Tethering a pig on a footpath
I’ve previously written a blog about Anti Social Behaviour (ASB), and how it seems to be pretty common to use it to label the activities of children or young adults without a great deal of self reflection as to whether some of our own actions might meet the threshold that others might consider them, as in, our actions, to be anti social (if ever you needed proof that these blogs are not written by AI I duly table that word sandwich as proof).
Anyway, let’s talk about tethering a pig on a footpath.
A tethered pig
Sorry? No, I haven’t had anything to drink thank you very much.
I’m referring to the Highways Act of 1835 Section 72, which (somewhat unbelievably) is the current legislation referenced in the Highway Code in both Rule 64 and Rule 145, which cover not cycling, and not driving on a pavement respectively. For the keen historians amongst us, yes, that does reference a law passed in 1835, and yes, that is approximately 25 years before pedals were added to a Dandy Horse (a rather lovely adult balance bike), and 50 years before cars were invented, but them’s the chips.
What does the law actually say? I’m glad you asked my friend.
‘If any person shall wilfully ride upon any footpath or causeway by the side of any road made or set apart for the use or accommodation of foot passengers; or shall wilfully lead or drive any horse, ass, sheep, mule, swine, or cattle or carriage of any description, or any truck or sledge, upon any such footpath or causeway; or shall tether any horse, ass, mule, swine, or cattle, on any highway, so as to suffer or permit the tethered animal to be thereon, every person so offending in any of the cases aforesaid shall for each and every such offence forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale, over and above the damages occasioned thereby.’ I can just about follow it; it makes my first sentence of this blog sound like poetry, right?
Now personally I’d like to think of riding a bike as being pretty similar to driving a mule, and parking a car thereon any footpath or causeway by the side of any road (apologies, slipping into the style of language from nigh on 200 years ago verily) as being equivalent to tethering a pig. Granted, a really big pig, of the metallic variety, usually with 4 wheels, but a pig nonetheless. Therefore I will henceforth refer to activity of parking a car on the pavement as tethering a pig (hopefully it will catch on).
Given all of this, I thought I’d do a dive into what else the Highway Code says about parking cars, and who’d have thunk it, but there are loads of sensible rules about how to tether a pig, sorry park a car, which means you do so within the law, and therefore safely and without impacting other road users. Particularly those in the near vicinity who aren’t using cars.
Anyway, I’m pretty sure the text below is an extensive reference guide regarding what the Highway Code says on parking a car.
But before I let you loose on a Highway Code pig tethering rule feeding frenzy (HCPTRFF), I’ll take you back to the top of this blog where I started by mentioning Anti Social Behaviour. Honestly, I don’t see a lot of it, particularly from youngsters. Now maybe I’ve got a higher tolerance to general tomfoolery and mischief, and perhaps turn a blind eye to some stuff children get up to, c’est la vie, the foundlings are the future, this is the way. That said, if y’all have time to read all the rules below, and consider them to at least be inconsiderate or antisocial, at worst dangerous and illegal, I put it to the bench that once you see this behaviour you see it everywhere, and maybe you’ll worry less about the children playing and having fun.
Now go feed. Comments are open, let me know your favourite rule. No, most annoying rule. No, worst street in Worcester for tethered pigs. Happy to post any photos of rubbish parking at the bottom of the blog. And cute photos of pigs.
Rule 116
Hazard warning lights. These may be used when your vehicle is stationary, to warn that it is temporarily obstructing traffic. Never use them as an excuse for dangerous or illegal parking. You MUST NOT use hazard warning lights while driving or being towed unless you are on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway and you need to warn drivers behind you of a hazard or obstruction ahead. Only use them for long enough to ensure that your warning has been observed.
Rule 145
You MUST NOT drive on or over a pavement, footpath or bridleway except to gain lawful access to property, or in the case of an emergency.
Rule 156
Do not park in passing places (single track roads).
Rule 191
You MUST NOT park on a crossing or in the area covered by the zig-zag lines. You MUST NOT overtake the moving vehicle nearest the crossing or the vehicle nearest the crossing which has stopped to give way to pedestrians.
Rule 239
Use off-street parking areas, or bays marked out with white lines on the road as parking places, wherever possible. If you have to stop on the roadside:
do not park facing against the traffic flow
stop as close as you can to the side
do not stop too close to a vehicle displaying a Blue Badge: remember, the occupant may need more room to get in or out
you MUST switch off the engine, headlights and fog lights
you MUST apply the handbrake before leaving the vehicle
you MUST ensure you do not hit anyone when you open your door. Check for cyclists or other traffic by looking all around and using your mirrors
where you are able to do so, you should open the door using your hand on the opposite side to the door you are opening; for example, use your left hand to open a door on your right-hand side. This will make you turn your head to look over your shoulder. You are then more likely to avoid causing injury to cyclists or motorcyclists passing you on the road, or to people on the pavement
it is safer for your passengers (especially children) to get out of the vehicle on the side next to the kerb
put all valuables out of sight and make sure your vehicle is secure
lock your vehicle.
Before using a hand-held device to help you to park, you MUST make sure it is safe to do so. Then, you should move the vehicle into the parking space in the safest way, and by the shortest route possible.
When you use a hand-held device to help you to park, you MUST remain in control of the vehicle at all times. Do not use the hand-held device for anything else while you are using it to help you park, and do not put anyone in danger. Use the hand-held device according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
When using an electric vehicle charge point, you should park close to the charge point and avoid creating a trip hazard for pedestrians from trailing cables. Display a warning sign if you can. After using the charge point, you should return charging cables and connectors neatly to minimise the danger to pedestrians and avoid creating an obstacle for other road users.
Rule 240
You MUST NOT stop or park on
the carriageway, an emergency area or a hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency (see Rules 270 and 271)
a pedestrian crossing, including the area marked by the zig-zag lines (see Rule 191)
a clearway (see Traffic signs)
taxi bays as indicated by upright signs and markings
an urban clearway within its hours of operation, except to pick up or set down passengers (see Traffic signs)
a road marked with double white lines, even when a broken white line is on your side of the road, except to pick up or set down passengers, or to load or unload goods
a tram or cycle lane during its period of operation
a cycle track
red lines, in the case of specially designated ‘red routes’, unless otherwise indicated by signs. Any vehicle may enter a bus lane to stop, load or unload where this is not prohibited (see Rule 141).
Rule 241
You MUST NOT park in parking spaces reserved for specific users, such as Blue Badge holders, residents or motorcycles, unless entitled to do so.
Rule 242
You MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road.
Rule 243
DO NOT stop or park:
near a school entrance
anywhere you would prevent access for Emergency Services
at or near a bus or tram stop or taxi rank
on the approach to a level crossing/tramway crossing
opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space
near the brow of a hill or hump bridge
opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle
where you would force other traffic to enter a tram lane
where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles
in front of an entrance to a property
on a bend
where you would obstruct cyclists’ use of cycle facilities
except when forced to do so by stationary traffic.
In Scotland you MUST NOT double park or park anywhere the kerb has been lowered to help pedestrians or cyclists. Exceptions are allowed in limited circumstances.
Rule 244
You MUST NOT park partially or wholly on the pavement in London or Scotland. Exceptions are allowed in limited circumstances. You should not park partially or wholly on the pavement elsewhere unless signs permit it. Parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments and people with prams or pushchairs.
Rule 245
Controlled Parking Zones. The zone entry signs indicate the times when the waiting restrictions within the zone are in force. Parking may be allowed in some places at other times. Otherwise parking will be within separately signed and marked bays.
Rule 246
Goods vehicles. Vehicles with a maximum laden weight of over 7.5 tonnes (including any trailer) MUST NOT be parked on a verge, pavement or any land situated between carriageways, without police permission. The only exception is when parking is essential for loading and unloading, in which case the vehicle MUST NOT be left unattended.
Rule 247
Loading and unloading. Do not load or unload where there are yellow markings on the kerb and upright signs advise restrictions are in place (see ‘Road markings’). This may be permitted where parking is otherwise restricted. On red routes, specially marked and signed bays indicate where and when loading and unloading is permitted.
Rule 248
You MUST NOT park on a road at night facing against the direction of the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space.
Rule 249
All vehicles MUST display parking lights when parked on a road or a lay-by on a road with a speed limit greater than 30 mph (48 km/h).
Rule 250
Cars, goods vehicles not exceeding 2500 kg laden weight, invalid carriages, motorcycles and pedal cycles may be parked without lights on a road (or lay-by) with a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) or less if they are:
at least 10 metres (32 feet) away from any junction, close to the kerb and facing in the direction of the traffic flow
in a recognised parking place or lay-by.
Other vehicles and trailers, and all vehicles with projecting loads, MUST NOT be left on a road at night without lights.
Rule 251
Parking in fog. It is especially dangerous to park on the road in fog. If it is unavoidable, leave your parking lights or sidelights on.
Rule 252
Parking on hills. If you park on a hill you should:
park close to the kerb and apply the handbrake firmly
select a forward gear and turn your steering wheel away from the kerb when facing uphill
select reverse gear and turn your steering wheel towards the kerb when facing downhill
use ‘park’ if your car has an automatic gearbox.
Rule 291
A level crossing is where a road crosses a railway or tramway line. Approach and cross it with care. Never drive onto a crossing until the road is clear on the other side and do not get too close to the car in front. Never stop or park on, or near, a crossing.
Rule 302
You MUST NOT park your vehicle where it would get in the way of trams or where it would force other drivers to do so. Do not stop on any part of a tram track, except in a designated bay where this has been provided alongside and clear of the track. When doing so, ensure that all parts of your vehicle are outside the delineated tram path. Remember that a tram cannot steer round an obstruction.
