Afzal Khan has presented his petition in the House of Commons to stop pavement parking.
Mr Khan, MP for Gorton and Shadow Justice Minister, called on the Government to outlaw pavement parking that ‘prevents others from living their daily lives’ across Manchester.
Pavement parking has a daily impact on people, including preventing active travel for those who have mobility impairments, who are blind or partially sighted, people who are neurodiverse, and parents with young children.
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One local wheelchair user met with the Manchester Evening News to highlight the problem and shared how life has become ‘incredibly difficult’ getting around the region's streets.
Mr Khan said: “For some people, it might be a minor inconvenience. But for many others, it can prevent them from attending a hospital appointment or even leaving their home.”
The MP described just some of the many stories shared where people have been affected by pavement parking, including constituent Barbara, who struggled to get to her supermarket because ‘her wheelchair could not fit between cars on the pavement’.
Speaking of other people who face difficulties, Mr Khan said: "Carolyn, meanwhile, takes her mum (who also uses a wheelchair) on walks to Alexandra Park. They struggle to find an easy and safe way through, particularly where there’s no dropped kerb.
“New parents like Hafsa, Jack and Antony highlighted how hard it is to navigate parked cars with a pushchair, and the dangers of taking young children into the road to get past."
The MP received an ‘overwhelming response’ from his constituents, and says he has ‘never had the sheer volume of upset about a local issue’.
He said: “Pavement parking is not only an issue for those with disabilities or young children, but encourages speeding and reckless driving in neighbourhoods. It’s time the Government takes action.”
In London, pavement parking is already banned by default and has been for decades (since 1974) - unless there is a sign specifically allowing pavement parking, it is not allowed.
"We need to start from a simple, clear message: our pavements are for people walking or wheeling, not for vehicles," the Manchester MP said.
“Our roads need space for vehicles to pass easily, and pavements wide enough for people to walk down. If it’s good enough for London, it’s good enough for Manchester – and the whole country."
According to polling by Sustrans, 72% of people in Greater Manchester think it would help residents to walk or wheel more if there were fewer cars parked on the pavement.
Afzal Khan said: "The Government knows something needs to change. They promised to do something about pavement parking back in 2020. They even consulted on it. Three years later, they haven’t responded to their own consultation. We need to see results.
“My message to the Transport Secretary is this: You know something must be done. Let’s work together – with MPs across the country – to speed up change. We must not let politics be a barrier to banning pavement parking and we must put our constituents before cars.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Everyone should be able to navigate their streets without obstacle and we’ll continue to work with local authorities and charities to keep pavements clear wherever possible.
“In 2020, we launched a consultation to explore options for tackling pavement parking and better equip councils to take action. We will publish the response and announce next steps as soon as possible."
For more information on the petition, click here.
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