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. ;-)
Tags:
After a quiet 4 months I had another run-in with an armored truck driver, and the security guards at the Federal Reserve Bank. There were two trucks parked in the bike lane this morning, so I stopped to take a photo. Of course the idiot driver gets out of his truck and confronts me. Seriously, why do these idiots leave their vehicles? Sounds like an easy way to rob the truck. After informing him that he was illegally parked, I strolled over to the guard shack to chat with my favorite security guard, Ms. Martinez. Boy, she's a real piece of work. I asked her why we were having this conversation again, and she told me it's because I'm in the wrong, and that they can pretty much do whatever they like. She said to go ahead and call the police, which I did. Of course, while I was speaking with the 911 operator the two trucks left the bike lane. One pulled into the bank's scanning bay, and the other pulled to the curb, which is where it should have been to begin with.
So, it looks like we're back to square one. I called the Assistant VP for Law Enforcement at the bank, Rick Harlow, and left a message. Well, the voice mail didn't identify the name of the person, so I'm assuming he's still at the bank. If I don't hear back by early next week, I'll call the COO's office.
I'm thinking about attending the Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Council meeting on March 7th. Hopefully there will be an open mic, and I can bring up this sore spot. I'll post the photos this evening.
https://chi.streetsblog.org/2016/09/01/what-to-expect-at-next-weeks...
I've also been curious about what goes on at MBAC meetings and may try to get to one some day. I've heard from others that there is little time and attention paid to the public at the very end of the meetings.
Steven Vance's MBAC description from 9-1-16:
"The council devotes very little time of the scheduled 90 minute meeting to hearing from the public, often 10 to 15 minutes depending on if previous agenda items take longer than allotted. I don't think you'll be satisfied if you come to the MBAC to demand answers. Attend to listen and learn."
That's a start but I would hope it to be a little bit more worthwhile than that.
That's why I carry this handy on my phone. You can ask the driver to kindly point out the exception.
§ 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.
Also available in printed handouts! Leave them on the car or hand them to a driver!
http://chicagocriticalmass.org/sites/chicagocriticalmass.org/files/...
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