mtnwalker

I was on my way to work this morning on my usual route. 7 miles of bike lanes bliss between Middlefield and Arastadero from Mtn View to Palo Alto. This is only my 4th day of commuting on this route and the lanes have always been empty: there are signs on the sidewalks that declares "No parking between 2AM to 7PM". This morning, however, there were at least 4 vehicles parked in the lanes that would force one to merge into traffic to pass.

Question now is what should I do about them? I had the inclination to take pics and report them in to the local police depts but I decided not to because I feel like jack-hole if I did. Or is it my responsiblity as a cyclist to turn these people in? These lanes have a high volume of cyclists too from commuters, roadies, to students. What would you do?

caloso

Call it into the parking enforcement department. No need to feel like a jackhole.

CliftonGK1

Yep. Call parking enforcement and have them ticketted. (or, depending on what you local laws are, towed.)

DataJunkie

I slapped the side of an occupied SUV one day last year with an open hand. A nice shouting match ensued. I would not recommend this course of action.
My temper bested me that day. Call parking enforcement.

mtnwalker

Yeah, I actually felt like scratching the sides of the cars just a little (puts evil twin back in closet). I guess the right thing to do would be to call these cars in and have them ticketed. I would understand, a little, if somebody was inside and maybe just waiting for somebody to be picked up. But these cars are wet with condensation and obviously been parked there since the night before.

I wonder if leaving them a note will suffice? Something like "Please don't park here between 2AM and 7PM or next time I'll call the police regarding your parking violation".

Percist

I wasn't even on the bike Saturday evening when I passed a line of 15 cars blocking one of my favorite bike lanes. Called the police and by the time I was on my way back everyone had either moved their cars or had cute little slips stuck under their wiper blades.

Ah, sweet justice. . .

noisebeam

Its the motorist who should call them in. The parked cars do nothing to you, they only inconvienience motorist who now have to change lanes to pass. If they don't like it, they should complain.
Al

CastIron

Automobile, rock, pothole, ped, it's all the same. Keep moving.

bigbenaugust 

Oh, I hate that! I also ride Middlefield (on the way home, so anytime between 4:45-5:30 usually) and there are always people parked in the bike lane along there. Definitely call the MVPD, because I never remember to.

mtnwalker

To help you help me and others please call the MVPD too: here is the number 650-903-6146. BTW, I'm on Middlefield too around the same exact time you mentioned but going the opposite direction(south). I assume you are northbound because you location is San Francisco.

Bekologist

hey, Al, they DO inconveinence the cyclists, who need also to change lanes to pass. are you really that out of touch with the use of on-road bike lanes?

Call them in.

SSfreak

I also so say turn them in. There could be an accident waiting to happen when a bike goes around the cars.


OR a crobar/D Lock to the glass might help also.

ax0n

you should know better than that by now. U-lock to the forehead if cager is present. Otherwise, a handlebar or cleat down the side of the vehicle should suffice.

UmneyDurak

You can also post it in A&S forum to get more opinions on what you should do. he he.

roadfix

I just go around them.

bigbenaugust 

Tee hee hee, nope. "SF Bay Area" is pretty generic. I head south, too, from San Antonio-ish to Ellis.

In my more angry moments on the way home, I contemplate carrying a hammer and taking windows and mirrors off of the offending vehicles. Of course, I would never do this.

evancds

I see this pretty much everyday and while its annoying, its not at the top of my list of offenders which include right hooks, cars forcing me out of the bike lane so they can pass left turners, and mass transit all of which I battle on a daily basis. Honestly, I think the police (philly) would either laugh, or hang up if I wasted their time with this.

mtnwalker

Sweet, sweet justice. I was coming home around 5:15 pm and what do I see a mile down middlefield? A cop car w/lights going right behind a cager's vehicle. At first I thought it was a speeder. But as I was nearing the scene the cop pulls away and I noticed that there wasn't a driver in the vehicle. Could it have been a ghost car? Nope, it was a vehicle parked in the bike lane when it shouldn't have been. Good thing I'm not in Philly. Go-go MVPD. I didn't even have to call it in. Cool.

gwhalin

Check my sig!

I-Like-To-Bike

Who wudda thunk it?