New York Ponders How to Stop Cars from Parking in Bike Lanes

According to an article by Katie Hinds, "the city [of New York] announced it would exceed its original target and install a record-setting 18 miles of protected bike lanes this year, rather than the 15 it had originally planned."

The announcement attempted to change the narrative after an increase in cyclist deaths inspired a protest ride in the city earlier this month. There bike safety narrative in the city has also focused recently on the common sight of cars parked in bike lanes. According to Hinds, "in fiscal year 2016 NYPD traffic enforcement officers issued 71,423 tickets to drivers who blocked bike lane according to city data. That's about on par with 2015, when 72,206 tickets were written. And yet to gauge from the experience of the average cyclist, it would seem that tens of thousands of tickets are both not enough — and can't prevent drivers from encroaching upon bike lanes."

In addition to pushing for more bike infrastructure, some advocates are also pushing ideas like citizen reporting mechanisms of bike lane blockers.