City considers fines for vehicles parked in designated bike lanes
Drivers who park in Houston’s bike lanes soon could face a $100 fine.
City council on Wednesday is set to consider an ordinance allowing for fines for people park in or otherwise block the lanes, disrupting cyclist traffic. Currently, fines are allowed only when there are nearby “no parking” signs.
“There was nothing in the code that said you can’t park in a bike lane,” said Maria Irshad, assistant director of the Park Houston, the city’s parking management division.
The disruptions long have frustrated Houston cyclists, who have had to dodge trucks, cars and other obstacles while navigating the city’s 120-mile network of separated bike lanes.
Nick Hellyar, a board member of the nonprofit Bike Houston, said the group has been pushing for such an ordinance for years.
“It’s just something that’s become so commonplace that people knew they could get awaywith it,” Hellyar said of the obstructions. “You understand if you don’t pay your parking meter, you’re going to get a ticket. If you speed, you’re going to get a ticket. This should just be part of theover--
all mindset of driving in Houston: You don’t park in a bike lane.”
Wilson Calvert, an urban planning student at Texas Southern University and cyclist, has used his Twitter account to document golf carts, trailers, even a port-a-potty obstructing the lanes. He said he is excited about the ordinance and hopes it will be duly enforced if passed.
“I'm just really excited that we can codify this into an ordinance. It's kind of silly they've had to place (no parking) signs along every block of every new bike lane,” Calvert said.
The penalties would apply only to dedicated lanes that are physically separated from car traffic, not on streets where drivers and cyclists share the road, such as Washington Avenue. The language in the proposed ordinance says “no person shall stop, stand, or park” in the lanes.
The item was delayed from last week’s agenda after some council members expressed concern about imposing fines on indigent residents, or on people who did not know about the new rules.
“I believe that we need to have something in lieu of a fine,” said District D Councilmember Carolyn Evans-Shabazz. “A fine is not always the best avenue initially. I believe that people should be offered an option.”
At-Large Councilmember Letitia Plummer proposed a system in which drivers could take a free bicycle-friendly driving class with Bike Houston, in lieu of a fine.
Irshad said Mayor Sylvester Turner’s administration has agreed to some changes to address those concerns. Theywill be introduced as anamendment at council Wednesday by Plummer, Evans-Shabazz and Amy Peck.
“This gives people a choice rather than simply paying a fine,” Plummer said.
If the changes are adopted, motorists who receive a ticket would be able to ask for the free bike safety course instead of paying the fine for a first violation, according to Irshad. Hellyar said it is not clear yet whether the city will adopt a version of Bike Houston’s safety course or use another one.
The department originally planned to issue warnings and educational flyers for initial violations. Irshad said the option for a class now would replace that.
Plummer had hoped to add the safety course for the second violation. Irshad said the city does not allow for multiple warnings for any parking violation.
The ordinance would take effect immediately upon passage, although Irshad said it will take some time to implement. She anticipates handing out warnings for the first 90 days or so.
The policy also would allow the city to track enforcement of the violation, according to the request for council action by the Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department.
“While the authority to set the parking violation fine lies with the presiding judge of Municipal Courts, ARA is suggesting a fine of $100 with a delinquent fine of $50,” the request said.
The courts already have signed off on a $100fine, Irshad said. They are civil penalties and cannot lead to an arrest warrant if unpaid.
The department said it received 341 public comments on the proposed ordinance, 94 percent of which were in support.
Regulatory Affairs and the Houston Police will collaborate on a campaign to educate the general public about parking in bicycle lanes.