Edinburgh has become the first city in Scotland to implement a pavement parking ban, with motorists now facing fines of £100 if caught parking on pavements. The ban has been introduced to protect pedestrians, especially those using wheelchairs and pushing buggies. The Council has identified 500 streets where pavement parking is a persistent issue.
However, some people have expressed concerns about the impact it will have on emergency services and bin lorries that need to access narrow streets. Victoria Watson, a mother of three living on Regent Street, said that while she agreed with the need for clear pavements, there had been no input or consultation from the council on how to accommodate emergency services and bin lorries on narrow streets.
Transport and environment convener, Scott Arthur, has called on motorists to be considerate of where they park, but added that officials would be monitoring the situation to see if the changes have any negative effects, such as traffic displacement or access issues.
The ban also extends to parking at dropped kerbs and double parking, with an exemption for delivery drivers. While some locals have rallied together to find solutions to the issue, others have suggested creating more parking areas to alleviate the problem. The ban was introduced under new powers given to the council by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, and enforcement started on Monday
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