Parking beside zebra crossings - zig zag lines etc.

BrianD3

I regulary see cars and vans parked right beside zebra crossings beside where the kerb juts into the road. Often there are zig zag markings with what might appear to be a parking space "inside" them.

There is little consistency when it comes to road markings in this country so every crossing is different. Sometimes there are zig zag lines, then a gap, then double yellow lines. Other times there are no double yellow lines. I've seen ones with no zig zag lines and others with hatch markings

Anyhow this is a good example of the sort of crossing I'm talking about.

https://maps.google.ie/maps?ll=53.655677,-7.519884&spn=0.000051,0.038581&t=m&z=15&layer=c&cbll=53.655585,-7.519773&panoid=SZUGDtGccBb-Mj2AUGnflA&cbp=12,102.44,,0,0

I shouted at a van driver recently for parking in a location like this (not this actual location). He parked up, hopped out then walked across the crossing that he had just blocked the visibility of.

I would not park like this and am annoyed by it as both as a driver and as a pedestrian.

The ROTR says that parking is prohibited

• Where white zig/zag lines are provided on either side of pedestrian lights, pelican or zebra crossings. These lines also prohibit stopping for any purpose (other than in traffic) within the area marked by the lines,
• Either wholly or partly on a zebra or pelican crossing or at pedestrian lights or, where there is no prohibitory sign or marking, (a) where the street on which the crossing is provided is a two-way street, within 15 metres of either side of the crossing, (b) where the street on which the crossing is provided is one-way, within 15 metres on the approach side or 5 metres on the exit side to the crossing

I have never heard of anyone getting a ticket from the Gardaí or a traffic warden for this sort of parking.

Marcusm

You should have watched Parking Mad on BBC1 last night and you would have seen someone being stopped by a bailiff seeking to collect £500 (fine plus costs) for parking on a zig zag. The alternative to paying the fine is a seizure of the car, all costs borne by the motorist. Compare it to Dublin City Council where the fine for unlawful parking doesn't even cover the csot of the clamp.

BrianD3

Marcusm wrote: »

You should have watched Parking Mad on BBC1 last night and you would have seen someone being stopped by a bailiff seeking to collect £500 (fine plus costs) for parking on a zig zag. The alternative to paying the fine is a seizure of the car, all costs borne by the motorist. Compare it to Dublin City Council where the fine for unlawful parking doesn't even cover the csot of the clamp.

Thanks, no I didn't see that.

I would distinguish between parking "on" a zig zig from parking "inside" one i.e. between the zig zig and the kerb. The former is inexcusable, the latter is also IMO wrong but as I said in the first post it might appear that there is a parking space inside the zig zag. Eg at the Antiques Shop in my google maps link.

Also the ROTR states that you can't park within 15 metres of the approach side of a crossing yet on numerous occasions I have seen clearly marked out parking spaces well within 15 metres of a zebra crossing.

djimi

BrianD3 wrote: »

Thanks, no I didn't see that.

I would distinguish between parking "on" a zig zig from parking "inside" one i.e. between the zig zig and the kerb. The former is inexcusable, the latter is also IMO wrong but as I said in the first post it might appear that there is a parking space inside the zig zag. Eg at the Antiques Shop in my google maps link.

Also the ROTR states that you can't park within 15 metres of the approach side of a crossing yet on numerous occasions I have seen clearly marked out parking spaces well within 15 metres of a zebra crossing.

I dont see the issue with the link you have posted? A car parked in the parking spaces between the kerb and the lines are not blocking visibility.

Marcusm

BrianD3 wrote: »

Thanks, no I didn't see that.

I would distinguish between parking "on" a zig zig from parking "inside" one i.e. between the zig zig and the kerb. The former is inexcusable, the latter is also IMO wrong but as I said in the first post it might appear that there is a parking space inside the zig zag. Eg at the Antiques Shop in my google maps link.

Also the ROTR states that you can't park within 15 metres of the approach side of a crossing yet on numerous occasions I have seen clearly marked out parking spaces well within 15 metres of a zebra crossing.

I missed the link at first; those spaces were clearly planned along with the crossing and are effectively recessed to permit appropriate sightlines; I imagine that they are much in use by the boys in blue.

AlekSmart

Marcusm wrote: »

You should have watched Parking Mad on BBC1 last night and you would have seen someone being stopped by a bailiff seeking to collect £500 (fine plus costs) for parking on a zig zag. The alternative to paying the fine is a seizure of the car, all costs borne by the motorist. Compare it to Dublin City Council where the fine for unlawful parking doesn't even cover the csot of the clamp.

No need for foreign channels ....take a ramble along to the Bottom Of Grafton Street in Dublin....take note of the Pedestrian Crossing,the Double Yellow Lines stretching along Suffolk St,then try as best as you can to comprehend how a bunch of "Professional" drivers can operate a Taxi Rank from the centre of that Pedestrian Crossing...including hanging sudden U Turns when the fare wants to go Southwards along Nassau Street.

Even the fact of the LUAS BXD works has not prevented these brave souls from maintaining their proud Independence from the regulatory "Authorities" who whack every other class of road-user when they overstep the law.

Any suggestions as to why the Gardai and every other agency theoretically responsible for Taxi's,Road Safety,Public Order and the price of Onions in Ireland,remain incapable of enforcing order here..???

CiniO

That's nothing.
People even park on actual zebra crossing.

Lissavane

CiniO wrote: »

That's nothing.
People even park on actual zebra crossing.

Just begging for a deep trolley-ding!

101sean

You see similar to that in every shopping car park, area is just for lazy feckers who can't be bothered to walk 10yds from a proper space.

With regard to parking on proper crossings on the highway, in the UK zig zags are one of the few road markings that are obeyed religiously, almost a hanging offence for parking on one.

They have to be painted the right way round though to be legal, you occasionally see them burnt off when the contractor has got it wrong!

corktina

gosh that parking is really obnoxious.

locum-motion

In the OP's link/photo, there is a designated parking space (actually, probably room for two cars there) between the kerb and the zigzags in front of the antiques shop. Absolutely nothing wrong with parking there. The prohibition on parking on zigzags would refer to parking/stopping (other than in traffic) in the carriageway (ie where you would have zigzags on each side in the example given)

BrianD3

locum-motion wrote: »

In the OP's link/photo, there is a designated parking space (actually, probably room for two cars there) between the kerb and the zigzags in front of the antiques shop. Absolutely nothing wrong with parking there.

Well if there isn't anything wrong there should be - visibility IS seriously reduced and I don't see how anyone can argue otherwise. Picture a van parked at the Antiques Shop with the front of the van tight against the kerb of the crossing. Consider the effect that has on the view that a driver has of a pedestrian walking towards the crossing about to step out. The view that the pedestrian has is also restricted.

I haven't the time to dig through legislation but I wonder if these "recessed" parking spaces are covered anywhere. Because if they aren't then the no parking within 15 metres of a crossing rule may still apply.

I take the point that parking at that Antiques shop may be legal and the road markings seem to validate this. However just because a road is marked in a certain way doesn't mean that other rules don't apply. Eg main roads with side roads off them where there is a broken white line on the main road at and approaching the junction. Drivers interpret this as meaning that it is legal to overtake when in fact they shouldn't overtake at a junction.

Similarly, just because a parking spot is marked as such doesn't necessarily mean that it is legal or wise to park there.

Also, I have had arguments with people over them parking on bends and on hills forcing me to cross a continuous white line to get past them. Their response was that there were no double yellow lines therefore it was legal to park there.

the culture of deference

A couple of pics

No Pants

BrianD3 wrote: »

I have had arguments with people over them parking on bends and on hills forcing me to cross a continuous white line to get past them. Their response was that there were no double yellow lines therefore it was legal to park there.

I thought that a solid white line prevented parking.