The number of cars on UK roads is growing. According to Government figures, at the end of March 2025 there were 41.9 million licensed vehicles (cars, lorries, motorbikes and buses able to drive on the road) in the UK. This has gone up 1% from the previous year. Finding places for people to park their vehicles is often difficult. Problems include old, narrow roads with no parking bays; the increasing size of cars such as SUVs (cars that are generally bigger and taller than a standard car); and families often having more than one vehicle. These have made finding somewhere to park a car tricky, so some people have resorted to parking with part of their car on the pavement. What do you think? Is it ever ok to park on a pavement?
Yes – people need to park somewhere The truth is that people need cars and they have to park them. It would be great if everyone could travel by public transport but that isn't always practical. Lots of places aren't served by public transport and fares can be quite expensive. More cars means more pressure on parking. If no spaces are available, sometimes people just have to park on the pavement – they haven't got much choice. People should be allowed to park on pavements as long as they're considerate. That means not blocking the path completely and making sure doors and gateways are left free. Besides, parking on the pavement helps to keep narrow roads clear. It means traffic doesn't get held up and emergency vehicles can still get through.
No – it's not fair to pedestrians Parking on the pavement is not fair because it means people might have to walk out into busy roads to get past. This can cause accidents. This is especially true for people with disabilities or visual impairments or people with buggies. Electric cars are very quiet, which makes stepping into the road even more dangerous for people who are blind or partially sighted. Besides, allowing drivers to park on pavements might encourage people to use their cars. It's better for the planet and people's health if everyone who is able to, uses public transport and walks or cycles instead of driving. Also, if pavements are blocked, it could discourage people from walking. Pavements should be for people, not for vehicles.
