BPAC members debate parking-protected bike lanes; safety trade-offs cited

A BPAC member proposed converting some existing driver-side bike lanes into parking-protected bike lanes by moving the bike lane to the passenger side of parked cars and placing parked vehicles between moving traffic and bicyclists.

Member Schiff Miller introduced the idea and said initially he thought it could be “an easy way” to create protected space for bicyclists. He described the hazard of dooring when bike lanes sit on the driver’s side of parked cars and suggested swapping the lane and parking.

Staff and other members cautioned that such a configuration can introduce other safety issues. Member Schiff Miller said he had discussed the idea with the Complete Streets division director, who “pointed out to me that a lot of data suggests that this is actually less safe because . . . the parked cars block the view of the traffic, so that the cars in the street can't see the bicyclist if they're turning into a side street or a driveway.” He added that riding in those conditions can be similar to riding on a sidewalk, which “is statistically the second most common reason that cars hit bicyclists.”

Members discussed contexts where parking-protected lanes might work — long straightaways with few driveways or turnoffs — and agreed that protected bike lanes remain a desirable goal where appropriate. No formal recommendation or motion was made; the item remained an informational discussion about trade-offs and site-by-site appropriateness.

Why it matters: Converting on-street space can change parking availability, visibility for turning vehicles, and bicyclist safety. Committee members said protected lanes are worthwhile where designs and context support them, but they emphasized the need for site-specific engineering review and supporting data.