Hed: Motorist tries using bike lane but is thwarted by fellow driver
DEK: A driver decided to use space reserved for cyclists but someone wasn’t having it
Well, this is a first. On Canadian Cycling Magazine, we’ve documented all kinds of times that drivers decide to use bike lanes. Sometimes it’s because they are awful motorists, but usually, it’s to get in front of traffic. When there’s gridlock, some drivers have on occasion used spaces that are dedicated only to cyclists to try and cheat their way to the front of the line.
Not only is it illegal and stupid, it’s also very dangerous as they put the vulnerable road users at risk.
I was almost killed today by a motorist driving in a cycle track and it was terrifying
Andy Boneau is a civil engineer that specializes in urban planning, intersection design, and bicycle infrastructure planning. He posted a video that seems to be from New York of a driver sneakily driving in the separated and dedicated bike lane. The ploy seems to work as they pass dozens of drivers—despite coming close to the cyclists from behind. He posted the video, with the caption, “I know you’re super super important, but keep your cars out of the bike lanes.” It’s a pretty egregious example of entitlement, stupidity, or maybe both.
But one motorist wasn’t having it—they turn in front of the reckless driver and stop them from continuing to break the law.
As many of the replies point out, bollards would solve that problem. (Although when there is the slightest gap, some drivers decide to sneak in anyway.) The expression often used by cycling advocates, “paint is not infrastructure,” definitely fits the bill here. It doesn’t take much for a driver to get onto the bike lane.
Check out the brutal example of a crappy motorist below. Whether or not the car turning into the other knew they were helping or not, isn’t clear. They aren’t exactly in the clear either as they don’t see a cyclist riding down the lane.
I know you’re super super important, but keep your cars out of the bike lanes. pic.twitter.com/vkatJ7Y1IY
— Andy Boenau (@Boenau) December 29, 2024
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…