Missed connection

[lordofthemark]

Alexandria has advisory bike lanes, in Potomac Greens. You may drive your car in them when no bike is present. By implication the City does not consider other bike lanes open to cars. Of course they can cross them to make a right turn or to enter or exit a parking space, or to avoid a danger or hazard. I cannot believe that a speed bump installed by the City would qualify as a hazard. I strongly recommend contacting Call.Click.Connect.

[KWL]

@Emm 131803 wrote:

I ask because I saw 3 drivers do this in front of an Alexandria Police officer a few weeks ago and the officer did nothing (s/he at least didn’t swerve around the speed bumps). I assumed that perhaps Alexandria doesn’t make that illegal if a bike isn’t in the lane, but I guess it’s just they don’t enforce it. I would say 1/4 of cars on E. Monroe swerve around the speed bumps (more during rush hour I’ve noticed). It’s nice they added the bike lanes, but not great that they don’t enforce cars not driving in them.

Monroe really begs for enforcement. I was Freezing Saddles semi-sleaze riding there on Sunday and came upon a car parked in the bike lane. Though I can understand avoiding the speed bumps (I would normally call them speed humps, but these are just out and out big-ass bumps). My first impression when driving Monroe was that the speed bumps are unnecessarily abrupt, a change from the previous traffic calming humps.

[mikoglaces]

@dasgeh 131849 wrote:

That page is cool and all, but not the law. VA Code is the law. VDOT has some interpretations. BikeArlington, while wonderful, isn’t even a governmental organization.

I agree. I just have to say I am surprised to learn that there’s no VA law that expressly states that bike lanes are exclusively for bikes, except where there’s a need to cross them (i.e., right turn). Could a car just drive on the bike lane (assuming no bike in it) for miles? It doesn’t seem right though I can’t find any statute saying so. What if a car comes into the bike lane suddenly (as often happens for example when I am riding on Williamsburg Blvd and car swerves into bike lane to go around car waiting to make a left turn notwithstanding that I am in bike lane), driver has a right to do that? That is, he has a right to enter the bike lane and drive on it to pass cars? If he hit me, it appears I cannot argue that he was driving in a bike lane prohibited to cars because VA law doesn’t say it is prohibited. I could argue negligence, but driver will of course say he didn’t see me. I can see what the law says but find it shocking really.

[dplasters]

@mikoglaces 131897 wrote:

What if a car comes into the bike lane suddenly (as often happens for example when I am riding on Williamsburg Blvd and car swerves into bike lane to go around car waiting to make a left turn notwithstanding that I am in bike lane), driver has a right to do that? That is, he has a right to enter the bike lane and drive on it to pass cars? If he hit me, it appears I cannot argue that he was driving in a bike lane prohibited to cars because VA law doesn’t say it is prohibited. I could argue negligence, but driver will of course say he didn’t see me. I can see what the law says but find it shocking really.

If you take the example, and remove the word bike lane, its still illegal to recklessly merge into another road user. Indeed, they didn’t see you. Just as if they didn’t see a car in their blindspot. Same thing if a car merged into you while you were taking a full vehicle lane. If you come with the law of “no cars in bike lanes, unless turning” you end up with a “no bikes in car lanes if there are bike lanes, except for turning” (I think that is the political reality of the situation, not the idea being pitched by the forum). I’d prefer that not be the case. You’re welcome to guess as to which population would receive more tickets. N=1 on NYC cycling blogs has me in the cyclists receive more tickets camp and gain no actual safety. Protected bike lanes/ways/tracks are another option but space makes it less likely.

People double park, idle, weave and generally do weird things on the road; bike lane or no bike lane. Cyclists are more vulnerable road users so we care about the oddities more. What we are really looking for is a law that says “Use the roadway considerately.” I doubt its ability to be passed and enforced.

Critical mass and shifts in awareness/mindset are likely better options.

[chris_s]

@mikoglaces 131897 wrote:

I agree. I just have to say I am surprised to learn that there’s no VA law that expressly states that bike lanes are exclusively for bikes, except where there’s a need to cross them (i.e., right turn). Could a car just drive on the bike lane (assuming no bike in it) for miles? It doesn’t seem right though I can’t find any statute saying so. What if a car comes into the bike lane suddenly (as often happens for example when I am riding on Williamsburg Blvd and car swerves into bike lane to go around car waiting to make a left turn notwithstanding that I am in bike lane), driver has a right to do that? That is, he has a right to enter the bike lane and drive on it to pass cars? If he hit me, it appears I cannot argue that he was driving in a bike lane prohibited to cars because VA law doesn’t say it is prohibited. I could argue negligence, but driver will of course say he didn’t see me. I can see what the law says but find it shocking really.

It’s a local ordinance. Here is Arlington’s:

Bicycle lane. Where the County Board has by ordinance designated a bicycle lane for the
exclusive use of bicycles, a motor vehicle may cross a bicycle lane for the purpose of entering or exiting adjacent
property, for making a turn, or for the purpose of parking, but no person shall stop, stand or park a motor vehicle in a
bicycle lane, nor shall any person drive a motor vehicle in a bicycle lane for a distance of more than one hundred
(100) feet.

It looks like Arlington has not kept up in designating bike lanes in the ordinance as they have been built, so I don’t think they could actually enforce that provision for any bike lane striped in recent years.

[mikoglaces]

@chris_s 131910 wrote:

It’s a local ordinance. Here is Arlington’s:

Bicycle lane. Where the County Board has by ordinance designated a bicycle lane for the
exclusive use of bicycles, a motor vehicle may cross a bicycle lane for the purpose of entering or exiting adjacent
property, for making a turn, or for the purpose of parking, but no person shall stop, stand or park a motor vehicle in a
bicycle lane, nor shall any person drive a motor vehicle in a bicycle lane for a distance of more than one hundred
(100) feet.

It looks like Arlington has not kept up in designating bike lanes in the ordinance as they have been built, so I don’t think they could actually enforce that provision for any bike lane striped in recent years.

Thanks for citing the law.

[Henry]

@dasgeh 131849 wrote:

That page is cool and all, but not the law. VA Code is the law. VDOT has some interpretations. BikeArlington, while wonderful, isn’t even a governmental organization.

Technically we are “governmental”, just not responsible for legal code, interpretation there of, nor law enforcement.

From our webpage: BikeArlington is a program of Arlington County Commuter Services (ACCS), a bureau of Arlington’s Department of Environmental Services.

[dasgeh]

@mikoglaces 131897 wrote:

I agree. I just have to say I am surprised to learn that there’s no VA law that expressly states that bike lanes are exclusively for bikes, except where there’s a need to cross them (i.e., right turn). Could a car just drive on the bike lane (assuming no bike in it) for miles? It doesn’t seem right though I can’t find any statute saying so. What if a car comes into the bike lane suddenly (as often happens for example when I am riding on Williamsburg Blvd and car swerves into bike lane to go around car waiting to make a left turn notwithstanding that I am in bike lane), driver has a right to do that? That is, he has a right to enter the bike lane and drive on it to pass cars? If he hit me, it appears I cannot argue that he was driving in a bike lane prohibited to cars because VA law doesn’t say it is prohibited. I could argue negligence, but driver will of course say he didn’t see me. I can see what the law says but find it shocking really.

So yes, painted bike lanes are worthless… Ok, not completely worthless. I would interpret the VA Code language to mean that if a bike wants to use the lane, other user cannot use the lane. That would prohibit stopping/parking in the bike lane, and of course moving in to or in front of a bike using the bike lane. Plus, as noted, there are other laws that a driver would be violating if they hit a bike while the bike was in a bike lane. Along with the ones mentioned, s/he would violate the 3-foot passing rule.

But this is one of the many reasons I don’t get excited about painted bike lanes. Give me protection or give me {makes fart noise}.

@chris_s 131910 wrote:

It’s a local ordinance. Here is Arlington’s:

The original post was in Alexandria, I believe.

@Henry 131936 wrote:

Technically we are “governmental”, just not responsible for legal code, interpretation there of, nor law enforcement.

My bad. I thought BikeArlington was a program provided for by contract, not directly by ACCS.

[lordofthemark]

@dasgeh 131955 wrote:

So yes, painted bike lanes are worthless… Ok, not completely worthless.

I find that most drivers will not drive in a bike lane. In fact while I can think of many occasions where someone stopped in a bike lane for a long time to unload, or made a turn into one incorrectly, I cannot recall seeing anyone driving straight in one, in DC, Arlington, or Alexandria.

Since our discussion of painted bike lanes and the 3 foot rule, I have tried to watch out whether I am given more room my passing vehicles when I am taking the lane, or when I am riding in a bike lane. I would say it is either about the same, or I get slightly more room in the bike lanes. This may be due to the fact that most of my bike lane riding is on Eye Street SW-SW and that is mellower for whatever reason (though in many ways it is not) I know it is hard to account for with the law, but I think most drivers either are not aware of the 3 foot rule, or cannot judge 3 feet, and thus either give a lot more room, or less room, when overtaking in regular lanes – but that they are very respectful of lines painted on the ground.

I would also suggest that many riders think the painted bike lanes are desirable – as shown by increases in riding on streets where they are painted (very visible in the strava heat maps, and those are presumably stronger more confident riders) How much of that is new riding and how much diverted from other routes, I do not know.

[lordofthemark]

@dasgeh 131955 wrote:

The original post was in Alexandria, I believe.

Monroe Avenue lanes are in the City of Alexandria. I can find no items in the City code relating to bike lanes. Clearly something Council needs to address. Perhaps as part of the Bike Ped Master Plan update.

I do think that Alexandria police could enforce against an improper lane change without that though. So again, I recommend contacting Call.Click.Connect.

As for reciprocity for bikes in car lanes – if the emphasis is on the improper lane change, that would be fine. I hope that cyclists changing into a general travel lane do so properly, not recklessly.

In the case of the Arlington ordinance (and DC?) the lack of reciprocity seems stable. IE there is no serious movement to move bikes out general travel lanes in either Arlington or DC (the Maryland situation is not clear to me) There are movements to widen the no biking on sidewalks zones in DC and in Alexandria though, with, at least in DC, a focus on streets with bike lanes.

[runbike]

@dasgeh 131955 wrote:

Give me protection or give me {makes fart noise}.

I fixed the new WABA t-shirt for you:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]10451[/ATTACH]

[lordofthemark]

Note, in the District, apparently bike lanes are legally binding

RESTRICTED LANES

2220.1 The Director is authorized to designate any traffic lane on any roadway for the exclusive use of a single class or combination of classes of vehicles during certain hours. The Director shall post signs indicating any lanes designated as restricted. The signs shall describe the class or combination, of classes of vehicles to which the lane is restricted and the days and hours during which the restrictions are in effect.

2220.2 During restricted hours, any vehicle may enter a restricted right curb lane solely for the purposes of taking on or discharging passengers or to make a right turn where a right turn is not otherwise prohibited by any official traffic control device.

2220.3 Vehicles entering a Restricted Lane to make a right turn or to discharge or take on passengers shall be permitted to enter the Restricted Lane only within the same block as the right turn or passengers are to be taken on or discharged.

2220.4 Vehicles, other than those to which a lane is restricted, are prohibited from continuing through an intersection in a Restricted Lane.

2220.5 Except as provided in § 2220.2, taxicabs shall not use Restricted Lanes unless transporting at least one paying passenger.

2220.6 The existence of Restricted Lanes on any roadway does not limit those vehicles for which the restrictions are established solely for use of the Restricted Lanes unless specifically indicated.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 35 DCR 2104 (March 18, 1988); and as amended by Final Rulemaking at 53 DCR 850 (February 10, 2006).

And as noted above, they are in Arlington. BUT, as far as I can tell, they are not in the City of Alexandria.

[CaseyKane50]

@lordofthemark 131958 wrote:

I find that most drivers will not drive in a bike lane. In fact while I can think of many occasions where someone stopped in a bike lane for a long time to unload, or made a turn into one incorrectly, I cannot recall seeing anyone driving straight in one, in DC, Arlington, or Alexandria.

It has happened to me twice.

First time, I was riding my bike on Joyce headed to Army-Navy Drive. I was in the bike lane, but needed to move over to the far left lane. I signaled and moved over from the bike lane to the next lane. Again I signaled to move to the left lane. I had to slow down to wait for the lane to clear. Meantime, a car came up behind me and veered into the bike lane and sped off to the red light at Army-Navy Drive.

Second time, I was eastbound on Janney’s Lane in my car going the speed limit of 25 MPH. A car was right behind me and as soon as the bike lanes appeared he passed me on the right by using the bike lanes.

[dplasters]

@CaseyKane50 131975 wrote:

It has happened to me twice.

First time, I was riding my bike on Joyce headed to Army-Navy Drive. I was in the bike lane, but needed to move over to the far left lane. I signaled and moved over from the bike lane to the next lane. Again I signaled to move to the left lane. I had to slow down to wait for the lane to clear. Meantime, a car came up behind me and veered into the bike lane and sped off to the red light at Army-Navy Drive.

Second time, I was eastbound on Janney’s Lane in my car going the speed limit of 25 MPH. A car was right behind me and as soon as the bike lanes appeared he passed me on the right by using the bike lanes.

Speeding aside, the usage of a bike lane that is empty for someone to pass a turning/merging vehicle seems a perfectly allowable usage under Arlington law and in my mind as well.

[bobco85]

@dplasters 132036 wrote:

Speeding aside, the usage of a bike lane that is empty for someone to pass a turning/merging vehicle seems a perfectly allowable usage under Arlington law and in my mind as well.

I agree as long as the entrance into the bike lane by the vehicle is brief, the situation does not occur at the same place over and over again (i.e., it does not become the norm), and the vehicle yields right of way to those currently in the bike lane.

In the case of the speed bump on Monroe, the normal for some vehicles is becoming an infringement on the bike lane. I don’t think that enforcement is going to bring long-term safety, so the road design would need to be changed. They should first redesign the speed bump (I prefer speed tables) and extend it into the bike lane.

[Author]

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