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Montgomery County hearing draws broad support for banning vehicle parking in bikeways
Summary
Hundreds of residents, advocates and safety groups urged the Montgomery County Council to pass Bill 28‑25, which would prohibit stopping, standing or parking in bike lanes; speakers cited blocked protected lanes, near‑misses and local precedents and asked the county for better loading solutions and enforcement.
Montgomery County Council members heard more than a dozen public comments on Sept. 30 urging them to adopt Bill 28‑25, which would add a prohibition on stopping, standing or parking in designated bikeways to county code.
Advocates and residents described repeated blockages of protected bike lanes that force bicyclists into traffic. "This is a safety measure," said Seth Grama, representing the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, who said he attached photos to his written testimony showing vehicles parked in Bethesda cycle tracks. Several speakers recounted crashes and near‑misses: "Bike lanes help me to arrive alive," Thomas Kressna said, describing times when he had to merge into fast‑moving traffic.
Supporters noted local and regional precedent. Bill Pugh of the Coalition for Smarter Growth said similar prohibitions exist in nearby jurisdictions and argued the change would align with the county's Thrive Montgomery 2050 plan to expand safe walking and biking networks. Testimony repeatedly urged the county to pair the code change with practical enforcement and loading alternatives for deliveries and curbside needs.
Speakers recommended targeted implementation steps the council could consider, including designated loading zones, clearer signage, and coordination with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation and urban districts to find delivery solutions. Several witnesses—including longtime cyclists—provided specific crash or near‑miss accounts to underscore safety risks when curbside vehicles block protected lanes.
The hearing closed after in‑person and virtual testimony; the Transportation and Environment Committee has a work session scheduled Oct. 6. Council members did not take a final vote on Sept. 30.
The public record for the bill includes written testimony, photographs attached by witnesses, and cited comparisons to similar rules in Rockville, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Virginia.
