Double parked in the bike lane.

I tried the search feature, and it isn't working.  I'm sure this is a common gripe. But why can't the city do anything about all the cars double parked in the bike lane.  ESPECIALLY UPS, FedEx, and USPS.  I could gather 4 or 5 pictures daily of these guys double parked in an obvious bike lane.

Maybe that is what I should do.  Start stopping and taking pictures with my cell. Then writing to the owners of companies.

"Forcing bikes to quickly merge with traffic is dangerous.  The city has created these wonderfully useful "Bike lanes"  however, we are unable to use them, because you keep parking your delivery trucks in them.  This is not a delivery lane. It is a bike lane.  Please instruct your drivers that this is unsafe, and Illegal."

Now if we could just get the CPD to do something about it.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tom Dworzanski on September 20, 2013 at 4:04am

Please provide proof.

Mark said:

Something as simple as, "No double parking from 7am to 9am, and 4pm to 6pm.  And then enforce it! This still leaves delivery trucks PLENTY of peak time to make deliveries as well as cutting down on the possibility of a cycle/vehicle incident.
Permalink Reply by Tom Dworzanski on September 20, 2013 at 4:07am

Beautifully said. +1

Justin B Newman said:

I look at double parked cars, along with many other of the joys of city life, as an opportunity to practice tolerance. Sometimes I'm more successful than other times.

Permalink Reply by Tom Dworzanski on September 20, 2013 at 4:13am

Before I read through this thread, I sided with the delivery-restriction crowd. But Dug's points are quite good and I have changed my opinion as a result.

I know people love to talk down this site but as far as I'm concerned: +1 Chainlink

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on September 20, 2013 at 5:10am

I agree, good comments in defense of it not being that big a deal to just go around the delivery truck.

 

How about this: one of the reasons it's not that big a deal to merge into traffic and go around the truck is that the cars themselves have to slow down to pass the truck because the travel lane has been narrowed.

 

Thus, a problem with the buffered bike lanes is that trucks/cars can park in them without narrowing the adjacent traffic lane at all. This makes it more dangerous for a cyclist to merge into traffic to pass, because the traffic does not need to slow down due to the double-park.

Permalink Reply by Christine on September 20, 2013 at 2:13pm

Well I think it's resolved. Next to the paintings of bicyclists on the roads in the bike lanes, the city should also paint images of delivery trucks. And mini vans with moms and school children. And regular cars.

Wait, a simpler solution than that. Just get rid of the bike lane. That way delivery trucks, moms, and people wanting starbucks can park there.

I think this post is forgetting the reason why the bike lanes were installed in the first place. To separate bicyclists from traffic for safety reasons. Bike lanes are not meant as secondary parking for any vehicle. Please let me know, where did delivery trucks park before there were bike lanes? Did they double-park in what was the right-hand traffic lane at the time? People seem to be upset at the idea of trucks parking in the traffic lane, but that is probably what they used to do. And I bet drivers were annoyed at that too when they had to merge into the left-hand lane, slowing down and traffic backing up.

Another factor to this is that for corporate vehicles, it's a pretty big deal to not obey traffic laws. Most companies have rules that if you get too many tickets, your driving privilege for work will be suspended, or you could even get fired. So I'm really surprised that these delivery trucks are even taking this chance if the possibility exists for a ticket.

Permalink Reply by Christine on September 20, 2013 at 2:17pm

Also, just to add some more humor to this discussion.

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on September 20, 2013 at 2:39pm

You do realize that when they painted the bike lanes the roads did not magically grow, right?  The delivery trucks used to park exactly where they do now and cars and bikes just had to go around them.



Christine said:

Well I think it's resolved. Next to the paintings of bicyclists on the roads in the bike lanes, the city should also paint images of delivery trucks. And mini vans with moms and school children. And regular cars.

Wait, a simpler solution than that. Just get rid of the bike lane. That way delivery trucks, moms, and people wanting starbucks can park there.

I think this post is forgetting the reason why the bike lanes were installed in the first place. To separate bicyclists from traffic for safety reasons. Bike lanes are not meant as secondary parking for any vehicle. Please let me know, where did delivery trucks park before there were bike lanes? Did they double-park in what was the right-hand traffic lane at the time? People seem to be upset at the idea of trucks parking in the traffic lane, but that is probably what they used to do. And I bet drivers were annoyed at that too when they had to merge into the left-hand lane, slowing down and traffic backing up.

Another factor to this is that for corporate vehicles, it's a pretty big deal to not obey traffic laws. Most companies have rules that if you get too many tickets, your driving privilege for work will be suspended, or you could even get fired. So I'm really surprised that these delivery trucks are even taking this chance if the possibility exists for a ticket.

Permalink Reply by Christine on September 20, 2013 at 4:16pm

I'm quite sure I described that in my original post. And then humanity evolved, and the bike lane was born due a higher regard for safety.

notoriousDUG said:

You do realize that when they painted the bike lanes the roads did not magically grow, right?  The delivery trucks used to park exactly where they do now and cars and bikes just had to go around them.

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on September 21, 2013 at 1:58am

You're not getting it.

The area that was the right side of the traffic lane where trucks double parked and cars could get around them is now the bike lane.  There is no right traffic lane on many roads, they are just wide and have room for cars to sneak by a double parked truck.  When the bike lanes are added if a truck were to double park outside of the bike lane it would be quite literally blocking the entire traffic lane and create an even more dangerous situation where cars would either have to pull into oncoming traffic or try to squeeze past in the what is not the bike lane; both of these are far more dangerous to them and cyclists.

Double parking in that space is the best compromise solution to what is a pretty complex issue.

Christine said:

I'm quite sure I described that in my original post. And then humanity evolved, and the bike lane was born due a higher regard for safety.

notoriousDUG said:

You do realize that when they painted the bike lanes the roads did not magically grow, right?  The delivery trucks used to park exactly where they do now and cars and bikes just had to go around them.

Permalink Reply by Mark on September 21, 2013 at 5:10am

Well, Emperor Dug has spoken.  Might as well just lock and delete this thread.  God forbid corporate America is to be inconvenienced in any way. 20 hours a day to deliver isn't enough.  They need all 24. If you turn a corner, and there in your immediate path is the back of a UPS truck, Just stick your arm out, and merge into traffic.  Those cab drivers wont run into you. That guy on his cell phone, will certainly see you, and slow down to let you merge.  Chicago rush hour motorists are all absolutely obedient to the the laws of the rode.  Your just "Scared".  It will be fine. There is nothing to worry about.  They only painted those bike lanes on the road, because they had extra paint, and wanted the city workers to have something to do.

Permalink Reply by Christine on September 21, 2013 at 6:12am

Dug, our example situations are practically identical. In mine, there are two lanes, one of which is blocked by a delivery truck; in yours, the 'shoulder' which pretty much has room for the truck, is blocked. Your attempt to condescend with a remark on my comprehension of the situation is met with chuckles.

The solution to this issue has already been stated. Currently, there are safe routes for all four parties at issue: the vehicles have a driving lane, bicyclists have a biking lane, there is a parking lane for cars, and there are loading zones for trucks within that parking lane.

If these loading zones are not large enough, then the delivery companies need to discuss this with the business owners on that block together with the city to figure out a better arrangement. Those zones that exist already should not be put to waste simply because they need to be a few feet (assumption) longer.

The only con I can think of off the top of my head to this is that those few feet might cause that block to lose a parking spot. Parking throughout the city is an ongoing problem and a huge sore spot for everyone, including people who are against biking lanes, so I don't really want to go into that part of the discussion because it will go off-topic. Personally, I don't think one lost parking spot is a huge loss. It's impossible to find a parking spot in Wicker Park anyway, with or without biking lanes, loading zones, or hell, fire hydrants.

This option allows for everyone on the road to be safe. Drivers don't have to worry about if/when that bicyclist in the bike lane is going to try to merge. Bicyclists don't have to worry about whether the driver sees them and if they'll let them in. It allows delivery trucks to follow the parking laws and not be in anyone's way. It allows businesses to still get their packages at the time they need them. Vehicles needing to park are taking their chances to find a spot in the first place.

The more flow we can incorporate into Chicago's streets, the better off everyone will be. Removing obstructions from all road users' paths is safest and most effective.

notoriousDUG said:

You're not getting it.

The area that was the right side of the traffic lane where trucks double parked and cars could get around them is now the bike lane.  There is no right traffic lane on many roads, they are just wide and have room for cars to sneak by a double parked truck.  When the bike lanes are added if a truck were to double park outside of the bike lane it would be quite literally blocking the entire traffic lane and create an even more dangerous situation where cars would either have to pull into oncoming traffic or try to squeeze past in the what is not the bike lane; both of these are far more dangerous to them and cyclists.

Double parking in that space is the best compromise solution to what is a pretty complex issue.

Permalink Reply by Mark on September 21, 2013 at 6:50am

OH, Oh, Oh,  Let me answer for Emperor Dug. 

Here is how it will go... 

Random bullying tactic, or condescending remark, followed by....

blah, blah, blah,  I'm 100% right, you are completely wrong, how dare you question my supreme logic and knowledge of all things.  I am LOKI, I am a god...

And then Christine does an Incredible Hulk on him... "Puny god"...

Christine said:

Dug, our example situations are practically identical. In mine, there are two lanes, one of which is blocked by a delivery truck; in yours, the 'shoulder' which pretty much has room for the truck, is blocked. Your attempt to condescend with a remark on my comprehension of the situation is met with chuckles.

The solution to this issue has already been stated. Currently, there are safe routes for all four parties at issue: the vehicles have a driving lane, bicyclists have a biking lane, there is a parking lane for cars, and there are loading zones for trucks within that parking lane.

If these loading zones are not large enough, then the delivery companies need to discuss this with the business owners on that block together with the city to figure out a better arrangement. Those zones that exist already should not be put to waste simply because they need to be a few feet (assumption) longer.

The only con I can think of off the top of my head to this is that those few feet might cause that block to lose a parking spot. Parking throughout the city is an ongoing problem and a huge sore spot for everyone, including people who are against biking lanes, so I don't really want to go into that part of the discussion because it will go off-topic. Personally, I don't think one lost parking spot is a huge loss. It's impossible to find a parking spot in Wicker Park anyway, with or without biking lanes, loading zones, or hell, fire hydrants.

This option allows for everyone on the road to be safe. Drivers don't have to worry about if/when that bicyclist in the bike lane is going to try to merge. Bicyclists don't have to worry about whether the driver sees them and if they'll let them in. It allows delivery trucks to follow the parking laws and not be in anyone's way. It allows businesses to still get their packages at the time they need them. Vehicles needing to park are taking their chances to find a spot in the first place.

The more flow we can incorporate into Chicago's streets, the better off everyone will be. Removing obstructions from all road users' paths is safest and most effective.

notoriousDUG said:

You're not getting it.

The area that was the right side of the traffic lane where trucks double parked and cars could get around them is now the bike lane.  There is no right traffic lane on many roads, they are just wide and have room for cars to sneak by a double parked truck.  When the bike lanes are added if a truck were to double park outside of the bike lane it would be quite literally blocking the entire traffic lane and create an even more dangerous situation where cars would either have to pull into oncoming traffic or try to squeeze past in the what is not the bike lane; both of these are far more dangerous to them and cyclists.

Double parking in that space is the best compromise solution to what is a pretty complex issue.

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