RNIB comments on Government’s consultation on pavement parking

Following an announcement that the government is to open a consultation on whether to give local authorities more parking powers, Sarah Lambert, Head of Social Change at RNIB, said:

"Along with blind and partially sighted people everywhere, we welcome this development as a significant step forward in pedestrian safety. It’s unacceptable that, outside of London, people with sight loss are routinely forced to step out into oncoming traffic due to cars parked on the pavement.

"We look forward to seeing further details of the proposals when the consultation opens later this year and urge the Government to make sure there are accessible ways to get involved with the consultation, so that blind and partially sighted people can contribute.

"We've been calling on a ban on pavement parking for a long time, but we'd also like to see action on other pavement obstructions, including dockless bikes, for example, so that blind and partially sighted people are more able to get out and about without fear of injury."

Notes to editors

All media enquiries to the RNIB PR team on 0207 391 2223 or [email protected]. Or, for urgent enquiries out-of-hours, please call 07968 482812.

About RNIB

We are the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

Every six minutes, someone in the UK begins to lose their sight. RNIB is taking a stand against exclusion, inequality and isolation to create a world without barriers where people with sight loss can lead full lives. A different world where society values blind and partially sighted people not for the disabilities they’ve overcome, but for the people they are.

RNIB. See differently.

Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk