Smile, You're Blocking The Bike Lane!

A lot of folks have worked hard for many years to make Chicago's infrastructure better for bicyclists.  Perhaps the greatest advance has been the building of bike lanes which give cyclists a place on the streets to call their own.  So it really drives a lot of bicyclists nuts when people park or stop or do anything but bike in Chicago's bike lanes.  We all see them on a daily basis:  cars, delivery trucks, taxi cabs, etc. stopped or parked in the bike lanes.  Let me be clear, every time someone does that they are breaking the law.  The law creates no exceptions.  Here is the relevant City of Chicago ordinance:

9-40-060 Driving, standing or parking on bicycle paths or lanes prohibited - 

The driver of a vehicle shall not drive, unless entering or exiting a legal parking space, or stand, or park the vehicle upon any on street path or lane designated by official signs or markings for the use of bicycles, or otherwise drive or place the vehicle in such a manner as to impede bicycle traffic on such path or lane. The driver of a vehicle shall not stand or park the vehicle upon any lane designated by pavement markings for the shared use of motor vehicles and bicycles, or place the vehicle in such a manner as to impede bicycle traffic on such lane. In addition to the fine provided in Section 9-4-025 of this Code, any vehicle parked in violation of this section shall be subject to an immediate tow and removal to a city vehicle pound or authorized garage.Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 9-1-99, p. 10503, § 1; Amended Coun. J. 3-12-08, p. 22781, § 1

Reading the Chainlink this morning, I learned that one concerned and enterprising person has created a Tumblr page where anyone can upload photos of people blocking a bike lane.  Click here to upload your photo.  (Please be careful to stop your bike if you are going to take photos while out cycling.)