Pittsburgh City Council has closed a loophole that made it harder to enforce the long-standing ban on parking vehicles on sidewalks and in bike lanes.
Parking on a sidewalk has long been prohibited under Pennsylvania law and Pittsburgh’s local code. But city officials said a provision allowing drivers to park for the protection of their vehicles created confusion and gave some motorists grounds to challenge tickets.
Council’s updated language narrows that exception. A vehicle may only be on a sidewalk when it is necessary to avoid a conflict with traffic or protect a person or vehicle while complying with the law, a police officer’s direction or a traffic-control device. Parking on a curb simply because a street is narrow or a driver wants to protect a car
does not qualify.
Councilman Bobby Wilson, who introduced the measure, said the change is intended to make streets and sidewalks safer by allowing clearer enforcement. Pedestrians, people using wheelchairs, parents pushing strollers and cyclists can be forced into the street when sidewalks or bike lanes are blocked.
The reported fine for parking on a sidewalk is $55.50. City leaders say the update does not create a new ban; instead, it removes a local-code exception that complicated enforcement of an existing prohibition.
This article by Gabby Sartori was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pittsburgh closes loophole in long-standing ban on sidewalk parking
