Uccle Pedestrian Collective Fights Illegal Parking with Humorous Protest Stickers

Brussels – A group of frustrated pedestrians in the Brussels municipality of Uccle has taken an unconventional approach to tackling illegal parking on pavements.

The collective, named Le Piéton Ucclois en a Marre (The Uccle Pedestrians Are Tired of It), is using humorous stickers to denounce motorists who obstruct walkways, making it difficult for pedestrians, cyclists, and vulnerable road users to navigate the streets safely.

The stickers, which bear the slogan “Don’t be a Putin. Don’t annex the pavement.”, have been placed on the rear windows of vehicles parked illegally on sidewalks.

While humorous in tone, the protest aims to highlight the serious consequences of illegal parking, particularly for parents with prams, wheelchair users, and the elderly, who are often forced onto the road, putting their safety at risk.

A Persistent Problem Ignored by Authorities

In a press release issued on Wednesday, the collective underscored the dangers that illegally parked cars pose to pedestrians.

“These violations have consequences for pedestrians: they make pavements inaccessible, especially for parents with prams, people in wheelchairs, and the elderly. These vulnerable users are then forced onto the road, exposing them to the dangers of traffic,” the statement read.

Despite repeated complaints to local authorities, members of the collective claim that their concerns have fallen on deaf ears.

According to them, the police zone covering Uccle, Watermael-Boitsfort, and Auderghem has been reluctant to take action against illegal parking. The group alleges that Uccle’s mayor, Boris Dilliès (MR), has actively discouraged law enforcement from penalising offenders.

The group cited police figures from 2023, stating that only 20 fines were issued per day for illegal parking across the entire police zone.

“This is completely inadequate given the scale of the problem. We counted 618 illegally parked cars on Uccle’s streets in a single day,” said Jean, a member of the collective.

Mayor Denies Claims, Calls Criticism “Preposterous”

Dilliès, however, has categorically denied these accusations. When contacted by The Brussels Times, he dismissed claims that he had instructed the police to avoid penalising illegal parking, calling them “a load of nonsense.”

He insisted that, as mayor, he has no authority to issue negative injunctions to law enforcement and maintained that parking violations are routinely punished.

“I do not know the exact figures by heart, but we very regularly issue tickets for badly parked cars. And motorists are not happy about it. The police do their job, and they do it well,” Dilliès said.

The mayor expressed his frustration over what he described as an unfair attack on his administration. “I am being attacked in a stupid, idiotic, and cowardly way. The implication is that, given my political colour, I would not tackle issues with motorists,” he said.

Dilliès, a member of the Reformist Party (MR), has opposed several measures of the Brussels regional government’s Good Move plan, which aims to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety.

However, he argued that this does not mean he condones reckless parking. “It is a caricature. Why else would I fight against e-scooters abandoned anywhere? That is to defend the comfort and safety of pedestrians. But then I am apparently supporting people who park anywhere? It is preposterous.”

An Ongoing Battle for Pedestrian Safety

The pedestrian collective remains steadfast in its demand for stricter enforcement of parking laws and better protection of sidewalks. In their view, the mayor, as the head of the local police, holds responsibility for ensuring public safety and has failed to act decisively.

“The fact remains that cars are consistently parked on pavements in Uccle without consequence. It’s clear that the current approach is not working,” said Jean. “We need concrete measures to prevent these violations, and we need them now.”

Among their demands, the group is calling on Dilliès to ensure that the police have the necessary resources and directives to actively penalize illegal parking.

They also suggest physical deterrents such as bollards and reinforced pavement markings to discourage drivers from encroaching on pedestrian spaces.

Broader Implications for Brussels

Uccle is not the only municipality in Brussels grappling with parking violations. Across the city, authorities have struggled to balance the needs of motorists with those of pedestrians and cyclists.

The Good Move plan, launched by the Brussels regional government, aims to make the city more pedestrian-friendly by reducing car traffic in certain areas. However, the plan has been met with resistance from some municipalities, particularly those with a strong car-owning demographic.

As the debate over urban mobility intensifies, the conflict in Uccle highlights a broader tension between car-centric policies and the push for safer, more accessible streets. While authorities insist that they are enforcing regulations, pedestrian advocacy groups argue that enforcement remains lax, leaving vulnerable road users at risk.

What Comes Next?

The pedestrian collective has vowed to continue its awareness campaign until concrete actions are taken. “We will not stop until we see real change. Illegal parking is not just an inconvenience; it is a public safety issue,” said Jean.

Meanwhile, Mayor Dilliès remains firm in his stance, insisting that police enforcement is ongoing. Whether this latest controversy will lead to a stricter crackdown on illegal parking in Uccle remains to be seen.

For now, pedestrians in Uccle will continue to walk a fine line—between advocacy and frustration—as they push for safer streets in their municipality.

This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members