11 December 2015

Ask RiotACT: parking on the grass of the road side

| DMZ
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Ask RiotACT

Hi there, I found a car next to my place parked on the grass on the road side. The grass under the car is not doing well as no access to the sunshine.

I am just wondering is there any rule to regulate parking in a suburban road? The grass is on public land not under a body corporate.

Many thanks.

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madelini said :

Nilrem said :

farout said :

Sandman said :

I noticed several vehicles at the southern end of Brigalow St the other day sporting stylish yellow envelopes. They were parked out the front of private residences, on the nature strip but not blocking any footpaths, access or obstructing vision.

I noticed that too, and thought ‘Good on the ranger’.
Till I got to Dyson St up the road and had to squeeze through cars parked on both sides of the road (not on or partially on the nature strips), leaving just barely enough space for a car to navigate through. Fortunately there wasn’t another car heading towards me in the opposite direction at the same time.

Barely enough space, but enough space. Surely a small price to pay to have nice grass everywhere instead of dusty carparks?

“Nice grass”? The grass outside our house (in suburban Tuggeranong, no footpaths) is just the weedy variety that grew naturally. Even with my car parked on it nightly, it still looks better than it did in the drought.

Also, I don’t think parking on the street encourages people to drive to the speed limit. If anything, it makes them drive below, and frustrates them to the point where they break more road rules to get through.

The grass varieties used on nature strips in North Canberra must be less robust. Any house that has regular nature strip parking turns into a really ugly dustbowl of compacted soil.

Masquara said :

Sandman said :

Kinda wish they’d run a blitz on the Limestone Ave apartments opposite the oval. Front strip of that place looks horrendous and I’ve seen the cars drive around the posts on the footpath to park. Pajero with qld plates is the major offender and there’s been a Saab with no number plates parked there for quite some time.

I walked past there the other day and I couldn’t see any visitor parking facilities, and it definitely wouldn’t be safe to park on the road anywhere near there. If the government isn’t going to insist on good residential planning, they shouldn’t be booking people parking where it’s safe.

You’re right, there’s nowhere safe on the road to park, at least not directly adjacent to the complex. There’s plenty on the other side of the oval, a short walk away. Of course, most of these aren’t visitors obviously. It’s overflow parking of residents. Again, you’re correct in stating that the government should insist on more visitor parking for these complexes in the planning stages, and perhaps renters and buyers need to consider other options in cases where they don’t have the allocated space to store their vehicles. Body corporate has obviously attempted to stop it by erecting pine bollards at either end but it doesn’t help. I can imagine it would be incredibly frustrating dropping all that money on a nice new ground floor unit looking across to the oval and having a perpetual view of your neighbors 4wd and associated dust issues.

I did notice the Saab ( which turned out to be a Renault) gone the other day.

madelini said :

Nilrem said :

farout said :

Sandman said :

I noticed several vehicles at the southern end of Brigalow St the other day sporting stylish yellow envelopes. They were parked out the front of private residences, on the nature strip but not blocking any footpaths, access or obstructing vision.

I noticed that too, and thought ‘Good on the ranger’.
Till I got to Dyson St up the road and had to squeeze through cars parked on both sides of the road (not on or partially on the nature strips), leaving just barely enough space for a car to navigate through. Fortunately there wasn’t another car heading towards me in the opposite direction at the same time.

Barely enough space, but enough space. Surely a small price to pay to have nice grass everywhere instead of dusty carparks?

“Nice grass”? The grass outside our house (in suburban Tuggeranong, no footpaths) is just the weedy variety that grew naturally. Even with my car parked on it nightly, it still looks better than it did in the drought.

Also, I don’t think parking on the street encourages people to drive to the speed limit. If anything, it makes them drive below, and frustrates them to the point where they break more road rules to get through.

People certainly drive more slowly on my street when there’s cars parked on it.

madelini said :

Nilrem said :

farout said :

Sandman said :

I noticed several vehicles at the southern end of Brigalow St the other day sporting stylish yellow envelopes. They were parked out the front of private residences, on the nature strip but not blocking any footpaths, access or obstructing vision.

I noticed that too, and thought ‘Good on the ranger’.
Till I got to Dyson St up the road and had to squeeze through cars parked on both sides of the road (not on or partially on the nature strips), leaving just barely enough space for a car to navigate through. Fortunately there wasn’t another car heading towards me in the opposite direction at the same time.

Barely enough space, but enough space. Surely a small price to pay to have nice grass everywhere instead of dusty carparks?

“Nice grass”? The grass outside our house (in suburban Tuggeranong, no footpaths) is just the weedy variety that grew naturally. Even with my car parked on it nightly, it still looks better than it did in the drought.

Also, I don’t think parking on the street encourages people to drive to the speed limit. If anything, it makes them drive below, and frustrates them to the point where they break more road rules to get through.

That African love grass is taking over in Tuggeranong.
The government’s response is to cut it more which makes it thrive and spread.
It really needs Round(ing)up.

Sandman said :

Kinda wish they’d run a blitz on the Limestone Ave apartments opposite the oval. Front strip of that place looks horrendous and I’ve seen the cars drive around the posts on the footpath to park. Pajero with qld plates is the major offender and there’s been a Saab with no number plates parked there for quite some time.

I walked past there the other day and I couldn’t see any visitor parking facilities, and it definitely wouldn’t be safe to park on the road anywhere near there. If the government isn’t going to insist on good residential planning, they shouldn’t be booking people parking where it’s safe.

Nilrem said :

farout said :

Sandman said :

I noticed several vehicles at the southern end of Brigalow St the other day sporting stylish yellow envelopes. They were parked out the front of private residences, on the nature strip but not blocking any footpaths, access or obstructing vision.

I noticed that too, and thought ‘Good on the ranger’.
Till I got to Dyson St up the road and had to squeeze through cars parked on both sides of the road (not on or partially on the nature strips), leaving just barely enough space for a car to navigate through. Fortunately there wasn’t another car heading towards me in the opposite direction at the same time.

Barely enough space, but enough space. Surely a small price to pay to have nice grass everywhere instead of dusty carparks?

“Nice grass”? The grass outside our house (in suburban Tuggeranong, no footpaths) is just the weedy variety that grew naturally. Even with my car parked on it nightly, it still looks better than it did in the drought.

Also, I don’t think parking on the street encourages people to drive to the speed limit. If anything, it makes them drive below, and frustrates them to the point where they break more road rules to get through.

Steven Bailey9:33 am 11 Dec 15

Yep, it’s no good having people park in front of your house. Although the ACT government needs to lighten up when it comes to cars parked in places that really do no harm to anything or anyone.

DMZ said :

Thank you for all the support and information provided.

I tried to contact the ACT gov for it and they did send someone on the premise to attend this matter. The thing is the car on the grass is only at home after hours. It seems unrealistic to expect ACT gov to send someone for this during the night.

Now I have to consider how to attend this matter by myself.. 🙁

Polite note under the windscreen wiper explaining concern about damage to the grass?

TuggLife said :

It gives me the pip when I’m out walking with the pram and have to dodge cars parked on the footpath – usually, I end up having to walk along the road. Then I get even more annoyed when I think about how much more difficult it must be for someone with limited mobility.

I can see the other side, though – particularly in newer suburbs, there often isn’t enough driveway space for the number of occupants, and the streets are so narrow that each street would become a chicane with cars parked correctly on either side of the road. I’m sure I’ve done it plenty of times myself in the past.

Perhaps print this out, stick it on their windshield and see what happens? http://www.rego.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/603483/Parking-on-the-roadside-fact-sheet.pdf

There’s a group house around the corner from me where they were parking across the footpath – it was as simple as knocking on the door and explaining that a mobility-impaired person (or anyone) might knock a shin on their trailer hitching ball in the dark – and they started parking more considerately. That was nine months ago and there hasn’t been a problem since …

Thank you for all the support and information provided.

I tried to contact the ACT gov for it and they did send someone on the premise to attend this matter. The thing is the car on the grass is only at home after hours. It seems unrealistic to expect ACT gov to send someone for this during the night.

Now I have to consider how to attend this matter by myself.. 🙁

aronde said :

Noticed today that log barriers are being installed along the edges of the park surrounding the upgraded Weetangera oval. Probably being installed because of the people who think driving up over the gutters and through the park so they can be 20 metres closer to the action on the oval is a good idea.

It’s a strange irony of so-called “sporting” people in Canberra – you’d think they’re fit and active people playing sports, but the irony is that they are actually so unfit that they don’t seem able to get to the field unless they can park within 2m, even if it means breaking the law.

Sandman said :

Kinda wish they’d run a blitz on the Limestone Ave apartments opposite the oval. Front strip of that place looks horrendous and I’ve seen the cars drive around the posts on the footpath to park. Pajero with qld plates is the major offender and there’s been a Saab with no number plates parked there for quite some time.

A quick email to parking.operations@act.gov.au will do the trick.

Kinda wish they’d run a blitz on the Limestone Ave apartments opposite the oval. Front strip of that place looks horrendous and I’ve seen the cars drive around the posts on the footpath to park. Pajero with qld plates is the major offender and there’s been a Saab with no number plates parked there for quite some time.

Yes and it is a problem in the suburbs of Canberra. Pity the rangers don’t drive around and fine more people and gather revenue. It’s a particular nuisance when people also park over the footpath and you have to walk on the road to get past. Sick of the rental next door who park on our front verge and put their garbage bins on our front instead of their own. When rubbish is emptied they leave it there and take bins in. Went out to mow last week but couldn’t because they had a car parked on the grass. Of course they were still in bed because they are up until early morning disturbing others. No consideration in Canberra — like living in wild west.

Noticed today that log barriers are being installed along the edges of the park surrounding the upgraded Weetangera oval. Probably being installed because of the people who think driving up over the gutters and through the park so they can be 20 metres closer to the action on the oval is a good idea.

farout said :

Sandman said :

I noticed several vehicles at the southern end of Brigalow St the other day sporting stylish yellow envelopes. They were parked out the front of private residences, on the nature strip but not blocking any footpaths, access or obstructing vision.

I noticed that too, and thought ‘Good on the ranger’.
Till I got to Dyson St up the road and had to squeeze through cars parked on both sides of the road (not on or partially on the nature strips), leaving just barely enough space for a car to navigate through. Fortunately there wasn’t another car heading towards me in the opposite direction at the same time.

Barely enough space, but enough space. Surely a small price to pay to have nice grass everywhere instead of dusty carparks?

Sandman said :

I noticed several vehicles at the southern end of Brigalow St the other day sporting stylish yellow envelopes. They were parked out the front of private residences, on the nature strip but not blocking any footpaths, access or obstructing vision.

I noticed that too, and thought ‘Good on the ranger’.
Till I got to Dyson St up the road and had to squeeze through cars parked on both sides of the road (not on or partially on the nature strips), leaving just barely enough space for a car to navigate through. Fortunately there wasn’t another car heading towards me in the opposite direction at the same time.

Wow, so there are all these rules about what we can’t do on our nature strips, but at the same time it is our responsibility to maintain the grass or rain garden put there. We can’t install paving, landscape or store things without written approval. Every second nature strip either has compacted gravel, paving, landscaping or building supplies (mulch, pavers, soil etc) stored there. Seriously, has anyone ever actually applied for approval to do this? What would happen if the government decided to start enforcing the requirement for written approval. I hope they have the resources…

Nilrem said :

Sandman said :

I noticed several vehicles at the southern end of Brigalow St the other day sporting stylish yellow envelopes. They were parked out the front of private residences, on the nature strip but not blocking any footpaths, access or obstructing vision.

But they were compacting the soil, and enabling cars to drive faster on suburban streets.

Turning lawns into dust bowls.

Sandman said :

I noticed several vehicles at the southern end of Brigalow St the other day sporting stylish yellow envelopes. They were parked out the front of private residences, on the nature strip but not blocking any footpaths, access or obstructing vision.

But they were compacting the soil, and enabling cars to drive faster on suburban streets.

I noticed several vehicles at the southern end of Brigalow St the other day sporting stylish yellow envelopes. They were parked out the front of private residences, on the nature strip but not blocking any footpaths, access or obstructing vision.

TuggLife said :

It gives me the pip when I’m out walking with the pram and have to dodge cars parked on the footpath – usually, I end up having to walk along the road. Then I get even more annoyed when I think about how much more difficult it must be for someone with limited mobility.

I can see the other side, though – particularly in newer suburbs, there often isn’t enough driveway space for the number of occupants, and the streets are so narrow that each street would become a chicane with cars parked correctly on either side of the road. I’m sure I’ve done it plenty of times myself in the past.

Perhaps print this out, stick it on their windshield and see what happens? http://www.rego.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/603483/Parking-on-the-roadside-fact-sheet.pdf

Nothing wrong with chicanes, that’s what steering wheels are for! Cars should be parked on the street.

there is, or was, the offence of ‘not stand close and parallel’, which means a vehicle must be parked on the carriageway, facing the correct way for that street [ie, left, unless a one-way thoroughfare]. this means vehicles parked on the verge are breaching the regulation and can be issued with a parking ticket. guess you check act road rules to see if that applies here.

if so, leave note on windscreen as a warning. then, if they still don’t comply, firebomb their car. [just joking] as paul says, a tricky one for poor, though understandable, resourcing shortages.

i suspect they park in the shade in summer (i know i look for this option when it’s legal), fact of life. good luck.

It gives me the pip when I’m out walking with the pram and have to dodge cars parked on the footpath – usually, I end up having to walk along the road. Then I get even more annoyed when I think about how much more difficult it must be for someone with limited mobility.

I can see the other side, though – particularly in newer suburbs, there often isn’t enough driveway space for the number of occupants, and the streets are so narrow that each street would become a chicane with cars parked correctly on either side of the road. I’m sure I’ve done it plenty of times myself in the past.

Perhaps print this out, stick it on their windshield and see what happens? http://www.rego.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/603483/Parking-on-the-roadside-fact-sheet.pdf

The alienation and destruction of public land for personal use is rampant.

I am having lunch at urban pantry, which has been “refurbished”. What was previously a lightly enclosed outside seating space to retain winter heating is now extended with wooden flooring and heavy steel structure cutting off most of the public right of way.

Same in Sydney where people with public foreshore build walls to steal public space.

Probably the same people who slag off on public welfare cheats.

Grrrrrrr, don’t get me started on the evils of nature strip parking. Not only does it kill grass, it compacts the soil, which harms the root systems of nearby trees. Having cars parking on nature strips instead of where they should be parked (on the side of the road) also seems to encourage people to drive faster because the roadway is clear. Get a photo and send it to parking.operations@act.gov.au noting that the car is there now. They may send someone around to book it. You could also put a note under the windscreen wiper pointing out that nature strip parking is illegal (as well as that is causes the problems above).

From http://www.tams.act.gov.au/city-services/public_land_use#car

“Please be aware that the following activities or items are prohibited:
*parking or storing any type of vehicle or trailer on your nature strip (registered or unregistered or parts thereof);
storing or placing any substance, material or objects on nature strips without written approval from PACS;
installing pavers or concrete or similar materials across nature strips without written approval from PACS;
erecting stone or brick walls or similar structures across nature strips without written approval from PACS;
pruning or removing any street trees; and
allowing foliage to obstruct pedestrian access to footpaths or nature strips within 1.2 metres from the back of the kerb.”

So yes, the law is on your side in this regard.

Paul Costigan10:47 am 02 Dec 15

Cars parking on sidewalks/footpaths is a serious and complex issue for Canberra. Too much of it and the trees suffer.

I could name several locations where the trees are showing signs of damage that has been caused by cars parked there daily/every night.

We are not talking about the occasional parking here – but instances where it happens on a regular and daily basis.

There have been cases where inspectors have been called and they do deal with it – but if they were to attend every instance in every suburb, we would need a couple of battalions of new inspectors.

I am sure there are many and varied views on this. And I cannot see a simple solution – except I do remain concerned about the trees.

As for the lawns – I am convinced that we should not have so much lawn/mown grass anymore. But that’s another story.

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