Part 13: Parking control

Last updated: December 2007. This document ceases to be a controlled document when printed. Please refer to the current version at www.landtransport.govt.nz

6  Linear parking

Linear parking occurs along individual lengths of road either adjacent to the edge of the road or in the centre of the road. It can be either parallel to the kerb or at an angle – most commonly 30°, 45°, 60° or 90° (at right angles to the kerb). The signs and markings used to control linear parking are shown below.

6.1  Signs

6.1.1  Sign specifications

Specifications for traffic signs associated with linear parking are described in the TCD Rule.

Sign specifications, currently under development, provides images that may be applied directly by sign manufacturing software.

Signs published can be viewed at www.landtransport.govt.nz/roads/tcd/index.html.

6.1.2  General

Signs (including supplementary signs) incorporating arrows to indicate the direction and extent of a parking restriction ‘must be installed parallel to, or at an angle of not more than 45 degrees from, the side of the roadway to which they relate’ (subclause 12.5(3) TCD Rule).

  There is a limit to the number of signs that can be installed on the same pole or in the same location on the same building, wall or fence. The limit, described in the TCD Rule, is:

• not more than two parking signs (or three parking signs, provided one of them is a clearway or special vehicle lane sign); or
• one parking sign and one pedestrian sign.

A supplementary plate for this purpose is considered to be part of the sign it supplements.

A sign incorporating the letter ‘P’ denotes a parking restriction applying between 8 am and 6 pm on all days except public holidays, unless otherwise specified.

Signs relating to the restriction or prohibition of parking on a length of road must be installed:

• at the start and end of the length of the restriction (section of affected roadway)
• at or near both sides of an intervening intersection along its length (except for clearways, where signs need only be installed beyond each intervening intersection)
• at distances of not more than 100 m between any two signs.

Care should be given to the placing of sign posts to ensure they do not impact on the opening of car doors – for instance, placing signs in the middle of disabled parking space may prevent the vehicle’s door being opened or affect access to any mobility device required.

No Stopping

Table 6.1  No Stopping – signs and usage

Type of restriction	Sign no. (Sign specifications)	Use	Sign examples
No stopping (at all times)	P1-1 P1-3 P1-4	To indicate a length of road along which stopping is prohibited at all times. The prohibition applies over the full width of the road reserve.

These must be installed:

• at right angles to the roadway (or in a way that clearly indicates the area of the road to which the restriction applies and facing in the direction of approaching traffic)
• at a distance of no more than 100 m between any two signs on roads with a speed limit up to and including 70 km/h, and no more than 500 m on rural roads (ie the speed limit exceeds 70 km/h).

The signs may be used with No Stopping markings (see section 6.2).

Table 6.2 No Stopping – specified period: signs and usage

Type of restriction	Sign no. (Sign specifications)	Use	Sign examples
No stopping (specified period)	P1-1 P1-3 P1-4	To indicate a length of road on which stopping is prohibited at certain times of the day and/or days of the week

• More than one time period can be noted on the sign.

Clearways

Table 6.3 Clearway – signs and usage

Type of restriction	Sign no. (Sign specifications)	Use	Sign examples
Clearway (No stopping – specified time period)	P1-2	To indicate the length of road that stopping is prohibited in order to provide an additional traffic lane during the specified time periods.

• Clearway restrictions are used to assist with the free flow of traffic by ensuring the capacity of a traffic lane is not compromised by parked vehicles or may create an additional lane.
• The signs should be installed at the beginning of each restriction and at intervals not exceeding 100 m.

Figure 6.1 Clearway signs along a length of road

No Parking

Table 6.4 No Parking – signs and usage

Type of restriction	Sign no. (Sign specifications)	Use	Sign examples
No Parking (specific site requirements)	P1-3	To indicate where no vehicle, other than those indicated, may park, stop or stand provided the driver remains in attendance

• Must always be used in conjunction with a vehicle type, eg bus stops and taxi stands.

Parking – restricted use

Table 6.5 Restricted use parking – signs and usage

Type of restriction	Sign no. (Sign specifications)	Use	Sign examples
Parking time restricted	P2-1 to P2-4	To indicate a parking time limit (ie the length of time permitted to be parked in the same location)
Parking reserved for described vehicle classes	P4-2 to P4-5	To indicate permitted types of vehicle parking (and extent of parking time limit).
Parking reserved for different user types	P4-6	To indicate that parking permitted for disabled road users only – displaying a valid permit
Parking reserved certain activities	P4-1	To indicate designated area for loading zones and reserved parking

• Without the sign indicating a specific period (eg certain days of the week or non-standard hours) for which the parking time limit applies (in minutes), the restriction relates to standard hours and days of operation (8 am to 6 pm, Monday to Sunday other than public holidays).
• Vehicle classes include buses, cycles, motorcycles, shuttle buses and other ‘authorised’ vehicles.
• Time restrictions are generally in multiples of five minutes.
• Signs associated with loading zones and reserved parking areas must specify the class of vehicle or road users, and/or designated activity to which the loading zone or reserved parking area is restricted.
• A loading zone includes the dropping off of passengers or goods unless specifically restricted, by wording of the sign to one or the other.
• Supplementary plates indicating time restrictions are permitted on ‘vehicle class’ and ‘road user’ parking restriction signs.
  Special vehicle lanes

Table 6.6 Special vehicle lanes – signs and usage

Type of restriction	Sign no. (Sign specifications)	Use	Sign examples
Special vehicle lanes	R4-7 to 4-9	To indicate a reserved traffic lane for use by the class of vehicle indicated.

• No additional parking signs or markings prohibiting parking are required if the traffic lane is marked and, if necessary, signed as being reserved for the use of permitted identified vehicles.
• Special vehicle lanes include bus, transit and cycle lanes.
• Special vehicle lanes may be crossed over by a driver in order to park in a place clear of the special vehicle lane.

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