To be clear: “Vehicles are not permitted to enter a bicycle lane in order to avoid conflict with other traffic.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Rudi Riet

From DDOT:

“Today, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced a proposed rulemaking, in support of Mayor Bowser’s Vision Zero initiative, that will prohibit stopping, standing, parking, passenger loading and unloading, and other obstructions of bicycle lanes.

DDOT’s rulemaking, drafted in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department and the Department of For Hire Vehicles, is designed to eliminate and clearly prohibit behaviors that endanger cyclists traveling in the District’s bike lane network.

“As the District continues to embrace multimodal transportation, we have to make sure that our regulations and practices protect all users of the roadway,” said DDOT Director, Jeff Marootian. “These rules reinforce the Bowser administration’s commitment to Vision Zero and eliminating traffic fatalities in the District.”

The proposed rulemaking makes the following improvements and clarifications to existing regulations:

• Vehicles may not enter bicycle lanes unless safely turning at an intersection, into a driveway or alley, or entering a legal parking space.
• Vehicles are not permitted to enter a bicycle lane in order to avoid conflict with other traffic.
• Vehicles are not permitted to enter a bicycle lane in order to load or unload passengers or freight.
• Vehicles are only allowed to stop in a bicycle when necessary to enter into a legal parking space or to follow the directions of a police officer.
• These proposed rules apply to all vehicles, including vehicles for hire.

Community members can submit comments on the proposed rulemaking, no later than Monday, March 11. Comments should be submitted in writing via email to [email protected] or via postal mail to 55 M Street, SE, 7th Floor, Washington, DC, 20003

The proposed rules are available here.”