Dangerous parking petition calls for action but City Hall say fines have been issued

A petition has been set up to address dangerous parking in Cork City centre.

“Dangerous parking is parking in a way that increases the risk of collision or injury to people.

“It can occur on footpaths, public plazas, cycle lanes, pedestrian crossings, and on double yellow lines,” the petition states.

The petition has over 150 signatures and highlights the need for new, or additional, measures to combat the issue.

Speaking to The Echo, Conn Donovan, chair of the Cork Cycling Campaign, who started the petition, said that public consultationwas needed to address dangerous parking and its potential consequences.

“To have over 150 people interested in less than three days in shaping policy in Cork City on this issue is very encouraging,” Mr Donovan said.

“To keep going on the current path will just mean more and more dangerous parking, more risk of collision and injury for people, and a continuation of frustration being expressed on social media and to councillors.”

Cork City Council, however, has said that the traffic-warden service enforces legislation in the city.

“They enforce the traffic legislation in a fair and impartial manner. Cork City Council is very cognisant of the impact that illegal parking can have and take our responsibilities in this matter very seriously,” said the operations directorate at Cork City Council.

In response to claims that “few” fines are handed out for such parking, the city council confirmed that 515 fines have been issued for parking on a footpath in the past five months, while 158 fines have been issued for parking on a cycle track or causing an obstruction.