PITTSBURGH \u2014 Pittsburgh City Council is moving to strengthen enforcement against vehicles parked on sidewalks and in bike lanes by removing language from city code that has allowed some drivers to avoid citations.<\/p>\n
According to Councilperson Bobby Wilson, city code has long allowed drivers to park in areas like sidewalks and bike lanes \u201cfor the sake of a vehicle\u2019s safety.\u201d However, Wilson says that line of reasoning has been abused when parking tickets have been challenged in court.<\/p>\n
By removing the language, he said the city hopes to give police and parking enforcement officers clearer authority to issue citations.<\/p>\n
Advocacy groups, including Bike Pittsburgh and South Side Smart Streets, welcomed the change, saying they have long pushed for stronger enforcement against sidewalk parking.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re really excited that the city is taking it seriously,\u201d said Thomas Wagner, of South Side Smart Streets. \u201cWhat the real problem is people who have wheelchairs or people using mobility aids \u2014 the road\u2019s blocked off, it\u2019s extremely dangerous. It\u2019s tough for pedestrians when people are driving, having to walk through cars, jumping around garbage cans and people parked on the sidewalk. It\u2019s difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n
Parking partially on sidewalks is common on some of Pittsburgh\u2019s narrow streets, where residents say they\u2019re trying to protect their vehicles from passing traffic.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy car got clipped and I was like, \u2018Yeah, I\u2019m gonna start parking on the sidewalk,\u2019\u201d South Side Slopes resident Corey Reaver said.<\/p>\n
Wagner said the advocacy group understands those concerns and wants to work with residents on solutions that improve safety for everyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to be cooperative; we want to work with folks. We want everybody to have a safe place to park,\u201d Wagner said. \u201cWe want people to be able to walk and use the roads all move safely and carefully.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the Pittsburgh Parking Authority, parking on the sidewalk is a $45 fine. <\/p>\n
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