'Illegal And Unacceptable': Worcester Sidewalk Parking Crackdown Starts

WORCESTER, MA — The illegal but common practice of parking on sidewalks in Worcester will soon meet its own obstruction.

This fall, the Worcester Department of Transportation and mobility will begin a campaign to reduce sidewalk parking across the city. The campaign will include a period of about two weeks when parking enforcement officers will hand out educational fliers to people found parking on sidewalks — but tickets will soon follow for drivers who ignore the parking law, according to officials.

In a memo to city councilors this week, Department of Transportation Commissioner Stephen Rolle laid out his case to address a problem that has many facets, from a lack of consistent enforcement to older neighborhoods with very narrow streets.

"Given limited enforcement for many years, there is likely a perception by some that parking on the sidewalk is not only tolerated but acceptable," Rolle wrote. "Some drivers may not be aware that their actions are negatively impacting pedestrian safety, convenience and the condition of public infrastructure."

In some older neighborhoods — like Bell Hill and Main South — streets are too narrow to accommodate parking on both sides plus a travel lane. Rolle said many sidewalk parkers probably think they're helping traffic move more smoothly if their own vehicles are out of the way up on the sidewalk. The increase in the size of vehicles and popularity of large SUVs and pickup trucks that don't fit into traditional parking spaces has also worsened the problem, officials said.

But parking on the sidewalk to keep roads clear reduces safety for pedestrians, especially those who have mobility issues.

"Sidewalk parking can lead pedestrians to instead walk in the street, thereby exposing them to danger from passing motor vehicles. This is problematic for all pedestrians, but especially those using wheelchairs, who oftentimes may choose to travel in the street rather than the sidewalk just to avoid the possibility of having to retrace their steps should they encounter a vehicle parking on the sidewalk," Rolle said.

The sidewalk parking enforcement follows recent requests to address the issue by At-Large Councilor Khrystian King and District 2 Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, whose district includes popular sidewalk parking areas like Shrewsbury Street and Bell Hill.

Rolle also encouraged either councilors or residents to petition for parking restrictions along streets that are too narrow for parking on both sides. Rolle pointed to Canterbury Street as a good example of a busy arterial road that's too narrow — just 30 feet from curb to curb — for parking on both sides plus travel in two directions. The Department of Transportation may recommend changes in parking along arterial streets, but the ultimate decision to make changes will be up to the council, Rolle's memo said.

The sidewalk parking crackdown will include a new education webpage on the city website, plus social media outreach. The penalty for obstructing a sidewalk is $25 per offense, according to Worcester ordinances.

"Parking in Worcester, as in any busy city, can be difficult to find at times in certain locations. But sidewalk parking occurs throughout the city, even when plentiful parking is available. In either case, violating the space reserved for pedestrians is illegal and unacceptable," City Manager Eric Batista wrote in his own memo to councilors about the issue.