Grass verges
Although people are expected to maintain the grass verge in front of their property, in fact it is part of the road reserve and the Council is legally required to protect the verge and underground services.
The Rotorua District Council Traffic Bylaw 1990, clause 31 states the following – The driver of any motor vehicle or the rider of a horse shall not permit the same to be driven or ridden through or over, or to remain stationary on, any grass verge or grass plot or flower bed on any of the streets or public places in the District.
Footpaths
Footpaths by their very definition are for foot traffic only and are not built to take the weight of vehicles.
Every year, parking on both footpaths and grass verges causes significant and costly damage to these surfaces, to tree roots and to the underground services beneath grass verges. Most public complaints about parking relate to parking on verges and paths – and the associated damage (which is definitely not caused by pedestrians and lawnmowers). Parking on footpaths or verges is, therefore, illegal.
People frequently use safety as their reason for parking on verges and footpaths (citing narrowness of the road, etc). If you consider it unsafe to park on the road at any place that parking is permitted, you should park either on private property, in a car parking area or on another stretch of road.
Parking on paths and verges is illegal throughout the Rotorua District and the Rotorua District Council rigorously enforces the rules governing parking on them. Clause 25 (a) and 25 (b) and 31 of the Rotorua District Traffic Bylaw 1990 cover Grass Verges, and the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 6.14 covers footpaths
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Special Vehicle Lanes:
A special vehicle lane means a lane defined by signs or road markings as restricted to a specified class or classes of vehicle; and includes a bus lane, a transit lane, a cycle lane, and a light vehicle lane.
The Rotorua District Council has a Cycling Policy which has the intention of increasing the level of cycling through increased infrastructure, encouragement and better integration with other modes of transport. As a result of this the following rule should be noted.
The Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004, 6.6 states:-
A driver or person in charge of a vehicle must not stop, stand, or park the vehicle in any special vehicle lane unless the vehicle belongs to a class of vehicle for which use of the lane is reserved, and the stopping or standing of the vehicle at that place is permitted.
Cycle Lanes:
The Rotorua District Council supports the use of Cycle Lanes within the District and regularly reviews this Policy.
Quite simply, it is illegal to park a vehicle in an area marked out and signed as a cycle lane. This could incur an infringement notice for a fine of $60.
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