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 Argonne69 on June 25, 2018 at 10:42am

I'd love to meet the poor officer who decided to give me a ticket for going around a vehicle illegally parked in the bike lane. His commander would not be amused.

Permalink Reply by Steve Weeks on June 25, 2018 at 10:21am

As I read the Municipal Code of Chicago (http://activetrans.org/sites/files/chicago%20code.pdf)), bikes are supposed to stay in the bike lane when one is present: 9-52-020 (d):

"(d) Whenever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway."

There can't reasonably be a prohibition of deviating out of the lane to avoid an obstruction, though, any more than an auto would be prohibited from crossing a double yellow line on a 2-lane road to pass a stalled vehicle.

You *might* be able to argue that a bike lane that is marked *on* the pavement is not "adjacent" to the roadway, and so (d) doesn't apply. (IANAL)

Permalink Reply by Bruce on June 25, 2018 at 10:23am

Definitely, the operative word here is "adjacent."  A bike lane is not adjacent to a roadway, it is in the roadway. I don't think that there is a problem with this argument at all.  Also, a bike lane is not a path. It is just a specifically marked section of the roadway.

Permalink Reply by Argonne69 on June 22, 2018 at 10:55am

Here's the full text of the city code:

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.

It's really quite simple, except for the part about the towing of vehicles. I've never seen the city tow a vehicle from a bike lane.

Permalink Reply by Steve Weeks on June 23, 2018 at 5:52am

Thanks for the text! Can you post the section number for reference? Thanks!

Permalink Reply by Argonne69 on June 24, 2018 at 9:28am

§ 9-40-060

Permalink Reply by Steve Weeks on June 24, 2018 at 11:36am

Thanks! I keep a list of useful section numbers and their texts inside the handlepost of my bike for easy reference. :-)

Permalink Reply by BikeScnhook on June 23, 2018 at 4:51am

From my ride home on Wednesday, another violation in the LARGEST BIKE LANE IN THE CITY....

Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on June 23, 2018 at 5:03am

You better believe that's a paddlin'

Permalink Reply by Bruce on June 25, 2018 at 7:29am

Has this been reported to the city?  When did it occur?

Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on June 24, 2018 at 12:21pm

What's the record for the number of cars in a bike lane?  Here's nine-in-row!  This is on the south side of Bryn Mawr, just east of the North Shore Channel bridge.

My cell phone was out of battery, and I couldn't find a cop car anywhere!

Permalink Reply by Argonne69 on June 24, 2018 at 12:33pm

Wow. I got 11 on North Orleans on May 10th.

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