<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=192888919167017&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Friday, March 29, 2024
March 29, 2024

Linkedin Pinterest

What’s Up with That? Rolled curbs not an invitation to park on sidewalk

By Scott Hewitt, Columbian staff writer
Published: June 2, 2010, 12:00am

Some neighborhoods in the newer parts of Vancouver have the rolled-edge curbs instead of the square ones. What is the purpose of these modified curbs? Is it legal to park a car with the passenger-side wheels completely on the sidewalk in these neighborhoods?

— Christi Grossman, Hazel Dell

The purpose of rolled curbs — curbs that curve gracefully up a few inches from street to sidewalk, rather than jutting vertically up, forming a wall — is to save builders money.

“The advantages are largely financial. Simply put, they’re cheaper to build,” said county public works spokesman Jeffrey Mize.

Subdivision developers generally build streets before they build homes, and once the homes have gone in, builders must go back and make driveway curb cuts in their pristine new concrete. Rolled curbs save this step, since the entire length of the rolled curb is the lip of a potential driveway. No cutting necessary. It allows greater flexibility in placing homes on lots, too.

“There may be other benefits,” said Mize. “Some pedestrians might prefer them if they’re riding bikes or pushing strollers. And, some might find them more aesthetically pleasing. They’re something different.”

For most people, though, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. As befits an automatic driveway lip, rolled curbs do encourage drivers to glide right onto the sidewalk. Vertical curbs discourage that and tend to be safer. They’re also better at channeling stormwater toward storm drains. “That’s an emphasis in this county,” Mize said.

The city of Vancouver only permits rolled curbs on a case-by-case basis in tight cul-de-sacs, according to transportation spokeswoman Brooke Porter, so fire engines can turn around by easing over the curb. In unincorporated Clark County, Mize said, rolled curbs were limited to cul-de-sac bul-bouts in September 2006. Before that, they were allowed along both public and private neighborhood streets, which is why you see them scattered around county subdivisions — like where you are, Christi, in Hazel Dell.

Whether or not builders can build them, in this state you may never park on them. Washington State law (RCW.46.61.570) is short and sweet on this point: Parking on sidewalks is illegal. Period.

“The law doesn’t say it’s OK if it’s only some of your wheels. It doesn’t say it’s OK if it’s 10 percent of your car,” said Mize. “You should not be parking on sidewalks at all.”

Got a question about your neighborhood? We’ll get it answered. Send “What’s up with that?” questions to neighbors@columbian.com.

Loading...