(Slightly) Prettier Permit Parking

Just a quick post this week on a little used alternative to yellow lines and parking restriction signs which I think could be used far more often.

Trying to post weekly is a bit of a silly target to have set myself and I have been running out of days. Luckily, I was downloading some photos and remembered this neat little parking wheeze, so decided to blog about it.

When putting in some kind of permit scheme (residents, business or whatever) one normally ends up with a mixture of yellow paint and plenty of signs (depending on what is being done). If you have a nice self-contained area (a few streets ending in cul-de-sacs for example), it can be really simplified.

Permit Parking Area entry sign.

It is possible to install a couple of signs on the entrance to the permit area which basically state that only permit holders can park beyond that point - a Permit Parking Area (PPA). There is also a small sign on the reverse so show the end of the PPA.

The signs can carry a bit more detail about how the scheme can operate such as an area reference (such as the RO5A on the photo) and the time of operation which basically removes the need for single yellow lines in the estate beyond. Signs are still needed within the PPA and these are smaller repeaters of the entry signs which restate the times of operation and the area reference for example. The repeater signs kind of do the job of permit parking bays and the single yellow lines at once and are the same as "normal" permit bay signs.

Repeater sign within PPA.

During the time the PPA operates, people are still allowed to load and drop off/ pick up passengers (like on a yellow line) and park if blue badge holders (like a bay). There may be places within the area where nobody should be parking and so we can simply install double yellow lines to keep these areas clear. Outside of the PPA hours, then anyone can park (although they can be specified to operate "at any time").

If the local authority is operating its own parking enforcement (having taken the powers on), then it can deal with people parked in front of dropped kerbs (driveways, pedestrian crossing points etc) using S86 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 (worth a read, honestly!)

Repeater sign opposite, but double yellow lines used at a junction
where we don't want people to park.

There is more information available in Traffic Advisory Leaflet 1/12 (paragraphs 77 and 78). The legislation is contained within the Traffic Signs (Amendment)(No.2) Regulations & General Directions 2011.

This approach won't be appropriate in all circumstances (it is just for permit areas), but for little residential areas or perhaps industrial estates with limit access points, it can save a bit of clutter on the streets which is a good thing in my opinion.