Q&A - Entering Angled Parking
Is it legal to pull into a head-in angled parking spot on the opposite side of the street (crossing a solid yellow line)?
Scenario: Heavy traffic both ways. Lots of cars waiting for parking spots to open up on both sides of the street. Solid yellow line/single lane traffic.
I pulled into an angled parking spot (on my side of the street). A driver that was going in the opposite diretion wanted the same spot but was stuck behind a car so they couldn't get to it before me (even though they had their signal light on before me).
Does parking lot etiquette apply when you're on the street in a busy location (Edgemeont Village, specifically 3044 Highland Blvd).
Comments
It isn't specifically illegal, that's for sure.
It's a common misconception that one can't turn across a solid (or double solid) yellow line, or across a solid white line. But in fact, and in law, all of these lines are there only to control lane use, whether it's traffic moving in the same direction (who might want to change lanes) or traffic moving in opposite directions (who are required to stay on their own side of the road, generally speaking).
The suspension of Sections 151 & 155 is covered under Section 156.
So as long as a vehicle turning from, or into, a 90 degree angle parking space at the curb may be considered to be entering/leaving the highway then it's OK for them to cross that solid yellow centre line unless they unreasonably hold up traffic when doing so. The polite thing for you to have done would have been to concede the space whilst grinding your teeth in quiet frustration at the lack of parking facility in the village these days.
As it happens, I'm a Ridgewood Drive resident, so well familiar with the situation you're describing. The fools who drive me nuts are all the pedestrians who seem to think they're entitled to walk across the road in the middle of the block (Starbucks coffee cup in hand) instead of taking a few steps to the nearest crosswalk. Shame on the District of North Vancouver Bylaws officers who we pay our taxes to that they NEVER ticket for this.
Answer
Here's the spot referenced:
Here's the law:
What is critical to this answer is the part about entering or leaving the highway. Remember, we're dealing with the Motor Vehicle Act here, so the definition of highway is a very broad one in law and much different than most people would think.
The definition in the Transportation Act is more broad:
"Any other public way" would include parking and even the sidewalk. It is not necessary that it is intended for a motor vehicle to drive on.
Strictly speaking, you have to turn to proceed in the other direction in order to enter angled parking. The turn is slight, but as soon as you have moved more than 90 degrees, you've turned in the other direction.
The City of North Vancouver has chosen not to regulate reverse turns (U-turns) in the Street and Traffic Bylaw.
So, my short answer is, don't do it.
Here's some case law that is somewhat related.
Reverse Turn? I don't think that applies, here.
The MVA calls it a Reverse Turn, oftentimes referred to as a U Turn, but that's surely not what applies when turning into a 90 stall - that's a left turn, in this instance. After all, if the driver made the same maneuver a few metres ahead to enter the alleyway, that would be a left turn, right?
And unfortunately, your linked bylaw information doesn't necessarily apply as Edgemont Village is in the District, not the City. Heh heh ...
Yes, but...
It may be titled Reverse Turn, but the text says to go in the opposite direction. Since these are angled parking spaces, there is a slight "opposite direction" involved when moving to the other side of the street.
Here's the link for the Street and Traffic Bylaw for the district of North Vancouver.
"Slight opposite direction" ?
Not so, I reckon. My Algebra skills may have been poor, but my Geometry was pretty good.
And the fact is, a 90 degree arc doesn't in any way result in heading in the opposite direction.
I'll Draw You a Picture
Good picture!
It would be appropriate to the angle stalls on Edgemont Boulevard, nearby, which are more like a 45 degree angle.
But the parking stalls on Highland are 90 degrees, perpendicular to the curb.
OK
I answered based on the original post which asked about pulling into angled parking spots on the opposite side of the road. Maybe it's just the way the view was created, but the stalls in the street view look angled to me.
You may actually be right, then ...
It depends which side of Highland Boulevard one is aiming to park on. The Pet Hospital on the east side is 45 degree, but the Library on the west side is 90 degree parking.
Thinking about this further, then.
If a driver was in fact southbound on Highland Boulevard, between Edgemont and Newmarket, and wished to legally access one of those rare 45 degree stalls on the east side of the road, he would need to do this: continue to the Stop sign / stopline at Newmarket and, having stopped properly, then make a U-Turn in that intersection, and from his now northbound orientation, turn right into one of those stalls.