Tried taking the new bike lane on 5th Street downtown this morning and nearly got hit by a delivery van

So I decided to give this new bike lane a shot since they just painted it last week. It's one of those separated lanes with a little curb. Looked good from the street view. Got about two blocks in and a UPS van was parked right in the middle of it. Had to swing out into traffic and almost ate a bumper from a Ford F-150. What's the point of spending all this money if nobody enforces it? Has anyone else run into delivery drivers just ignoring these lanes?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_vera6d ago

Almost ate a bumper" is way too real... That's exactly the problem with these new lanes. They spend all that money on paint and curbs but don't do anything about the delivery trucks that just park wherever they want. Enforce it for a week straight and people would learn.

barbara_kim6d ago

Honestly, I get your frustration but I see it a little different. That UPS driver probably had a route that hasn't changed in ten years and now suddenly they cant pull over where they always have. The city dropped these lanes in without talking to businesses or delivery companies first. Ngl, if they actually enforced it for a week straight, you'd just see drivers blocking the regular car lanes instead, which makes traffic worse for everyone. Tbh, I think we need better planning upfront, not just tickets after the fact.