Rolled Curb Parking

Understanding the Rolled Curb Regulations

In some East Palo Alto neighborhoods, you will encounter rolled curbs which is a sidewalk that curves on to the street, instead of a typical curb like a typical sidewalk. The City has rules about parking on rolled curbs that you should be aware of. When parking at a rolled curb, no portion of the vehicle should extend into the sidewalk area. According to state laws, it is illegal for a vehicle to park over a rolled curb. Section 22500(f) of the California Vehicle Code prohibits parking over a rolled curb. 

Rolled Curbs and Yield Streets

A few areas around the City, including the Gardens Neighborhood and the Palo Alto Park Neighborhood, have streets classified as yield streets. Yield streets are described as narrow, low-volume residential streets serving mostly local traffic. Drivers are expected to travel at low speeds, and pedestrian and bicycle comfort is prioritized in these residential environments. When vehicles traveling in opposite directions meet, one vehicle must pull over and stop in a parking lane, pull-out, or driveway area to let the other pass. A yield street with parking on both sides functions most effectively at 24 to 28 feet in width, where on-street parking utilization is 40 to 60 percent or less. Many of these yield streets also have rolled curbs. Many residents improperly park on the rolled curbs in these areas and improper parking on rolled curbs raises accessibility issue. The graphic shown on this page was created to help educate the public on how to properly park on rolled curbs.

Sidewalks and Accessibility for All

It's important to properly park on rolled curb to ensure sidewalks are accessible to all other road users including pedestrians, wheelchairs, and strollers. Parking over a rolled curb creates an unsafe environment by:

• Restricting access to the sidewalk for pedestrians
• Impeding access to the sidewalk for wheelchair users, which violates the American Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Reducing walkability because the width of the sidewalk is constrained