How did this get normalized!?



Most motorists know enough not to park on sidewalks. Yet there is a creeping encroachment by many motorists on what used to be safe space for pedestrians. On this particular street most parked cars are on the roadway and not creeping over the curb nor crowding ADA ramps. Their good etiquette is not worthy of a photograph. The car owners in the photographs below are probably otherwise nice people, but as enforcement of roadway etiquette recedes in city priorities, motorists are adopting new habits at the expense of pedestrian safety.

The motorists might think the roadway is too narrow to park on, yet if cars are driven at safe speeds, cars can be safely parked without invading sidewalks. (Some jurisdictions are removing centerlines on problem streets because they are seen as encouraging faster speeds.) Who uses sidewalks? It is children, seniors, people in wheelchairs, and people who enjoy safely exploring their community for their health and their love of the neighborhood.

Motorists who parked these cars are setting a new standard that others will follow if the walking public doesn't protest. Please contact the El Cerrito City Council to let them know that you expect them to protect pedestrian safety, that cars should stay in their lanes. 




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