Why this photo of a truck in Sydney angers Australians, but not everyone agrees
A photo of a parked truck hanging over a sidewalk, leaving little room for passing pedestrians, has divided the internet.
A Sydneysider shared with Reddit on Wednesday a photo of the flatbed truck's parking lot, with its box blocking much of the sidewalk.
They added that the truck was near a “busy” park, making it more difficult for passersby with strollers and wheelchairs to navigate.
“How much backing up on a sidewalk is acceptable?” the author captioned the photo.
“Families bring their children, especially toddlers, to play.”
The truck bed went over the footpath, causing crowds as the path was blocked to prams and wheelchairs
The photo divided viewers online.
Many felt the truck was too big.
“If your car doesn't fit in the parking lot, find another spot,” one person wrote.
However, others believed that the driver was right as they had managed to park between the car bay lines.
Some also felt the driver had left enough room for wheelchairs and strollers.
Standards Australian parking guidelines say vehicles can hang over a kerb, but this depends on a number of factors.
When reversing into a parking space, a driver must ensure that they do not interfere with pedestrians and keep sidewalks to a minimum.
When cars lean over a parking lot, it can cause the vehicle to block the sidewalk.
Too much overhang can also direct a large amount of exhaust fumes at walkers.
Footpaths with a width of 2.3 meters or less are generally not permitted to have adjacent parking spaces unless wheel stops are fitted.
The wheel stops prevent vehicles from hanging more than 300 mm over the curb.
The location in the photo is unknown, but the City of Sydney and Canada Bay Council has said so 9News.com.au that trailers and trucks can be fined for trespassing on a footpath.
In NSW, obstructing a footpath can land a driver with a fine starting at $275.
In NSW, fines can start from $275 if a car or trailer blocks a footpath (stock image of a parking attendant)