Pick up and drop off; Dog walking and parking problems

Admit it, you probably haven’t looked at parking rules since you passed your driving test right? But now as a professional dog walker you’re having to find the closest parking space to your client’s house to make sure you’re collecting or dropping off dogs as fast as you can so that the other dogs aren’t left unattended for long in your vehicle.

Let’s take a look at the most common parking restrictions and how to deal with them as a dog walker.

TLDR: How to collect a dog when you can’t park outside their house

Depending on how far away you can park legally from the house would help me decide to either re plan my route to collect/drop this dog off last, or if it’s fairly close then leaving the van with the other dogs in for a few minutes and being as quick as I could would also be an option.

Remember to make that decision based on the hottest day of the year. Dogs left alone for a few minutes in February might not be so comfortable in August. If changing your route, or switching the dog to a different walking group/ means it can be collected and dropped with an empty van then isn’t that extra effort, fuel and time worth looking after the welfare of those dogs?

Does unloading and loading apply to dog walkers?

If there are signs allowing you to stop for loading and unloading only, are you sure they apply to you? Are you really loading a dog?

As a professional dog walker, when you collect a dog, it can be considered as loading in the context of parking rules in the UK. Since you are picking up a passenger (in this case, a dog) and facilitating its entry into your vehicle, it aligns with the general concept of loading.

In the context of parking rules in the UK, the terms “loading” and “unloading” refer to specific activities allowed in designated areas. While there isn’t an official definition provided by a specific governing body, such as the Department for Transport, the following explanation is generally understood:

1. Loading: Loading refers to the process of actively transferring goods or passengers to or from a vehicle. It typically involves the loading or unloading of items, such as goods, equipment, or luggage, and may also include passengers entering or exiting a vehicle. Loading is usually associated with commercial activities, deliveries, or situations where temporary stopping is necessary to facilitate the efficient exchange of goods or passengers.
2. Unloading: Unloading is similar to loading but usually pertains specifically to the act of removing goods or passengers from a vehicle. It typically occurs at a designated location, such as a loading bay or a specified area where unloading is permitted.

Parking, waiting and stopping – what’s the difference? 

So what if the signs say no stopping or no waiting. No parking is clear to understand but it can be a little confusing to work out what the difference is between ‘no stopping’ and ‘no waiting’.

A ‘no stopping’ sign, or ‘clearway’ sign, means no stopping whatsoever – even to drop someone off.

A ‘no waiting’ or ‘no parking’ sign lets a driver stop temporarily, maybe to let out a passenger or unload some goods, but you can’t linger there.

• A ‘no waiting’ sign with a single yellow line means you can’t wait there during the times shown on the sign.
• ‘No waiting’ with double yellow lines means no waiting or parking at any time, unless there are exceptions listed on nearby signs.

Yellow lines

If you’re unlucky enough to have a client’s house with yellow (or red) lines outside, what can you do?

Double yellow lines

A double yellow line – either painted on the road or on the kerb – means parking and waiting are not permitted at any time.

Loading and unloading may be permitted, providing you can be seen doing so continuously – unless there are specific restrictions against it, indicated either by signage or yellow ‘kerb dashes’.

This is where it gets tricky. We know that we’re loading and unloading a dog, so that’s fine. But can we be seen to be doing it continuously?

A lorry driver would be seen taking stuff out of the lorry and ‘delivering’ it, but once we, the dog walker, are inside the house, can we be seen continuously? What if we need to refill the water bowl, or clean up a mess for a few minutes whilst we drop off the dog?

You may be able to successfully appeal a ticket in these circumstances but do you really need the hassle? And how often are you going to get fined? Personally, I wouldn’t risk it.

Single yellow lines

A single yellow line – either painted on the road or on the kerb – means no waiting, parking, loading or unloading at the times shown on the accompanying sign.

Check the sign before you park to make sure.

Red Lines

In some cases, red lines are used instead of yellow lines.

In London, the double and single red lines used on Red Routes indicate that stopping to park, load, unload, or to board and alight from a vehicle is prohibited, except for licensed taxis and Blue Badge holders.

The times that the red line restrictions apply will be shown on nearby signs, but a double red line means no stopping at any time.

Yellow Zigzags

The Highway Code states that you should keep these areas clear of stationary vehicles so stopping or waiting is strictly prohibited.

White zig-zag lines

You must not park on white zigzag lines as parking would block the view for pedestrians and oncoming traffic.

Residential Parking Permits

Parking outside someone’s house

It is perfectly legal to park outside someone’s house unless the vehicle is blocking a driveway or a wheel is over a dropped kerb.

Permit Parking

If the street the dog lives in has permit only parking then you can ask the owners for a visitors permit. These are typically free and allow for short term parking (in some boroughs it’s around 30 minutes) so not long enough to park and do a solo walk but plenty of time to collect or drop a dog home.

Pavement Parking

Contrary to popular belief parking on the pavement outside of London is not an offence (as of July 2023 but some councils are in consultation periods to make it an offence), however it does severely inconvenience people using the pavement.

Can you park on the pavement? Yes. Should you park on the pavement? No.

The Highway Code

Here’s what the Highway Code says for parking on the road:

• Do not park facing against the traffic flow
• Stop as close as possible to the roadside
• Do not park too close to a vehicle displaying a Blue Badge
• The engine, headlights and fog lights must be switched off
• The handbrake must be applied before leaving the car
• You must look out for other road users when you open your door
• Passengers should exit the vehicle on the side next to the kerb
• Valuables should be out of sight and the car locked

25 Places you absolutely cannot park your car in the UK

• Within 10 meters (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorized parking space.
• Near the brow of a hill or humpback bridge.
• Opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle.
• In a pedestrian crossing, including the area marked by the zig-zag lines.
• On the carriageway or the hard shoulder of a motorway (except in an emergency).
• In a taxi bay (as directed by the upright signs and road markings).
• A road marked with central double white lines, even if a broken white line is on your side of the road, except for dropping off, picking up, loading or unloading.
• Where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair and mobility vehicle users.
• In front of an entrance to a property, except for loading or unloading.
• On a bend.
• Where you would obstruct a cycle lane.
• A tram or cycle lane during its period of operation.
• A cycle track.
• In a bus lane, except for buses, taxis, disabled people with blue badges, and cyclists.
• In a restricted waiting area, unless you have a valid permit.
• In a yellow box junction, unless you are already in the junction when the lights change to red.
• On double yellow lines, except for loading or unloading for a maximum of two minutes.
• On single yellow lines, except for loading or unloading for a maximum of 20 minutes, or for parking with a valid permit.
• On a clearway, unless you are turning left or right, or you have a valid permit.
• In a designated parking bay without paying the required fee, or without displaying a valid parking permit.
• In a place where your vehicle would cause an obstruction or a danger to other road users.
• In a place where parking is prohibited by a sign or traffic markings.
• In a place where parking is restricted by a parking permit scheme, unless you have a valid permit.

Parking fees, fines and expenses

Nope, your parking fines are not an allowable expense, unfortunately.

But those car park fees are so keep the receipts and be sure to add this expense to your travel costs on your tax return.

But don’t forget that although claiming it as an expense reduces your tax bill, it doesn’t mean you get the money back for the parking fees, so make sure you’re charging the client appropriately by adding the parking fee to your hourly rate.