MyBikeLane

When this guy saw me taking pictures of his car, he started to back into me, to my right. When I yelled at him to stop, me moved forward and tried to do it again, and the started cursing, etc... too bad I did not get the license plate, otherwise I would have taken him to TLC court.

Are you reading this Matthew Daus? Most of your drivers are maniacs who don't know the law. Some, like this guy, are psychos with a 2 ton weapon.

When he saw me taking pictures of his truck, this guy asked if I was a cop. Then when I wouldn't move out of his way, he honked at me. He said it was dangerous for me to be doing this. When I told him what he was doing was illegal, he course had only the most erudite comment that most violators have "f--- you", and sped dangerously away.

This guy was sitting in the bike lane until I pulled out my camera

A cop in his patrol vehicle next to me saw me snapping this picture. As he pulled up, he told the driver to leave the bike lane. The NYPD finally does its job.

Once he saw me taking a photo, he drove away.

These people left as soon as they saw me taking this photo.

This guy backed his taxi out of the bike lane after I told him that it was just for bikes. (sorry for the trippy photo - that's what happens with a cheap cell phone cam when you are moving).

When he saw me taking a picture, this driver from Ontario drove away.

This guy moved after he saw me taking his picture.

We called over this officer who directed the van to park next to the hydrant, as long as he was standing rather than parking. thanks NYPD!

After I took this guy's picture and told him to leave the bike lane... he left the bike lane. He followed me and we had a "conversation" of sorts as we went along. He asked me what I had said (maybe he didn't hear me). "Where am I supposed to go? I was waiting for a customer!"

I said, "find a legal spot."

"Where?! There are no spots!"

"Hey, that's not my problem, I don't drive a car. Listen, write Bloomberg.."

"Fuck Bloomberg!"

"Write him and ask for spots to be allocated for taxis..."

"Do you think Bloomberg gives a fuck about you and me?!"

"I don't know, but thanks for the leaving the bike lane.. bye!"

[rough transcription]

Although he was pissed, it was the most extensive exchange I've had since I've started taking pictures of cars in bike lanes. I kinda felt bad for the guy. Yes, he was wrong and endangered my life. But really, this issue will only be solved when the City:

1) raises the price of curbside parking until some spots are available
2) ends the Dept of Finance's Stipulated Fine program
3) dedicates more curbside parking for taxi pickups and commercial deliveries
4) actually enforces the law

I will keep taking these photos. Hopefully this site will someday inspire Bloomberg (or whomever) to answer the driver's question affirmatively.

He left when he saw me taking his picture.

He did leave after he saw me taking his picture. I think my extra bright Cateye headlight blinking in his mirror also helped.

This is the same driver that threatened to run me over last time I very politely informed him he was breaking the law. This time, I kept my distance and hailed a passing traffic enforcement squad car that got him to move along.

This car has a huge logo on the side stating that it a taxi for pets; the driver told me he was waiting for a fare. Note, however, that he does not have commercial plates. He was very nice and moved as soon as I asked him. He should probably do something to make himself "legit."

This guy has $520 in parking tickets (http://nycserv.nyc.gov/NYCServInquiry/NYCSERVMain ), and that is after ~$100 in fines were written off by the Department of Finance. By his own admission, he parks here weekly, and I have caught him blocking this stretch of the bike lane before ( http://nyc.mybikelane.com/post/index/143 ). After a minutes or so of relatively intense counseling, he moves his van (not shown). Here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezmgwhcupZ8 .

Let's see if he remembers to keep the bike lane clear next week.

This guy quickly moved when he saw me take his photo, and then when we pulled up to the crosswalk for the red light he expressed great concern that I had taken his picture (see him exiting the vehicle to engage me, inset). I don't know what he was so worried about, but I have eliminated his license plate from this post since he "did the right thing."

This man was unloading in the bike lane in Brooklyn Heights. I asked him to move and he of course informed me that he was not parked. I told him when a car stands in the bike lane it forces cyclists out into the street where they risk being hit and killed by traffic. He stopped talking for a bit, and then slowly said. "I did not consider the implications of my parking here". I thanked him for considering and went on my way. I am going to tag this as an optimistic "liberated".

New bike lane on Grand St. When driver saw the flash of the camera, he asked me what I was doing. When I explained, he moved to the other side.

This guy was rather annoyed by our complaint, but he could not deny that the risk he was imposing on us outweighed the convenience to him of standing in the bicycle lane illegally. Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=At83uv3Z6Lc

This driver for Roadrunner knew to get in and start driving once he saw me with the camera. Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO9g0g8Rb0w

How about just parking outside the bike lane in the first place next time?

This person decided to this bicycle lane--the only stretch of Class II crosstown bicycle lane on the entire UES--as a location from which to make a call. I explained to her in a civil manner the danger she was creating, but she complained that my tone of voice was too loud and that I should have "asked nicely," as she moved her car out of the bicycle lane. I think she was just embarassed.

Yesterday morning, I made it almost my entire commute w/out seeing anyone parked in the bike lane. Just as I was realizing this, I come across this livery driver camped out in the lane w/ his hazards on. As I was snapping my picture, an NYPD cop on foot, walked over and chased the guy off. Awesome!

I have no idea if my calls and emails to the city and the construction contractors working here helped, but the bike lane at West 78th & West End Avenue has now been free and clear of construction materials for 3 days and so I officially declare it liberated (the biker decal was damaged by the steel plates stored on it, but c'est le guerre).

To demonstrate that I am not so parochial as to care only about dangers posed by illegally parked vehicles to bicycles, I noted that the placard on the dash of the Mercedes in the picture was issued to an "honorary police surgeon" and the car is parked right in front of a hydrant at 8:30 am: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43954081@N00/321551270/

Didn't Hippocrates tell us to "do no harm"?

This woman cut me off to park in the bike lane despite the open spot just in front of her. When I asked her to please not park in the bike lane, she told me she wasn't parked. Her car was off and she was out of her car, so not sure what she would consider the situation, but I call it parked. After I took her picture, she got pissed off and pulled her car to the available parking spot. "Are you happy now" she asked. Yep! "Are you going to report that truck too?!" she asks. Already did!

Thanks for moving, friend, but next time, please don't park sit in the bike lane and make me dismount and beg you to move.

I asked the person sitting in the driver's seat whether she was legal driving age and she had no response. she did agree to move. A dangerous weapon to put in the hands of someone so young!