MyBikeLane

There was no one to see. Probably behind the trucks on the other side. But they stood there as far to the right as possible.

I asked him why he is blocking the bike lane. He told me that he is waiting for the car next to him to leave to get a legal parking spot as the other side will be cleaned shortly and apologized.

This time the car was completely empty. I think it's the first time a passenger car reaches "level 5".

To be on the safe side: no pictures, no license plates, no names. Only the people involved know about it. For everyone else it's just a nice example of driver's respect towards cyclists and how they interpret the law.

This is the story of a guy (and his girlfriend with two cops in the family as they several times emphasized) trying to force me to delete the picture I took of his car, standing in the bike lane at the Brooklyn College main entrance.
The final result of all this: At least the police officers and hopefully family and friends of the two will learn about this website. They promised me to check, if I post the picture of his car here. They will see nothing but will learn that he has eight outstanding parking tickets ($420) from July and August. That's what I call following the law!

The Story:
I took the usual picture of a car blocking the bike lane after waiting some while if it's really only a drop-off stop. They did not like it, passed me, and stopped again in the bike lane to confront me to delete the picture because I was violating their privacy. Some more discussions. I called a CUNY police officer, who was standing in front of the building next to us. No solution and the guy finally said: "You know, just leave". One block later he passed me again, double-parking on the bike lane next to the only car within several yards, and stood on the bike lane in front of his trunk. Instead of trying to pass him to end up like the cyclist in the 'famous' critical mass-NYPD incident I stopped. He asked me again to delete the picture or he would call the police. He called 911 and we waited about 45 minutes.
The police officers came, standing half on the bike lane next to the empty parking lane, and 'interviewed' us separately. They called some legal office and told me that I shouldn't put the pictures on the web because of privacy issues.
Regarding blocking the bike lane: The driving officer said that he would stop on a bike lane to drop off his girlfriend (which could take a minute or so). So, why having bike lanes at all if even the police does not care about the law. Passing a car, standing in a bike lane, is dangerous every second she/he is standing there. To avoid hitting the trunk we have to use the car lane into the normal traffic. One second is enough to get caught by a car. But I also had cars slowing down to let me pass safely.
A little side-note: Four weeks ago I was sliding over the street after a car used the bike lane to pass some cars in the traffic jam ahead of him. He got my handle with his trunk and turned immediately into the next street to disappear. I know, I can't change the world (and certainly not the windshield-blurred mind of drivers) but would like to use the only four feet for cyclists going North-South in Brooklyn safely.

End result:
The police took our personal information, wrote a short report, and drove off. The guy and his girlfriend (she joined us shortly before the police came) looked in disbelief that they did not force me to delete the picture and threatened me to sue me if they see the picture of his car on the web site.

Did they learn anything? NO! Will they do it again? YES. Will he accumulate more traffic tickets to impress the police officers in his girlfriend's family? Probably yes.

Nothing special, just the normal brainless behavior.

This UPS driver does not use the parking lane - even if it's possible. Using the bike lane is just too convenient.

No comments.

Enough room in the parking lane but too lazy to park correctly. It's always easier to be ignorant and let others have to deal with it.
And, do you see the nice finger I got to see from the passenger!

It's unlawful to use a hand-held cell phone while driving. It's better to block the bike lane!
And $45 of unpaid parking tickets.

Today this van was standing again on the bike lane: Empty car, windows down, and loud music coming out. It was just a huge boom box for the guys sitting around.

This is a great example of a brainless/careless driver. I waited some time to see if he was just preparing for a U-turn or something. But no, he was just standing and waiting.

First I wanted to ask, why he/she is standing again on the bike lane. But when I looked through the window I decided not to ask/interrupt. 'Driver' and passenger where more or less both sitting on the driver's seat...

When I took the picture the driver came out of the shop. I asked her why she used half of the parking lane and two thirds of the bike lane. But her only response was "Why did you take the picture, why did you take the picture?". Unfortunately I do not think that she will try to use the parking spot correctly next time. Just too much effort for saving a cyclist's life.

There are many examples of bike lanes just being a second parking row. Here is one from last Friday.

Why using the car lane or the parking lane if there is a bike lane one can use?

It looks like an ambulette but the passenger who came a few seconds later looked very healthy and wasn't at all in the need of an ambulette. This is just a large cab.

There is a pick-up and drop-off zone 100 feet away but it's probably bad for their health to walk out of Roosevelt Hall and make a right turn. Nice education for future drivers.

After I talked with them he started his car to park into the parking spot in front of the white van. But a DHL truck was faster - standing on the bike lane next to the empty parking place...

I waited some while to see what he was doing. Nothing! I think standing there seems for him less illegal than standing in front of the fire hydrant. He would probably move his car if a fire truck needed the space but he did not do it when another bike passed and had to use the car lane.

This is the view you get, more or less every time, when you approach the intersection Bedford Av and Flatbush Av.
Not separated bike lanes are useless, especially at intersections, if it just provides a little bit more space to increase the car bulk.

Dee's Transmission is constantly using the bike lane (and the side walk) to park cars.

There was space enough for at least three cars in the parking lane but she decided to stop in the bike lane to let the passenger in!? But nice Shoes. Probably on the way to the gym...

The second picture is the same spot without cars on the bike lane. I took it to show that there is a sign to indicate the bike lane - if the two white lanes are not enough. But how should drivers see it??