Chicago Tribune: Increase in Bike Lane Enforcement for 2017

 

The Chainlink, an online cyclist networking site, began a post in January 2016 called "What's this doing in the bike lane?" More than 600 comments have flooded the forum with stories, videos and photos of idle CTA buses, utility vans, delivery trucks, cars, ride-share vehicles and taxis blocking the bike lane. Cyclists have reported commercial vehicles using bike lanes as loading zones and restaurants putting valet services signs in bike lanes. Cars have parked in bike lanes when there were parking spots nearby and other drivers have squeezed into the protected bike lanes.

"This is dangerous because it forces the cyclist to ride into traffic to get around the vehicle blocking the bike lane," said Yasmeen Schuller, president of The Chainlink.

Full Article, "Drivers beware: City stepping up enforcement of cars blocking bike ..."

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Permalink Reply by Sean Newby on March 11, 2017 at 11:22am

broken link

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on March 11, 2017 at 11:36am

all set. Thanks!

Permalink Reply by Mike Keating on March 11, 2017 at 12:02pm

In the law we often talk about whether there was intent in a situation where a person is harmed. An example would be intentionally shooting someone versus an accidental discharge of a gun. But the end result is the same, the person gets shot. What many drivers don't realize is that even if they don't have the intent to place a bicyclist in harms way, when you block the bike lane the result is the same as if you physically forced them into traffic. You forced the bicyclist into the path of oncoming traffic in exchange for your convenience. 

Ideally CPD's enforcement efforts will also have the effect of making motorists realize just how dangerous it is to park in the bike lane. While few have the intent of causing harm, the end result of their actions place bicyclists at a far greater risk than they may realize. 

Permalink Reply by Charlie Short 2.9 on March 13, 2017 at 4:57am

The push for enforcement is coming from The Departments of Finance and Transportation, not CPD. 

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on March 11, 2017 at 12:08pm

Intent or ignorance?

 Sharrows are blocked all the time, the protected Kinzie,Clinton, Dearborn and Clybourn have cars in them routinely and they are clearly marked.

Permalink Reply by mike w. on March 11, 2017 at 1:30pm

i vote for stupidity.

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on March 13, 2017 at 2:37am

My experience has not been that cars are "routinely" parked in Kinzie and Dearborn. Actually, I started biking downtown again two months ago after an 18-month break, and it seems to me that the situation is better now than it was two years ago.

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on March 11, 2017 at 6:45pm

Today was horrible but that comes with the 9am drinking.

Police were ticketing drunk and disorderly and while several Ubers and "party busses" blocked bike lanes on Lincoln,Halsted,Wells...the police vehicles were blocking the same lanes.

Good job guys.

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on March 13, 2017 at 2:38am

That is so cool that the Chainlink got quoted in the Tribune! Way to go, Yasmeen!

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on March 14, 2017 at 4:50am

Thanks Alex! 

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on March 14, 2017 at 11:11am

Martin Rathgeber was a fellow employee who I feel was inspired by my own bike commuting, it's nice to see him engaged to the point of advocacy and ambassador.

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