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Is sticker-shaming drivers who park in bike lanes a good idea? Is sticker-shaming drivers who park in bike lanes a good idea?
(about 21 hours later)
When I experience dangerous car behaviour I’m often tempted to turn vigilante. But after an old colleague, who used to race after cars and politely complain through open windows, got deliberately shunted off his bike, I rarely even register my disapproval. Instead I just shake my head in disbelief and wonder why in all my years of cycling I’m yet to see a single police officer stop and ticket a car or lorry driver for endangering the life of a cyclist.When I experience dangerous car behaviour I’m often tempted to turn vigilante. But after an old colleague, who used to race after cars and politely complain through open windows, got deliberately shunted off his bike, I rarely even register my disapproval. Instead I just shake my head in disbelief and wonder why in all my years of cycling I’m yet to see a single police officer stop and ticket a car or lorry driver for endangering the life of a cyclist.
I’ve twice taken down number plates and filed reports at my local police station but it’s time-consuming and I doubt anything ever results from it. For while penalties provide sufficient deterrent for most drivers not to run red lights or speed, less obvious or seemingly less serious infractions, such as driving too close to a cyclist, stopping in an ASL (Advanced Stop Line) box or parking in a bike lane, appear to be more like something you ideally shouldn’t do but no one important will notice or react punitively if you do.I’ve twice taken down number plates and filed reports at my local police station but it’s time-consuming and I doubt anything ever results from it. For while penalties provide sufficient deterrent for most drivers not to run red lights or speed, less obvious or seemingly less serious infractions, such as driving too close to a cyclist, stopping in an ASL (Advanced Stop Line) box or parking in a bike lane, appear to be more like something you ideally shouldn’t do but no one important will notice or react punitively if you do.
Cars and lorries parking in cycle lanes is a particular problem, as it forces riders out of a perceived sanctuary and into moving traffic, often with little warning. It’s hard enough for experienced cyclists to suddenly pull out into fast-moving traffic so goodness knows how scary it is for novices. I remember one section of an old commute route where the cycle lane ran contra to a one-way street so when cars parked in the bike lanes you were forced to play chicken with the oncoming traffic, often getting hooted at, with fists shaken intimidatingly, in the process.Cars and lorries parking in cycle lanes is a particular problem, as it forces riders out of a perceived sanctuary and into moving traffic, often with little warning. It’s hard enough for experienced cyclists to suddenly pull out into fast-moving traffic so goodness knows how scary it is for novices. I remember one section of an old commute route where the cycle lane ran contra to a one-way street so when cars parked in the bike lanes you were forced to play chicken with the oncoming traffic, often getting hooted at, with fists shaken intimidatingly, in the process.
It’s likely some drivers don’t know their highway code well enough to know you shouldn’t park or drive in a cycle lane, though the law clearly states as such; frequently in caps: “You MUST NOT drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a solid white line during its times of operation. Do not drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a broken white line unless it is unavoidable. You MUST NOT park in any cycle lane whilst waiting restrictions apply.”It’s likely some drivers don’t know their highway code well enough to know you shouldn’t park or drive in a cycle lane, though the law clearly states as such; frequently in caps: “You MUST NOT drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a solid white line during its times of operation. Do not drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a broken white line unless it is unavoidable. You MUST NOT park in any cycle lane whilst waiting restrictions apply.”
When encountering cars in cycle lanes, it’s frustrating to feel so powerless but what would a proportional, not to mention quick and safe, response look like? Two friends in Toronto, Canada may have the answer. At the end of August they started the “I parked in a bike lane” green sticker campaign with the strapline: “Taking back our lanes one sticker at a time.” I asked them why now. They said:When encountering cars in cycle lanes, it’s frustrating to feel so powerless but what would a proportional, not to mention quick and safe, response look like? Two friends in Toronto, Canada may have the answer. At the end of August they started the “I parked in a bike lane” green sticker campaign with the strapline: “Taking back our lanes one sticker at a time.” I asked them why now. They said:
This has been a long building frustration that peaked when we were talking about how terrible riding in Toronto has been lately. Drivers are blatantly ignoring lanes and putting cyclists in danger. They don’t care, or act like it doesn’t matter.This has been a long building frustration that peaked when we were talking about how terrible riding in Toronto has been lately. Drivers are blatantly ignoring lanes and putting cyclists in danger. They don’t care, or act like it doesn’t matter.
So far they’ve sold 4,000 stickers worldwide, including to the US, UK, Germany, Sweden, and Australia. They encourage cyclists to post offending vehicles to their Instagram.So far they’ve sold 4,000 stickers worldwide, including to the US, UK, Germany, Sweden, and Australia. They encourage cyclists to post offending vehicles to their Instagram.
Notably, the two wish to remain anonymous. They said:Notably, the two wish to remain anonymous. They said:
This didn’t start to be a massive campaign, we had no idea it would blow up like this. We bought a roll as a joke amongst ourselves to use and give out to friends. The response has been amazing and overwhelming. We feel like anonymity gives the message more power – it’s a mass of people instead of one person pushing an issue.This didn’t start to be a massive campaign, we had no idea it would blow up like this. We bought a roll as a joke amongst ourselves to use and give out to friends. The response has been amazing and overwhelming. We feel like anonymity gives the message more power – it’s a mass of people instead of one person pushing an issue.
They probably also want to avoid the wrath of the car driving lobby. I ask if they think their actions will flame the already blazing car versus bike relationship. They said:They probably also want to avoid the wrath of the car driving lobby. I ask if they think their actions will flame the already blazing car versus bike relationship. They said:
Probably. The people who are inconsiderate enough to park in a bike lane will probably get pissed [off] about a sticker on their car. We urge everyone to use their judgment and be safe. However, we do think that drivers should take time to think about why this happened. They need to realise that their actions are unacceptable.Probably. The people who are inconsiderate enough to park in a bike lane will probably get pissed [off] about a sticker on their car. We urge everyone to use their judgment and be safe. However, we do think that drivers should take time to think about why this happened. They need to realise that their actions are unacceptable.
They aren’t very sticky. The intention was never to damage or vandalise. It’s a way of getting attention which is significantly less aggressive than keying a door or smashing a mirror with a U-lock (we do not condone these things, but they do happen).They aren’t very sticky. The intention was never to damage or vandalise. It’s a way of getting attention which is significantly less aggressive than keying a door or smashing a mirror with a U-lock (we do not condone these things, but they do happen).
It’s a great and amusingly passive-aggressive response and also wise to make them not too sticky. Though I can’t help wondering how I’d feel if a pedestrian slapped a sticker on my back while I was cycling on the pavement with my kids, which I often do very slowly for a short stretch to avoid pulling out directly onto a fast road.It’s a great and amusingly passive-aggressive response and also wise to make them not too sticky. Though I can’t help wondering how I’d feel if a pedestrian slapped a sticker on my back while I was cycling on the pavement with my kids, which I often do very slowly for a short stretch to avoid pulling out directly onto a fast road.
When I picture being chased and stickered, the image is funny and slapstick, though I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t like it in real life. But would it make me think about my behaviour? Quite possibly. And the “I parked in a bike lane” stickers are of course different and less confrontational as they’re stuck to stationery vehicles, ideally without the owners in sight. When I picture being chased and stickered, the image is funny and slapstick, though I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t like it in real life. But would it make me think about my behaviour? Quite possibly. And the “I parked in a bike lane” stickers are of course different and less confrontational as they’re stuck to stationary vehicles, ideally without the owners in sight.
But the broader question is who is most at fault if cars are routinely parking in bike lanes. The drivers or the local authorities and traffic police for not enforcing the law and keeping the lanes safe for cyclists? I’d argue the latter but until that changes, as it did in London with bus lanes, little acts like this can at least make us feel like we’re doing something.But the broader question is who is most at fault if cars are routinely parking in bike lanes. The drivers or the local authorities and traffic police for not enforcing the law and keeping the lanes safe for cyclists? I’d argue the latter but until that changes, as it did in London with bus lanes, little acts like this can at least make us feel like we’re doing something.
But what do you think? Would you use the stickers? If not why not?But what do you think? Would you use the stickers? If not why not?