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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Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on October 9, 2019 at 4:11am

I had this discussion on another thread but feel compelled to add it here. Sure, I get mostly ignored by the very people that come here to troll people that take issue with bike lane obstructions but I call nonsense on it and here is why. If you want to tell yourself you are thoughtful and evolved and not that typical close-off perspective but still argue over and over again that PBLs are for wimps, you are not evolved. 

I bring these issues up not to be a pain or a contrarian but because the ship has yet to right itself. We need equity in planning our infrastructure, mass transit, and road systems. If we don't, we are doing a great disservice to the entire population as well as the planet (see global climate crisis). 

Did you know that the majority of cyclists on the roads are men? Not as many women are willing to take that risk and ride in the streets. How can I blame them? I came back home last summer and within 5 minutes of jumping on the bike and turning on to Illinois had cars flooding the bike lane with 4 cyclists having to dodge and weave through. When I asked (nicely) for a car to move out of the bike lane he cursed me out. Montrose has become much less bike friendly than I remember as well. I did not feel safe that day in my own hometown where I have logged thousands of miles. How can it be 2019 and we have done a backslide on safe accommodations? 

It is disappointing when people jump on the in bike lane thread to criticize us for taking issue with people driving and parking in the bike lanes because they miss a HUGE point. There are A LOT of people (e.g. women) that will not ride a bike if that means they have to weave in and out of the bike lanes that are constantly obstructed with vehicles. And these naysayers/trolls/mockers that make these comments? White men that refuse to see that other people have different perspectives. Instead they come on The Chainlink and mock up for taking issue with it. Frankly, I don't have these arguments with people in the DC area so I find it odd and frustrating that Chicago hasn't caught up to the fact that Protected Bike Lanes are really the answer that will help get more people riding bikes. We need to enforce and protect our most vulnerable users of the infrastructure including pedestrians. 

How is this even a point of argument of cyclists vs. cyclists? Seriously.

Permalink Reply by SixtyTwoPercent on October 10, 2019 at 3:59am

“White men”? Was this an intentional statement? Ouch. If it was intentional, may I ask you to reign in the hate speech? 

Separately, I was just in DC and I remarked to my host how I thought they had the bike lane situation figured out. I was really impressed. So much so that I wondered aloud if I could make the job move there were it necessary. Back when I considered other cities for career advancement, one of the factors I considered was if I was able to use a bike in my commute or otherwise. 

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on October 10, 2019 at 4:10am

Not hate speech. Not remotely. The U.S. has a long-standing history of a very limited perspective that has informed bike advocacy, bike infrastructure, and the bike industry. I am calling that out because it has continually informed bad decision making that has had a devastating effect on those at the short end of the stick. To see this discussion with articles and context, I recommend reading the comments in this thread as well as the articles:

https://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/john-forester?x=1&id=... 

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on October 10, 2019 at 4:14am

And with regards to DC, we don't have our bike lane situation figured out and when you go into MD and to a certain extent VA, it gets much worse pretty quickly. If you are in a limited area of DC, I can see why it feels like we have but also understand that the people of #bikeDC have fought hard for every protected bike lane there is. It's a constant uphill battle but also an organized and dedicated group of people leading for the rest of us to help/participate. I really love the biking community in the DC area because of this. I've seen a lot of commitment to work together. 

Permalink Reply by Argonne69 on October 9, 2019 at 4:32am
Well stated.

Perhaps they'd be better off posting to the TruckLink.org website. I hear there's an interesting thread there, "What's this bike lane doing in my loading zone?"

Personally, I find it shocking that there are so-called avid cyclists that are more worried about the safety and convenience of drivers than cyclists. It's dangerous for a driver to have to park legally and walk across the street, but it's OK to force dozens of cyclists out into fast moving traffic? If it's OK for one driver to park in a bike lane, how about two? Ten?
Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on October 9, 2019 at 9:10am

At this point, just ignore it. I get ignored by the people doing the trolling when I comment as if I don't exist and my POV doesn't count for anything. 

Permalink Reply by Ernesto Lube on October 9, 2019 at 9:39am

To the trolls, if you don't like it, you don't have to look. You don't have to say negative things. Let Aargonne do his thing. Some of us appreciate what he does. 

If you don't like it and have negative things to say, leave. 

Permalink Reply by Argonne69 on October 9, 2019 at 10:48am

188 W Randolph St. 311 report submitted.

Permalink Reply by Bruce on October 9, 2019 at 6:04pm

I really like this pic. Thx for posting!

-Bruce

Permalink Reply by Argonne69 on October 9, 2019 at 10:49am

235 S Franklin St. 311 report submitted.

Permalink Reply by Argonne69 on October 9, 2019 at 10:51am

125 S Franklin St. 311 reports submitted.

Permalink Reply by Argonne69 on October 9, 2019 at 10:53am

1 N Franklin St. 311 report submitted.

9-40-060 Driving, standing or parking on bicycle paths or lanes prohibited. (a) The driver of a vehicle shall not drive, unless entering or exiting a legal parking space, or stand, or park the vehicle upon any on-street path or lane designated by official signs or markings for the use of bicycles, or otherwise drive or place the vehicle in such a manner as to impede bicycle traffic on such path or lane. The driver of a vehicle shall not stand or park the vehicle upon any lane designated by pavement markings for the shared use of motor vehicles and bicycles, or place the vehicle in such a manner as to impede bicycle traffic on such lane; provided, however, the driver of a bus may stop the bus in any such lane (i) at a designated bus stop for the purpose of loading or unloading of passengers, (ii) in case of an emergency; or (iii) as permitted in Section 9-48-050(d) of this Code. In addition to the fine provided in Section 9-4-025 of this Code, any vehicle parked in violation of this section shall be subject to an immediate tow and removal to a city vehicle pound or authorized garage.

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