1Purpose and scope#

Verge and indented parking is typically provided between the kerb line and property boundary, and can be a cost-effective retrofit measure to relocate parking from the road pavement to the verge to make space for other use of the road space (such as on-road bicycle lanes). The pavement markings and signage requirements for on-road parking are addressed in the Queensland Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) Part 11 Parking. The typical dimensions, width limitations and layout of parking bays are given in Australian Standard AS 2890.5. As well as a parking issue, this is also an issue of the design of the 'Roadside Environment': design considerations and specifications are included in the Road Planning and Design Manual Part 6B.

1.1Introduction#

Kerbside parking serves the adjacent land uses, allowing for motor vehicle storage. Kerbside parking, if not managed correctly, can also negatively affect road operations and road safety. Kerbside parking presents an obstacle on the road that occupies and blocks road space that could be used for vehicle throughput. High turnover parking manoeuvres (especially reverse parallel parking) obstructs the flow of traffic and creates several safety risks, and parked vehicles can also obscure visibility of traffic at driveways and intersections and people walking on a mid-block crossing. The dilemma is many businesses and residents have a genuine need to use the streets as a vehicle storage area, so it can be difficult to remove or reduce kerbside parking in many locations without reinstating it elsewhere. The removal of kerbside parking is usually controversial, but not unprecedented. It has occurred on many older arterial roads with adjacent commercial or residential land uses to increase vehicle throughput or improve safety such as improving sightlines on crests. The provision of indented or verge parking to replace the on-road kerbside parking has been used as a solution in some of these instances.