Or maybe you've come across a vehicle or two--or five!--parked in your bike lane.
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| bicyclewatchdog.org |
New York City tops the list with over 6000 bike lane violators posted, and the top offender is a UPS truck with 28 recorded violations. Seattle and Spokane are represented on My Bike Lane, with 32 and 56 recorded violations respectively. I don't know if any of the reported violators on My Bike Lane get their just dessert as a result of this public outing, but I suspect that the individuals who report them feel some satisfaction by reporting the scofflaws.
If you live in Spokane, you have another course of action available to you. Snap a photo of the offending vehicle, then email it along with license plate number and location details to the Spokane Police Department at carparkedinbikelane@spokanepolice.org. The police send a letter to the violator informing them that they are not allowed to park in a bike lane. Repeat violators are supposed to receive a citation.
Bradley Bleck of the Spokane Bicycle Advisory Board reported several bike lane violators using the system. He received one email confirmation from the police department confirming that they sent a warning letter to the violator, but he doesn't know if there was follow up on his other reports.
Although there may some inconsistencies regarding follow up, the Spokane Police Department demonstrated a willingness to work with local bicyclists by establishing a reporting system. How do you report bike lane violators in your community?
The Spokane Chief of Police rides a bicycle (and there is a new bike lane right in front of where she lives)Maybe this is why the SPD are willing to write "The Letter!"
ReplyDeleteHere in E Wenatchee I don't yet know what is going to happen. I have reported it many times to the dispatcher with mixed results. Just recently I wrote and email to the city council, and another one a week later when the first did not receive a response. Both included pictures. Now it is an agenda item at next Tuesday's meeting. I am hopefully optimistic there will be progress, but parking enforcement is not a very exciting topic and it is competing with everything else they need to do. We shall see what happens.
ReplyDeleteParking enforcement is a great revenue generator! In times like these, cities should be jumping at the bit to generate more revenue without asking voters for an increase in taxes!
ReplyDeleteIt's seems that the driver does not notice the label of the lane.
ReplyDeleteGaryP is right. Also how about ticketing all of the cyclists who blow through red lights. At $124 a pop, Seattle would be in the black in no time.
ReplyDelete