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 Jenn_5.5 mi on September 30, 2016 at 3:32am

Dog. Hotel | Daycare

2 Days in a Row they are parked in the bike lane when there is room in the parking spots.

(Finally trying to re-enter the driving lane after blocking traffic)

What is the best course of action: Publicly shame on Facebook or email?

It's been a pretty shitty week on bike. Think I need a break.

I'm still pissed and shaken about my Monday ride and then another loss in our community.

Attachments:

14432488_1096073897113718_1846001742961967104_n.mp4, 2.6 MB

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Permalink Reply by HumanPoweredTransportation on September 30, 2016 at 3:58am

I would call the company (block my phone #) and ask management if they could make sure they don't park in the bike lanes.

You might want to invest in a roll of "I parked in the bike lane" stickers as a back up.

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Permalink Reply by HumanPoweredTransportation on October 6, 2016 at 10:39am

Correction: driving lane traffic lane. Bicyclists are part of traffic and have rights to use the traffic lane. Language is important.

Also "crash" not "accident" when we see that in the media it's good to correct them. "Accidents" are not preventable, and tell us nothing (vs on-purpose?) Crashes are. Being deliberate with our language is important.

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Permalink Reply by R W on September 30, 2016 at 4:32am

Check out this winner in the Dearborn Lane this AM. I know I'm not sympathetic to most excuses for parking in the bike lane, but I can't even begin to think of one for this jagoff.

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Permalink Reply by Sydney Barton on September 30, 2016 at 4:41am

Everybody do this today. Last day.

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Permalink Reply by Gopher Biker on October 7, 2016 at 9:10am

It would be nice if you could use the Chicago Works app to report these with pictures (right now bike lane issues aren't a reporting option).

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Permalink Reply by Cheryl on September 30, 2016 at 5:40am

Offender #1 on last night's commute: Amazon delivery van, northbound Milwaukee just south of Chicago. Guy was in the van, so I said "It's illegal to park in a bike lane." He got out and said "Yeah, yeah" as he walked off.

Offender #2: Milwaukee northbound just south of Division. You'd think after the news coverage on Tuesday, USPS would quit parking in bike lanes...... nah.

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Permalink Reply by HumanPoweredTransportation on October 6, 2016 at 10:35am

If I saw a specific company or driver doing this repeatedly,

after politely making the driver aware it is a safety issue,

calling the company (if the driver clearly doesn't care)

requesting police enforcement of a specific area

I would consider getting a couple people to just cause these drivers a little delay: block their vehicle exit from front and back for a bit, perhaps calling the police myself (if I planned to stay and wait for them). If you delay, e.g. a FedEx driver for 5-10 minutes they will hear about it from their boss.

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Permalink Reply by Shalini on September 30, 2016 at 6:07am

I can't with this half mile stretch of Kinzie. Tweeted at Alderman with the need for a temp lane with a simple row of orange cones to separate us and no parking signs during construction. 450 N. Orleans has a loading dock that no one uses. Called the building. Got no sign they cared to help.

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Permalink Reply by Cheryl on September 30, 2016 at 8:22am

That stretch totally sucks. I hate riding on the graded road, and the drivers seem to think the lack of lane markings equals a free for all. I know it'll be wonderful once it's paved, but it's the worst right now.