How Can We Get Enforcement on Clark Street Bike Lane (Southbound in am)

The bus/bike lane South of Diversey on Clark has become a joke. There are cars and trucks everywhere starting at around 8:15 - parked, stopped, or idling.  the whole point of these lanes is so bikers can void the busy Clark street traffic. Yet to get around these cars/trucks I have to do swerve intro traffic at least 15 times every ride (it seems).

How does one get CPD to enforce the law (signs say no parking/stopping 7-9)?  I am  not referring to the part of Clark farther South where this restriction is no longer in effect.

Is there a number I can call?  ActiveTrans? What about putting a large sticker on their windshields? :)

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Permalink Reply by Josh L. on August 8, 2014 at 12:39am

I actually had remembered mention of this approach from last year and was wondering how to get such a blitz going again.  Did not realize that the Alderman can be useful here.

Michelle Stenzel said:

Last September we noticed that the illegal parking on this stretch had gotten out of control, and we alerted Michele Smith's office of it. They let the revenue people know, and there was a two-week blitz of ticketing, which helped reduce the illegal parking for a while. I will check it out again tomorrow morning and alert the alderman of the situation. Maybe another blitz will do the job. 

Here's my Bike Walk Lincoln Park post and video of that stretch of Clark S... last October, when it was almost clear.

Permalink Reply by Michelle S on August 8, 2014 at 1:41am

Jololondon30, I think your call to the desk worked! This morning at 7:10 am, there were only about 4 cars illegally parked between Wrightwood and Dickens, and all of them had tickets already. There were two revenue workers actively writing the tickets, and even approaching someone who was pulled over and looked like they were considering their options. It was great to see the lane nearly cleared again for the many bicyclists and buses that use the route. 

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Quist on August 8, 2014 at 1:41am

The window sticker approach, while it sounds great, would expose you to massive liability. For example, if the driver then doored a cyclist, and there was a sticker on the driver's side window, the driver could claim "I didn't see the bike because some asshole put a sticker on my window." At that point, anyone placing stickers becomes a target for the cyclist and driver's respective insurance companies.

Then there's the little thing that a sticker on the window, if the driver can't get it off, could in fact result in an injury accident.

On the other hand, lookalike window clings could get the message across just as well, without the nasty side effects.

Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on August 8, 2014 at 7:02am
Hopefully, Jolondon30, this is some movement in the right direction. But some situations should never get to the "out of control" point where drivers know they can scoff this traffic law easily. There should be the steady, regular reinforcement of the laws through enforcement urged by citizens upon their elected representatives.

Reminder: The Chicago Municipal elections is soon upon the citizens of our fair city. The primary for Mayor and Alderman is on February 24, 2015 . Please register to vote if you are eligible in this upcoming election.

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