Originally Posted by Helmet Head
Is it illegal in Portland to block or "interfere with" a bike lane? What if you're entering a driveway, and there is a holdup in the parking lot you're entering, and you have to stop as you're entering the driveway, thus blocking the bike lane? That would annoy a lot of cyclists who are uncomfortable with having to leave the perceived safety of the bike lane to get around him, but is it illegal? What about opening a door in a door zone bike lane? Of course it's illegal to do it when that would cause a cyclist to crash, but say he's a half a block down, and it takes you a minute to get the kid out, so by the time he gets there, the door is still open blocking the bike lane? Is that illegal?
In CA it is legal to park in bike lanes unless there is an explicit no parking sign.
So why the big deal about blocking bike lanes? Normal traffic lanes are blocked all the time. In general, if you have to block a street, you're supposed to do it "as far right as practicable". Well, that's often the bike lane. What's the problem?
Where does this notion that motorists are not supposed to "interfere" with bike lanes come from?
Perhaps the same notion that you cannot block sidewalks... I know here in San Diego that is a ticketable offense. So if a prefered lane is offered, such as a BL or sidewalk, some enforcement effort should be made to ensure the prefered lane is available. It is also illegal to double park... and that too is a ticketable offense... so there is precedent regarding not parking or blocking traffic in the street.
You are right that often commercial traffic has little option... and for that there are and should be exceptions. (it is permissible to leave a BL for instance). But if the blocking is chronic, there is another problem.