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Committee advances Bill 2825 to bar stopping or parking in bikeways; staff to clarify definitions and enforcement
Summary
Bill 2825, introduced to prohibit vehicles from standing, stopping or parking in bikeways, moved forward without objection. Staff and DOT flagged definitional issues (shared-use roadways and signage), potential exemptions for buses/emergency operations, and asked to clarify enforcement and fine amounts (typical posted-sign violation cited as $60).
Montgomery County’s Transportation & Environment Committee advanced Bill 2825 on Oct. 6, a measure intended to keep bike lanes clear by prohibiting vehicles from standing, stopping or parking in designated bikeways.
The bill’s sponsor framed it as a relatively straightforward public-safety measure after the committee heard that in the first six months of the year there were 92 crashes involving bicyclists, five causing serious injuries and two fatal crashes. The chair described those numbers as “unacceptable” and said the measure builds on the county’s Safe Streets efforts and Vision Zero goals.
Staff identified several implementation questions for the committee’s consideration. The Department of Transportation suggested clarifying whether “shared use roadway” should be part of the bikeway definition because some shared-use streets in residential neighborhoods currently permit parking. DOT proposed either removing that term from the bikeway definition or carving out an exception so parking allowed by posted signs on a shared-use roadway would not be prohibited.
Haley Peckett (deputy director for policy) noted that some shared-use markings (sharrows) are intended to permit mixed use where parked cars help calm traffic and that the committee should avoid unintentionally removing permissible parking. Committee staff also raised potential exemptions for actions such as buses stopping to board passengers and advised further study before codifying narrow carve-outs. Joe from MCDOT told the committee that posted-sign violations in PLDs are typically enforced at about $60; staff said they would clarify the fine and ticketing approach prior to full-council consideration.
Council members expressed support for the underlying safety goal and for more work on enforcement and implementation details. The committee signaled support for the measure without objection and closed the meeting.
