Car parking set to be banned on York route – despite fear it will encourage ‘dangerous’ cyclists
Parking is set to be banned alongside a stretch of the river in York.
City of York Council wants to introduce a ‘No Waiting at any time’ restriction for West Esplanade.
At the moment, there are single yellow lines, and cars are banned from parking there from 8am- 6pm.
Although this restriction applies all the way along to Scarborough Bridge, the council report says it has only been implemented up to a gate about 110m from Lendal Bridge.
This used to be closed to stop traffic going further. “The gate has been opened in recent years as all users were funnelled through a small gap (1.7metres wide) between the gate and a lamppost,” the report says.
It means the riverside path has been “used for parking of vehicles in the unrestricted lengths of the path, which has narrowed the path and increased the potential conflict of movements between cars, bicycles and pedestrians, as the vehicles have to turn in the path to be able to exit the area”.
Residents and ward councillors asked for the double yellow lines to be introduced because of these problems.
A consultation on the proposal received two responses, both objecting to the restriction.
One was received from the York Rowing Club. They said the existing restrictions were never enforced.
The club was also concerned about the impact on its rowing events, as participants do park their boat trailers west of the old white gate.
The council report says “if the trailers are detached from the vehicles used to tow, they would be able to be in the area as long they were not causing an obstruction of the path”.
Another objection came from the owners of the Perky Peacock café in Barker Tower next to Esplanade.
They wrote: “Bicycle traffic is at times openly dangerous with speeds and irregular bicycle control of many.
“A no-stopping restriction, especially at the rowing club which quite frankly slows traffic down, increases the danger to pedestrians, rowers and café customers.
“We have already had instances of customers being hit by cyclists.”
They also worried about the restriction on their ability to load and unload goods at the café.
The council report says: “This would not be the case as loading activities can occur from ‘No Waiting’ restrictions if the loading activity is continuous.”
Officers are recommending the parking restrictions are implemented in full. That recommendation goes to the Decision Session – Executive Member for Transport on Tuesday (21 February).