Motorists who park on pavements could be fined under new government plans.
The Transport Secretary said the plans are aimed at making pavements safer for wheelchair users, the visually impaired and parents with prams.
But the AA said there shouldn't be a blanket approach - and argued councils need to implement a 'street-by-street' assessment of where parking is allowed.
Parking on pavements is already banned in London, but only lorries are prohibited from parking on pavements across the rest of the country.
The Department for Transport has offered three different options as part of its consultation.
It could extend the London system across the country, make it easier for councils to ban parking on the pavement or give local authorities the power to fine drivers.
MPs were told last year that in some cases disabled, elderly and vulnerable people had been left trapped and 'afraid to leave their homes' by pavement parking.
Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, said: "Parking on pavements means wheelchair users, visually impaired people and parents with pushchairs can be forced into the road, which is not only dangerous, but discourages people from making journeys.
"A key part of our green, post-Covid recovery will be encouraging more people to choose active travel, such as walking, so it is vital that we make the nation’s pavements accessible for everyone.
"Pavement parking presents a clear safety risk when parked cars occupy the pavement and force vulnerable pedestrians to move into the road."
Stephen Edwards, director of policy and communications at walking charity Living Streets, said: "We’re regularly contacted by disabled and older people who feel trapped in their homes because there isn’t enough room on the pavement for wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
"This has impacted more people during the pandemic, with blocked pavements affecting everyone’s ability to physically distance."
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, warned a ban would have 'unintended consequences'.
He said: "As we have seen over the past few weeks with road closures and narrowed roads, councils have acted with little consultation and in many cases lost confidence of the communities they serve.
"Local authorities should make a street-by-street assessment and where pavement parking is allowed, markings should show how much pavement can be used.
"While councils have always had the powers to tackle problem parking, it would be typical if the only time they act is when there is fines income to be had from it."
