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What are they?
 Loading zones are areas of curb space where public parking is prohibited to provide commercial delivery and pickup services for local businesses.
Why do we have them?
Many businesses and commercial enterprises do not have the availability of off-street vehicle access. This is especially true in older parts of our business districts where continuous storefronts do not allow for driveways. Commercial as well as customer vehicle access to a business is crucial to its survival.
Where do we have them?
Whenever possible, loading zones are created as near as possible to a particular storefront or in a mutually agreeable location to serve a number of businesses. They can only exist in areas where parked vehicles do not infringe upon overall public safety or reduce the vehicular capacity of a portion of roadway. Recognizing the need for such zones and that (un)loading activity is primarily a temporary condition, these zones may also be found in areas where general public parking is not otherwise permitted such as "No Parking" zones.
What are the issues?
- Officially signed loading zones are very often abused, which limits access for legitimate users causing them to park elsewhere in perhaps less safe and more congested areas. Therefore, regular enforcement of signed loading zones is a necessity. Unless otherwise indicated on the signs, a loading zone is only in effect on weekdays between the hours 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.; they are available for general public parking at all other times.
- Since the Motor Vehicle Act provides that commercial (un)loading activity may be conducted in signed "No Parking" zones, "No Parking" signs are often the most effective method of designating loading zones for the benefit of the business and the truck drivers.
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