Council makes it illegal to block city bike lanes
Houston City Council on Wednesday made it illegal to park in or otherwise block the city’s expanding network of bike lanes, a long-sought change by cyclists fed up with dodging cars and other obstacles in their designated paths.
Council voted15-2 to pass an ordinance to forbid people from blocking the dedicated lanes that are physically separated from roadways. The prohibition applies to 120 miles of bike lanes, and violations will be punishable by a $100 fine.
Council Members Mike Knox and Edward Pollard voted against the measure, but did not explain why. Council did not discuss the ordinance.
Previously, there was nothing in the city’s code that prohibited blocking the lanes. The city had to post “no parking” signs along the lanes in a sometimes futile effort to keep them clear.
Nick Hellyar, a board member for the nonprofit Bike Houston, hailed the ordinance as a pragmatic step toward safety.
“Bike Houston has been fighting for this for forever,” said Hellyar. “It’s just some of that common-sense government that sometimes we need to push a little harder for as advocacy groups.”
The adoption of the ordinance
came after council twice delayed a vote in past weeks due to uncertainty about enforcement strategy.
ParkHouston had proposed to give warnings and educational flyers in lieu of fines on a first violation. Some council members, however, wanted to replace that strategy with an option for violators to take a free bike class in lieu of the fine.
Council Members Letitia Plummer, Carolyn EvansShabazz and Amy Peck sought the change out of concern about imposing fines on indigent residents or people who are unaware of the new rule. That strategy was approved by council Wednesday.
ParkHouston is seeking to offer a version of a class developed by the Houston Police Department.
The city’s ParkHouston expects to hand out warnings for the first 90 days as it implements the ordinance.
The 90-day grace period will apply when new bike lanes are constructed, as well.