Can we do anything about parking in a PBL?

Saw this on the PBL at Kinzie and Wells this afternoon (7/5/2016).  Is there anything we can do about it, like report it to CDOT or something?  

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Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on July 6, 2016 at 2:56pm

The Chainlink and Bike Lane Shaming tweeted about this with the pic, asking for better enforcement. We'll see if we get any response. We did have a number of people retweet.

Permalink Reply by Maurice on July 7, 2016 at 5:43am

"Enforcement" has to be city revenue people writing tickets.  It's not going to come from CPD.

 

I just rode up the Dearborn "protected" lane.  Cars, cyclists, and pedestrians everywhere.  A bike cop apparently decided that auto traffic was moving too slowly, so he dismounted and directed the left lane of auto traffic INTO THE BIKE LANE where they had to travel about 100 feet before they were able to reemerge.  Mind you, there was no warning of any kind to cyclists until you arrived at the line of cars driving directly into you.  As I passed, he said to me, "Stay up on the sidewalk, chief."

 

Long ago, I lost count of how many times I've seen bike cops ride past vehicles stopped in the bike lane without saying a word to the driver.  If BIKE cops have this little respect for bike lanes, then we can't expect enforcement to come from that direction.

Permalink Reply by Bruce on July 7, 2016 at 9:56am

Ha ha.  That's perfect!  The cop told you to stay on the sidewalk?

Permalink Reply by Maurice on July 7, 2016 at 10:24am

Yes, that's a direct quote from the officer.  He wanted me to plow through the pedestrians so that the cars wouldn't be inconvenienced, apparently.

 

Incidentally, as I walked past the intersection of Dearborn and Washington on my way to pick up lunch today, a driver parked in the middle of the Dearborn lane next to some parked cars (so the lane was completely obstructed), and her friend got out to shop at the farmers' market.  Also, there was a delivery truck blocking the Washington lane.  When I walked back 10 minutes later, they were both still parked there.  The area was crawling with cops (including bike cops) who apparently had no problem with this.

 

If farmers' market shopping hippies have this little respect for "protected" bike lanes, then there is no hope.  Put the parked cars back next to the curb where they belong.

Permalink Reply by Babs Owca on July 7, 2016 at 9:15am

I bike past there twice a day to and from work. It used to be totally fine before the construction started a couple of months ago. I think part of the problem is the restaurants there have Valet parking and I'm sure their employees have no idea they can't park the cars there. Once one car parks, everyone follows their lead.

Also, the lane is worn so you can't see the bike signs painted on it (if they were ever there) and the metal posts are missing as well. I almost don't blame cars for parking there....you can barely tell it's a bike lane. 

I tweeted Active Trans about it and was thinking about calling 311 but they tend to be pretty useless. I might just start putting "this is a bike lane you dum dum" stickers on all the cars there on my lunch break :).

Permalink Reply by Bruce on July 7, 2016 at 9:53am

Zero enforcement of just about anything in Chicago so I ain't getting any hopes up. Just ride in the middle of the lane. The cyclist in that picture ought to be further out.

Permalink Reply by Babs Owca on July 7, 2016 at 2:35pm

It was all clear when I biked through there this afternoon!

Permalink Reply by Josh L. on July 7, 2016 at 3:41pm

This morning there were three cars in the bike lane on Grand between St. Clair and Rush. The drivers didn't have a care in the world about getting ticketed...they were doing whatever.  I called 311 and got the calls take a long time message.  

I am so frustrated about this.

Permalink Reply by Josh L. on July 7, 2016 at 3:44pm

For those interested I have an idea for a product/service that could well fix the parking in the bike lane problem. I'm looking for a few like minded folks who could help me develop this idea and privatize it.  I work in digital tech so have a good idea of what it will take to do this.

PM me if you are interested in learning more about this and perhaps helping out.  Given that this is just an "idea" now I'd rather not share the idea until it's more developed.  But it's a goodie :)

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on July 7, 2016 at 3:50pm

I'm curious! Can you please PM me the idea?

Permalink Reply by Jeff Blumenthal on July 7, 2016 at 3:47pm

If it were just one or two cars I could attribute it to stupidity, but a whole line?  Looks like organized assault on the whole concept of PBL's.

Permalink Reply by Ryan Stahlman on July 8, 2016 at 2:03am

This stretch of Kinzie (between Wells and N Orleans) was clear this morning at 7:45am. I'm fairly certain that this has nothing to do with the activity in this thread; however, I'm putting it here for the record.

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