comments.

I live in Clifton and parking is a major problem. Firstly the roads were never designed for cars, and secondly, as previously mentioned, the buildings in Clifton are very large, so many have been converted into three or four flats which are rented out to students or groups of young professionals who may all have cars. So where a house for a family may have one or two cars, these houses are now three flats, each with two or three cars. That makes quite a lot of cars per building!

There was talk of a residents parking scheme, which is a good idea, but the price proposed for having more than two cars per household was extortionate (£500 for the third permit).

Parking is particularly bad on Friday evenings, when I think people drive to Clifton to visit the restaurants and pubs and then they gets taxi's home, leaving their cars.

Bristol City Council need to stop allowing the buildings to be converted to flats and propose some form of local parking control that reduces the number of cars coming to park in Clifton but doesn't penalise those who already live there.

Also, improvements to public transport around the city, and indeed, nationwide would encourage people to use alternative methods of transport and get rid of their cars.
Gareth, Bristol

I live in Clifton in one of those "flats that has no parking". Yes, parking can be a problem but I find that it's usually the people who visit Clifton that cause the problems with double parking as they don't know how to do it safely let alone with etiquette!

My partner and I, and our neighbours in the same block, double park to each other but we do it in a way which is safe! If a car is back bumper to back bumper a small car can park in the middle as both cars can then pull out. You can also do it when you park to a car that you know the owner. You don't park parallel, but slightly forward as the car behind and front can get out.

I get paranoid though and prefer to park in a designated spot so I'm constantly looking out the window or running down the stairs to get to the space.

I've had people double park to me in the past and leave a note saying where they are of a number to contact. If there's no note you just honk on your horn (you hear this a lot) and the owner knows soon enough to move their car!

Like I said, the people in Clifton who live there all year round know how to double park, it's just when it's the visitors come that they randomly double park (giving us a bad name) or steal all the spaces and park in the most dangerous ways possible.
Freya, Bristol

I agree there are inconsiderate drivers today but for a long time I've been asking the council when they intend to apply a policy of controlling the number of houses that can be converted to flats/multiple occupancy per street because as stated already this leads to multiple cars per house with no off street parking, a big problem in our area. I recently called the police because a inconsiderate football supporter blocked our driveway all because he needed to get to the Memorial Ground to watch the Rovers. This event also relates to planning approval as the football ground does not have sufficient car parking or park and ride services. The police response to my call was good but the recovery vehicle called to lift the vehicle could not get into the street so once again the comment comes "what if it was a emergency vehicle".
Mike, Bristol

I have to say I was driving through Clifton Village the other day looking for parking and was horrified about the level of double parking, despite the fact that I took a while finding somewhere to park I would never double park it is just so inconsiderate ok there is not much parking available and public transport in Bristol is not great but there is no excuse for it unless it is to load and unload quickly (of course ensuring that you are not getting in anyone's way and moving if you are) or for a medical emergency!!
Liz, Bristol

Funny that this story has only hit the BBC since it has increased in Clifton! People have been causing obstructions, double-parking, parking on double-yellows, white-lines, keep-clear road markings etc for years in Easton and no-one does anything.

The major issue is why the council only has a dozen or so wardens to cover the city. Why can't police and pcso's ticket double-parkers when there is a clear problem?
Dom, Bristol

This is the problem with living in an overcrowded place and people with too many cars. Clifton is not a nice place to live. I have given up working there for the lack of parking. Houses have been turned into 4 or 5 flats with no parking - what else do you expect? The wealthy people are moving out because of the quality of life, leaving these big houses being turned into student accommodation. Its a vicious circle that will only get worse. I'm just glad I don't live there.
Jeremy, Bristol

I have video of that same road as the photo - Belgrave Road - which I cycled up on the school run last week - the RV and smartcar are in the same place. After avoiding the Mercedes deciding to switch into the bus lane on Whiteladies road, this back road is almost a relief. Except for the car that overtakes me only to pull in just to double park.

There I am, cycling in a safe "occupy a lane" mode, not blocking oncoming traffic, away from car doors, and suddenly I'm having to swerve to avoid a car that has just decided to overtake me and then grind to a halt. I think it is more than just selfish and anti-social, its dangerous. One question though - given this road is adjacent to BBC Bristol - are any of the vehicles BBC staff or visitors?

The video will go up on the Bristol Traffic website over the weekend. Viewers can then be glad this isn't their school run.
Bristol Traffic blog

According to Kapski (see below), this is all Margaret Thatcher's fault. Funniest remark I've heard in ages! Cheers - keep 'em coming!
Paul, Bath

I live in a cul-de-sac and we also have this problem. There have been at times, two cars parked at the very end of the road which then blocks in about 3-4 cars. If there was a fire or another type emergency at the end of the road, then the fire brigade would not be able to reach them. This has been reported on several occasions but nothing has been done about and the persons responsible keep on doing it.
Keeley, Bristol

Double-parking exists here in Bath and it is frustrating. How do you drive or reverse down a hill when someone double-parks. How do you manage a van down a road? It's worse on dead-end hills and in the dark. How would an ambulance come to save you when someone is double-parked? A Fire Engine? Not a chance. People suffer because of other's inability to walk up or down roads and hills. Get over it, citizens, and starting taking more care.
Holly, Bath

It's driving down the wrong side of the road to park (as in your photograph) that bothers me. If that's not dangerous driving what is?
Ute, Bristol

The attitude of those who double park sums up one of the major things wrong in our society today. People just do not care about how their actions effect others. It's a legacy/by product from twenty years of Thatcher I'm afraid when all that was important was me me me. You see it also on the roads in general: no signals when turning, no lights in bad weather, pulling across junctions and give ways and so on. What amuses me most is these types won't park where they have to walk a few hundred yards but they will go down the gym three times a week!
Kapski, Bristol

Double parking is NOT anti-social. Is a double-parked Ambulance anti-social? How about a scaffolding lorry unloading? What about delivery drivers, removal trucks? No they are not anti-social, yes many lazy drivers are. No excuses for double parking if your just dropping off or picking up children from primary school etc.

Most double parking is a result of our council encouraging people to drive and allowing the streets surrounding the city centre to be used by city centre workers who commute by car as free parking. Hence local residence of areas like the Clifton picture above double park.

Targeting the victims (local residence) for double parking is wrong, when the root cause of the problem needs to be addressed.
Mark, Bristol

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