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 Ben R. on March 8, 2016 at 3:54am

Hi, weird to reply to my own videos. My Gopro mount failed last night and the camera fell off somewhere on my commute home. I didn't hear it happen at the time which is strange (no headphones but I was wearing a balaclava) likely need to pick up a replacment on Ebay, but if you happened to find it, I'd be more than happy to offer a reward. So, two part message 1) if you found it, get in touch. 2) if you ride with one, make sure its held on securely &/or redundantly.

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Permalink Reply by Sean Newby on January 29, 2016 at 4:13am

Does it count if he signals his intention to use the bike lane?

On Lincoln Ave this morning, all so he could leap frog a couple cars and a truck then merge back in at Webster. Didn't really help him though as traffic was backed up for a bus and red light at Dickens.

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Permalink Reply by Gage B. on January 29, 2016 at 4:22am

Yeah it's a terrible design. THE BRT came first design wise and then they thought hey lets put in some green painted bike lanes to make it look trendy.

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Permalink Reply by Ben R. on January 29, 2016 at 5:23am

Gage, I mean, it puts me in a weird position. Sorta like when your aunt gets you an ugly sweater at christmas. I LIKE that they're doing all these improvements and thinking about cyclists - seriously. I'm thankful for that - I love the 'thought' - but - I still just can't quite get myself to like the 'gift' itself.

Oddly enough, for this post I've started putting up videos for the first time, and to do that they go up on Youtube. I got my first commentor. linking to a UK website called 'banthebike.org'. luckily they're only at 9/1000 'signers' for their petition (which isn't about banning bikes as much as requiring licenses/plates... though the name is - anyways, I've digressed off topic)

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Permalink Reply by Gage B. on January 29, 2016 at 8:08am

For a little Friday afternoon humor.

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Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on March 8, 2016 at 3:57am

Neigh!! :-)

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 29, 2016 at 9:13am

Picture a very large man walking very slowly pulling a large wheeled suitcase in the Dearborn bike lane by Chase Bank. That's my lunchtime contribution.

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Permalink Reply by Cheryl on February 2, 2016 at 7:23am

Kinzie eastbound yesterday morning.

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Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on February 2, 2016 at 2:45pm

Vain weeble wobblers carelessly parked in the Dearborn Bike Lane living in their own mindless dreams of convenience.

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Permalink Reply by Maurice on February 2, 2016 at 5:31pm

There was a delivery truck unloading in that exact spot an hour ago.

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Permalink Reply by Tom Z on February 2, 2016 at 4:31pm

This has been an everyday problem on the Northwest Side... Located just north of Elston Ave on Milwaukee Ave.

Though, much of the blame goes to the state/city for not making it clear there is a bike lane here. All that exists is a faded no parking tow zone sign.

I have put request into 311 to replace the sign and also make the road markings clear that there is a bike lane here.

The McDonald's has a huge lot, so there is no reason for people to be parking here, including police vehicles.

It is a two fold problem. When someone is parked here you have to ride the bike into the travel lane. Second, when you are trying to pull out as a motor vehicle it is very difficult to see around someone parked in that area. Traffic moves rather quickly here.