Parking on the Bike Lane at Dunkin Donuts on Courtland

On my morning commute, I am constantly encountering three common offenders parking in the bike lane. This occurs on the westbound side of the Courtland bike lane just outside the Dunkin Donuts at Courtland, Clybourn and Racine. My only solution now is to submit pictures of their plates and cars to Cars Parked in the Bike Lane. That doesn't seem like a solution, as I am not so sure that site does anything. I am starting to get fed up with these offenders, especially at that intersection where cars tend to make wide turns because of angled Clybourn Ave. I don't mean to judge people, but they seem to be people that have no regard for anyone but themselves, so a kind request might do no good. Beyond that, I don't often catch them, as they are in the DD. Should I catch them I can't really waste time on my way to work speaking with someone who could potentially be hostile. What's even worse about this, is there are PARKING SPACES AVAILABLE at the Dunkin Donuts when they park in the bike lane! Does anyone else have to deal with these offenders at this same location on Courtland and Clybourn? Is there a solution that will help prevent these inconsiderate people from parking in the bike lane?

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Permalink Reply by Matt Talbert on July 12, 2012 at 2:04am

Thank you all for your advice! Just a little update as of this morning. Perpetrator number 4 was in the bike lane this morning. I stopped in the Dunkin Donuts parking lot and dialed 311 to report him. As I hypothesized would happen, he came out before an attendant answered my call. I hung up and mustered up the courage to ask him if said car in the bike lane was his, as it was. I told him I was in the process of calling the Chicago police, and that parking in the Bike Lane is a $150 fine in Chicago. He then said when he arrived to the DD, that there were no available parking spaces, and at 7 AM it should take no effort and create no hazard to go 6 feet around his car. Funny enough, as he was saying that, traffic in the immediate area was relatively high, with a few cars zipping by on Courtland. Before I was able to explain that parking there was hazardous to all on the road, he gave a quasi-apologetic, but frustrating "I'm sorry, I won't do it again." As I biked by he yelled out a frustrated "have a nice day."

Today was a small victory, although I doubt he will adhere to his promise to stay out of the bike lane. He was a bit more reasonable than I thought, but this particular fellow was not one of the most chronic perpetrators. From what he said, it seemed like he would have parked in the DD lot if a spot was available. I imagine I will run into him again, as I will have to stop at this DD to call 311 in the future to stop other perps. In addition to that, I am going to call my Alderman's office today and found out what ward that area is in, and make a complaint.

Permalink Reply by Matt Tennessen on July 12, 2012 at 2:17am
I can only speak from experience so I don't know if it's officially condoned, but when cars were consistently parked in front of a business with a painted yellow curb, we complained to the alderman and to the checker. That checker hovered around there for a couple weeks and raised a fair amount of money for the city. I'm sure DD is part of the routine commute for those violators, a ticket usually disuades them from doing it again. As far as I know, DD can take action, you and others should complain to the morning manager a few times.
Permalink Reply by carl whetherspoon on July 12, 2012 at 2:38am

I live within a stones throw from this area and I see the behavior you are describing all the time. Unfortunately, I also see cops parking in the bike lane at different hours very regular. Even when there are spots in the lot.

I think it would be helpful for CDOT to come up with a sign that states "its against the law to park in the bike lane" or something like that, to place in areas that have a lot of this going on.  I think most drivers don't think about it really, I don think it is vindictive, just absentminded. A sign would help remind them. 

Permalink Reply by Matt Talbert on July 12, 2012 at 4:50am

Another update from this morning: This Dunkin Donuts within the 43rd Ward, Michele Smith's ward. Conveniently, I live in this word, so I was able to speak with with her Constituent Relations person directly. After filling him in on this common occurrence, he said that he would contact the Department of Revenue and get ticket issuers out there at the times that this occurs (7-7:30 AM). No one really wants to pay a $150 dollar fine, so hopefully they get penalized, and these bike lane parkers will soon retreat.

As suggested by someone else in this thread, I also plan to call Dunkin Donuts and see if they are willing and able to assist in preventing people parking in the bike lane.

Hopefully some good and orderly civics will help get this bike lane cleared.

Permalink Reply by Anne on July 12, 2012 at 8:56am

Good idea to get DD management involved, I would hope that they/Public Relations would not like it known that their customers are breaking the law to shop at their store.

How about suggesting DD they handout free coffee to CYCLISTS in the bike lane outside of their location? Perhaps then the drivers will want to get out of their cars and....ride a bike!



Matthew Talbert said:

Another update from this morning: This Dunkin Donuts within the 43rd Ward, Michele Smith's ward. Conveniently, I live in this word, so I was able to speak with with her Constituent Relations person directly. After filling him in on this common occurrence, he said that he would contact the Department of Revenue and get ticket issuers out there at the times that this occurs (7-7:30 AM). No one really wants to pay a $150 dollar fine, so hopefully they get penalized, and these bike lane parkers will soon retreat.

As suggested by someone else in this thread, I also plan to call Dunkin Donuts and see if they are willing and able to assist in preventing people parking in the bike lane.

Hopefully some good and orderly civics will help get this bike lane cleared.

Permalink Reply by rb on July 12, 2012 at 9:18am

for a while DD was active on twitter- might be a way to quickly get the message up the chain of command.

I am sure that DD would not like to be known as anti bike in any way. long shot I know, but seems like it would be easy thing to do.

Permalink Reply by Matt Talbert on July 12, 2012 at 9:49am

Agreed, and I don't want to paint that picture of DD either. Their coffee and donuts are too good. And of course, it's not really their fault. The people that work at the DD can even see the perps from within their shop, so they probably don't even know this is happening.

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