In January 2024 Edinburgh became the first city in Scotland to introduce a pavement parking ban. The new rules meant that drivers could be fined £100 for parking on pavements, at dropped-kerb crossing points, and for double parking.
Highland Council followed suit and introduced its pavement parking ban in February of the same year. A year after Edinburgh, in January 2025, Glasgow council also enacted this ban.
Local councils gained authority to implement fines to stop pavement parking from a law passed by the Scottish government in 2021.
The aim of this ban is to prevent parked vehicles on pavements forcing pedestrians onto the road.
However, in the first year of its enforcement, the widespread clampdown on pavement parking has led to the issuing of more than 8,000 fines and over 5,000 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs).
Several charity groups supported the ban in Edinburgh, including Guide Dogs Scotland and Living Streets Edinburgh.
David Hunter, a member of Living Streets Edinburgh, stated that the ban has brought about “the most significant change” to pedestrian safety in Edinburgh since the city’s introduction of 20mph speed limits in the centre.
Whereas some students at the University of Edinburgh said that they have not noticed significant differences since the introduction of the ban, others in more central accommodation said they have noticed “improvements” in pavement accessibility.
“Cars parked on pavements, Malpas, Newport – geograph.org.uk – 4900207” by Jaggery is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.