Imagine the revenue the city could generate by ticketing every car & truck that parked in bike lanes? But somehow, I suspect that after UPS got their 300th ticket in a single month, they'd lodge a serious complaint at City Hall & threaten to move operations to Jersey City.

Yeah, I know. I got into an argument with a couple to tools in a shiny new SUV on Fifth Ave in BKLYN yesterday. One tool told me it wasn't illegal to park in the bike lane.

As for UPS and other deliveries, the just need to double park outside the bike lane. I was shocked to learn that double parking is permitted for commercial vehicles provided certain conditions are met (e.g., no parking spaces avaliable within 100', etc.). The provision of the code specifically says, " A person may stand a commercial vehicle along the roadway side of a bicycle lane provided all other conditions of this paragraph are met." It's section 4-08(f) of the NYC Traffic Regs, if you're interested.

How's this for an idea? Allow a private cause of action for vehicles parked in bike lanes. Require a photo (easy with cell phone cameras) and a form affidavit saying the complainant witnessed the parking, the photo is accurate and the complainant couldn't safely use the lane as a result of the parking. I'd file a few of those, I tell you.

- Jeff

This is probably my biggest beef with illegal parking in bike lanes. Often there will be MULTIPLE parking spaces within 20 feet of the scofflaw, but they'll choose to park illegally in the bike lane, because it might be 10 ft closer to their destination. Insane!