Department of Transport guidance
On parking
There is extensive guidance at:
www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/tpm/tal/parkingmatters/pavementparking.
For example this includes:
Formalised On Street Parking
In narrow streets where drivers tend to park partly on the pavement along both sides, it may be better to provide properly marked out spaces on just one side of the carriageway. If the marked out spaces are provided in short lengths along alternate sides of the road they can form a chicane and have the effect of reducing vehicle speeds.
Disabled People
The needs of disabled people must be taken into account. Careful planning of physical measures is required to ensure that people with disabilities can get about safely and independently.
In narrow streets where drivers tend to park partly on the pavement along both sides, it may be better to provide properly marked out spaces on just one side of the carriageway. If the marked out spaces are provided in short lengths along alternate sides of the road they can form a chicane and have the effect of reducing vehicle speeds.
Disabled People
The needs of disabled people must be taken into account. Careful planning of physical measures is required to ensure that people with disabilities can get about safely and independently.
On vegetation
Guidelines are given in the DfTs Inclusive Mobility document (which covers how to address the needs of those with disabilities in street design).
In section 2.2 of this, it says:
Unobstructed height above a pedestrian way is also important, especially for visually impaired people. Generally, this should be a minimum of 2300mm except on sub-surface station platforms where it should be 3000mm. Where a sign is suspended over a footway or pedestrian area, for example in a railway station a minimum clearance of 2100mm is acceptable (2300mm on cycleways). Where trees overhang a footway it is advisable to cut them back to at least 3000mm clear height to allow room for regrowth.
Inclusive Mobility constitutes guidelines from the DfT on how highway authorities (and others) can fulfil their duties under the Disability Discrimination Act.
National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance
In 2007, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommended to the Government that pedestrians and cyclists should be given priority in planning and building towns and cities.
The NICE recommendations include
• restricting motor vehicle access
• the reallocation of road space
• road-user charging
• creation of comprehensive walking and cycling networks
to help people lead a healthy active life. This will help prevent and manage over 20 conditions including coronary heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity and mental health problems.
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