What does a village need to do to prohibit parking in front of a ramp that provides access to the sidewalk (and is not at an intersection)?

Technically, it is already illegal to park or stop and block access to a ramp that provides access to the sidewalk according to Vehicle and Traffic (V&T) law section 1202. However, the public may not be aware of this.

The village should put up signs to help alert drivers. The signs would be In the NYS Supplement to the MUTCD. Two NYP1-2 and NYP1-5 should be used to alert the drivers not to stand or park between the signs.

The village board may also pass a local ordinance under section 1640 of the Vehicle and Traffic law which could include a larger area if so desired. In any case, the village attorney should be involved.

More details are shown below.

The Vehicle and Traffic (V&T) law (http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/lawssrch.cgi?NVLWO:) section 110 defines a crosswalk:

    § 110. Crosswalk.

(a)  That  part  of  a roadway at an intersection included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway between the curbs or, in  the  absence of curbs, between the edges of the traversable roadway.
(b)  Any  portion  of  a  roadway  at  an  intersection or elsewhere
distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other  markings on the surface.

The V&T prohibits (Section 1202) parking on a cross walk, within 20 feet of a cross walk at an intersection unless allowed by regulation, or if blocking a ramp. (The critical text for the ramp is “alongside or obstructing a curb area which has  been cut down, lowered or constructed so as to provide accessibility to the sidewalk.”)

The salient text from 1640 of the V&T is listed below.

Vehicle and Traffic

    § 1640. Traffic  regulations  in  all  cities  and  villages.  (a) The
  legislative body of any city or village, with respect to highways (which term for the purposes of this section shall include private  roads  open to public motor vehicle traffic) in such city or village; subject to the limitations  imposed by section sixteen hundred eighty-four may by local law, ordinance, order, rule or regulation:
    6.  Prohibit,  restrict  or limit the stopping, standing or parking of
vehicles; provided, however, that a vehicle may not be found  to  be  in violation  of  a  parking regulation if it is parked at a broken parking
  meter at a time when metered parking is authorized.

July, 21