New driving rules in Edinburgh could see drivers face a hefty fine for parking their cars on the pavement.
Beginning on Monday, January 29 motorists in the Scottish capital will be prohibited from parking on pavements, parking at crossing points and double parking – else they could face a £100 fine.
The change has been made to highlight the inconvenience inconsiderate parking causes to all road users, particularly those with mobility issues, visual impairments, and people with pushchairs.
More than 5,000 roads were assessed in Edinburgh, and officers have identified a small number of streets where a significant amount of pavement parking occurs and have written to those properties to help them prepare for the new measures that come into effect at the end of the month.
It is unclear whether these streets will require mitigation measures, such as double-yellow lines, to minimise the potential adverse impacts on Edinburgh’s wider road network.
The new rules are part of The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 which local authorities have been able to enforce by law since December 11, 2023.
Drivers caught parked on the pavement, double parked, parked at a crossing point or parked on a verge between roads and pavements could be subject to a £100 fine, however this will be reduced to £50 if paid within the first 14 days – there are no exemptions in place.
Councillor Scott Arthur, transport and environment convener, said: “These new rules are about making our streets safer and more accessible for everyone, in particular those with visual impairments or mobility issues.
“I’ve heard from many people who say the change will make their day-to-day life much easier. I have also been pleased to hear that, as a result of our publicity campaign, pavement parking is already reducing in some areas.
“Officers have been working hard over recent months to prepare for the changes coming into force and have been in contact with residents on streets where pavement parking is a real problem. I am proud that Edinburgh is leading the way on enforcing the ban, and that all political parties here agree that no street should be exempt.
“I would expect everyone to adhere to the new prohibitions once in place, but we’ll continue to monitor streets across the city to make sure the impacts on the wider network are minimal,” he added.
Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Transport for Scotland, added: “The message here is clear: pavement parking is unsafe, unfair and illegal, and you could be fined up to £100 for it.
“We’re highlighting the danger that illegal pavement parking poses to pavement users, and in particular those with mobility issues or visual impairments, or parents pushing prams and buggies.
“Scotland is the first of the four nations to make pavement parking illegal nationwide. This change in legislation is a step towards developing communities that are better able to support active travel, building on the work that is already underway to reduce emissions and helping us meet our world-leading climate change targets.”
