What's this doing in the bike lane?

Share your pics, videos, streets, stories of what you find in the bike lane of the non-bike variety that has an impact on your ride and/or your safety. I've decided to keep it a little more open ended - cars, snow, buses, garbage, cabs, etc. If they shouldn't be in the bike lane, go ahead and add it to this thread. Please be safe if you are taking pics or video! :-)

My hope is that we can collectively build some evidence of what we see when riding in the city with the overall hope of better enforcement of "bikes only" and improving maintenance.

Update: More Hashtags to Capture Vehicles in the Bike Lane

With popular hashtags:
#BikeLaneShaming

#LaneSpreading (Chicago Bike Selling)

#ClearTheWay (ActiveTrans), there are many options to capture violations.

We think you should use ALL of them AND post your photos on The Chainlink. ;-)

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by mike w. on February 23, 2017 at 2:59pm

i'm afraid you're just spitting into the wind. There are just far too many drivers who believe it's their god-given right to drive into the most congested streets in the city. Can't cure stupid and the CPD doesn't care because they're drivers too.

Unless and until cars are banned entirely from the river to Michigan ave, it will be ever thus.

Sorry, i'm just in a sour mood today...

Carry on.

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Permalink Reply by HumanPoweredTransportation on February 23, 2017 at 4:03pm

a nice coating of whipped cream tracing the line of the bike lane (or just a line up and over if it's a wide bike lane).

People could get out and DIY some bike symbols in the bike lane periodically, especially near points where there are commonly parked or 'I'll just be a minute' standing cars.

Talk to Critical Mass, see what's up. Perhaps invest in pie tins some cheap canned pie filling and of course the whipped cream. Some red, like cherry might be a good touch.

I don't know that I would do that to just any vehicle, but a professional driver that refuses to move or it's just a frequent occurance...

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&sou...

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Permalink Reply by Gopher Biker on February 24, 2017 at 5:58am

There is this guy's approach - not sure i agree with it.

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Permalink Reply by Argonne69 on February 24, 2017 at 6:25am

The problem is that 95% of the vehicles I encounter have drivers in them. There's no doubt slapping a sticker on their windshield would lead to a heated confrontation. I'd prefer that the police simple do their jobs and enforce the laws.

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy Bloyd-Peshkin on February 24, 2017 at 6:28am

I used to have a small roll of stickers - maybe 2" around and neon green - that said "I parked in the bike lane!" I'd put them on windows of empty cars or cars with drivers if there was enough traffic that I felt safe doing so. More recently I knocked on windows of cars in the bike lanes, but I've had a few too many people act on their threats to kill me so I don't do that anymore.

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Permalink Reply by Gopher Biker on February 24, 2017 at 7:42am

I used to rap on windows too until I had a guy jump out of his car and chase me until he couldn't anymore (which was about a block). I also accidentally (it really was unintentional) knocked someone's wing mirror off with my arm as I was reaching back to grab my handle bar after tapping the side of their car; the owner was pretty cool about it especially since I paid to fix it & she promised to be more aware of not blocking the bike lanes. Now I just point at the bike lane as I ride past, yell "Bike Lane!" and make an out gesture.

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Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on March 6, 2017 at 3:05pm

Make some of these.

Attachments:

3.png, 316 KB

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Permalink Reply by Argonne69 on February 24, 2017 at 6:28am

A can of shaving cream could come in handy, and it's a lot less hassle than a pie tin.

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Permalink Reply by Argonne69 on February 24, 2017 at 1:09pm

A rather unpleasant experience with this a**hole. After taking the photo, I knocked on his window. When he rolled it down, I asked him if he knew it was illegal to park in a bike lane. He responded, "Mind your own f*cking business, a**hole, or I'll get out and kick your a**". My response was equally as pleasant.

I called 311, but they said they were basically powerless, and suggested that I call 911 next time. So, the new protocol in cases where the driver commits assault is to call 911 and wait for the squad. I imagine that the driver will quickly drive away when they see you on the phone, but at least you'll be able to file a report for assault, and provide the photo evidence. I have to imagine that the driver will claim that you assaulted them, but at least they'll have to hassle with the police.

Again, I don't know what to do. The police don't care. The alderman doesn't care. The only recourse is to pursue criminal charges when the drivers escalate.

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Permalink Reply by BikeScnhook on February 25, 2017 at 4:36am

What I do sometimes -- and probably will do a lot more habitually -- is mount an Ion Air Pro camera to my bike. That way I have video evidence if things ever get ugly for whatever reason. (Just wish I had it mounted last Thursday -- it would have captured my epic spill on the LFT! My body is still aching from that, but it must have looked awesome. :) )