Campaigners want to be allowed to turn parking spaces into parklets in streets across London

Campaigners want to be allowed to turn parking spaces into parklets in streets across London - London Parklets Campaign

Research shows that there are 1 million car parking spaces in London, over 3,000 miles which would stretch across the Atlantic Ocean if lined up. Cars are parked up and unused for 95% of the time, which campaigners believe is a waste of valuable space.
Campaigners call for 1 parking bay on every residential street in London to be permitted to be turned into community space
UK’s first ever ‘People Parking Day’ on 25/26 September will see people reclaim parking bays with activities like fitness classes, tea parties and book clubs
Brenda Puech and others have created guerilla parklets outside their homes which have been dismantled.

group of people in a parking bay parklet — Photo of Brenda and Friends on bay (photo: London Parklets Campaign)

First Ever ‘People Parking Day’

A campaigner from North London is organising the first ever ‘People Parking Day’ in London on the weekend of 25 and 26 September to encourage people to sit and talk in a car parking space on their streets. The London Parklet Campaign, which is made up of volunteers, is working with the charity Living Streets London and IBikeLondon to encourage Londoners to take up part in the activities, being held just after World Car Free Day (22 September).

Brenda Puech came up with the idea of reclaiming some parking spaces for community use while recovering from a serious collision when she was knocked off her bike by a motorist who ran a red light. After being refused permission she set up a guerilla parklet outside her home in London Fields. The ‘People Parking Bay’ was a patch of artificial grass with flowerpots, a bench and a sign that read ‘You’re welcome to park yourself on the bay.’ Sadly the council removed it.

The London Parklet Campaign is calling on the Mayor and borough leaders to allow Londoners to apply to create ‘parklets’ in the streets where they live, with an aim to have a parklet on every street.

Brenda Puech, a founder of the London Parklets Campaign, said: “I want every Londoner whether they own a car or not to have access to these public spaces. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a private garden so providing social spaces close to people’s homes is essential. We can really improve our environment and wellbeing if we reclaim these areas as spaces to sit and socialise, and make London the parklet capital of the world. ”