‘Epidemic of ignorant’ drivers blocking Manchester cycle lanes slammed by campaign group

A cycling group in Manchester have spoken of their frustration as a number of cycle lanes across the city continue to be blocked by ‘ignorant drivers’.

Walk Ride GM, a campaign group working to make walking, cycling and other active travel modes the first choice for journeys across the region, has highlighted the ‘epidemic’ of drivers dumping their cars on bike paths and pavements around the city.

According to the group, a cycle lane running along Cornbrook Road in Stretford is one of the worst impacted, with a number of cyclists reporting it as blocked by parked cars in the last couple of weeks. 

Greater Manchester Police’s Stretford division confirmed that they have had ‘a lot of complaints’ about parking in the area, while Trafford Council said the problem is ‘on their radar’. 

Despite the police and council being aware of the issue, however, Claire Stocks from the Walk Ride campaign group told the Manchester Evening News that the problem is only getting worse.

She said: “Increasingly, drivers are seeming to park in very anti-social ways, and we are seeing it up and down the country. We want the Government to introduce a pavement parking ban, but we also believe local councils can do more to introduce bans in specific areas.

“We have a problem because there are so many more cars on the roads, probably four times as many cars on the road now as when I was young. When people get behind a wheel, they often see a space and just think they can leave it there if there is no sign telling them not to do so.

“It is often because people are trying to avoid high parking costs, especially in cities, and we know built up cities are not able to deal with so much heavy traffic and there isn’t the space to park.

“Many people don’t realise the impact they are having blocking a pavement or cycle lane and I think it is often not deliberate but it is ignorant. We see it with delivery drivers too, who are in a rush and park up willy-nilly wherever they can.”

A spokesperson for Trafford Council has said the issue is out of their control, saying: “We have been made aware of this issue, however, there are currently no traffic regulation orders (TRO) in place that restrict the parking of vehicles on that road.

“While we therefore can’t enforce it, local councillors have been pushing the police to take action for some time and we welcome action taken by GMP using their powers.

“We would remind drivers that they should not park where they would cause an obstruction, particularly on cycle paths.

“Cycling is a great way to travel – it is cheaper, healthier and more environmentally friendly – so we take a strong view against cycle paths being blocked.”

They added that the problem extends beyond Cornbrook into Gorse Hill and Trafford Park, and that they are conducting a ‘wider review of enforcement’.

“This includes looking at the creation of a TRO so, if inconsiderate parking continues, we can take action and make sure cycle paths are not blocked.”

Transport for Greater Manchester’s City Centre Transport Strategy is currently underway, with the aim for 90% of all trips to the city centre in the morning peak to be made on foot, by cycle, or on public transport before 2040.