Safe & Lawful Parking

Keeping Streets Clear for Emergency Vehicles

Help us keep the roadways safe and clear by following these basic rules year-round. Violation of these regulations will result in ticketing or towing of your vehicle.

• Park 20 feet away from crosswalks and intersections. Emergency vehicles and snowplows need space to make turns safely.
• Leave 12 feet of clearance across the road. Emergency vehicles and snowplows need enough roadway width to safely pass.
• Park 10 feet away from fire hydrants. Firefighters need clear access in an emergency.

This video demonstrates what happens when cars park too close to intersections or don't leave enough space for emergency vehicles to get down the street.

Parking on Sidewalks is Hazardous and Damaging

Sidewalks are for People:

• Sidewalks are designed for pedestrians, including people who are vision impaired or using wheelchairs, strollers, or other mobility devices.
• Driving onto the sidewalk endangers pedestrians, obstructs their path, and makes it harder for drivers to spot them at driveways and crosswalks.
• Obstructed sidewalks push pedestrians, including wheelchair users, into the street, greatly increasing their risk of being struck by a vehicle.

Sidewalk Parking Damages Our Public Infrastructure:

• Sidewalks are built to support people, not to withstand the repeated weight of cars and trucks.
• In addition to damaging sidewalk panels, parking on sidewalks can also displace or break the curb and harm the edge of the street.
• Vehicles parked behind the curb may also damage street trees, tree lawns, and other landscaping.
• Damaged sidewalks, curbs, streets, and green spaces need more frequent repairs, increasing maintenance costs for all Worcester residents and diverting funds from other important community needs.

In summary: Parking on the sidewalk is illegal, unsafe and expensive for everyone.

Don't Park Facing Oncoming Traffic

Parking a vehicle facing in the opposite direction can confuse other drivers, especially at night. Drivers may become confused about the direction of the street or whether they are on the correct side of the road, increasing the risk of a crash.

Additionally, to park facing the opposite direction, a driver must travel against traffic both when entering and leaving the space. This maneuver exposes the driver and oncoming traffic to a greater risk of head on collisions.

Conflicts Created When Parked Facing Opposing Traffic

• If vehicle 1 parks illegally acing the opposing direction of traffic, they will have to cross over the oncoming lane of traffic, and will need to do so again when leaving.
• The driver of vehicle 1 may not see oncoming traffic  (vehicle 2) due to poor line of sight around other parked vehicles (vehicle 3).
• Oncoming traffic (vehicle 2) may not see or expect vehicle 1 when it exits the space, or may become confused about their own travel path when seeing a vehicle approach on the right.

Winter Parking Bans

The Winter Parking Ban is in place to keep streets open, safe, and accessible to essential traffic moving during winter storm events. Residents are strongly encouraged to avoid parking on the street during any snow event and to plan ahead to find alternative off-street parking options. Make sure you’re signed up for declared winter parking ban alerts so you know when you need to move your car - visit worcesterma.gov/alertworcester.