For years, I’ve been writing about why cars parked on pavements cause problems for me as a wheelchair user. It’s now five years since the government consulted on the issue but still, have failed to take any action. That’s why I’ve recently shared my experience of falling from my wheelchair whilst on the school run after being forced to squeeze passed a car parked across the pavement. It was an upsetting incident but sadly not an unusual one – and it’s exactly why I’m supporting the campaign to ban pavement parking alongside Living Streets.
Most of the public response has been thoughtful, supportive and compassionate. But, as often happens online, a small number of commenters chose not to engage with the issue itself and instead directed their energy toward personal remarks about me. So, for the sake of clarity – and perhaps a little education – I thought I’d respond.
“She needs training to use her wheelchair”
It’s a curious thing to suggest that the solution to a blocked pavement is that the person trying to use it should retrain in mobility. I’ve used a wheelchair for decades. I navigate the world with confidence and independence.
The problem here isn’t my skill at driving my wheelchair – it’s the simple fact that pavements are for pedestrians, not parked cars. When someone leaves their vehicle where people are meant to move safely, it forces wheelchair users, parents with prams, people with visual impairments and many other people, into dangerous situations.
No amount of “training” can compensate for a pavement you physically can’t access.
“She wasn’t running anywhere”
This comment was clearly meant to be witty but let’s unpack it anyway.
The “school run” is a well-known phrase. It refers to the school journey – not to sprinting, racing or any other athletic feat.
I may not run but my wheels get me exactly where I need to go. And frankly, focusing on a figure of speech rather than the safety issue says more about the commenter than it does about me.
Let’s Return to the Real Issue
Pavement parking isn’t a minor inconvenience. It isn’t something we complain about for fun. It is a genuine and dangerous hazard.
- Wheelchair users are forced into the road
- Guide dog owners must navigate around unpredictable obstacles
- Parents with prams are left stranded
- Children walking to school face unnecessary risks
When I fell, it wasn’t because of a lack of skill. It was because a car blocked the only safe route available. That’s the point.
This conversation has never been about offence. It has always been about safety.
To Those Who Have Reached Out with Kindness
Thank-you. Sincerely. Your support genuinely means a lot – not just to me, but to everyone who faces these barriers every day. It shows that people do understand the issue and support pavements being safe and accessible.
And to Those Who Chose to Mock Instead of Listen
I really hope you never experience mobility issues or find yourself depending upon a wheelchair, a cane or a pushchair – because you’ll soon see just how vital safe pavements are. And how unnecessary your cruelty was.
A Final Word
If we want safer streets for everyone, we need to focus on the actual cause of harm – not on the disabled people speaking up about it. I’ll continue advocating for change and a pavement parking ban, because pavements should be for people, not cars.
And if a few online commenters are uncomfortable with that? Well, perhaps that discomfort is the first step toward understanding.