Proposal would make it illegal to park in Pittsburgh's bike lanes

Legislation being considered by Pittsburgh City Council would make it illegal to park in bike lanes.

The legislation, introduced by Councilman Bobby Wilson, would add bike lanes to a list of places in the city where drivers aren’t allowed to park. Other spots include in crosswalks, on sidewalks, on railroad tracks, on a bridge or in a tunnel.

“Surprisingly enough, we don’t have that,” Wilson said of a ban on parking in bike lanes.

If passed, the legislation would allow the city’s police and parking authority to enforce the law.

Council members discussed the possible need for exemptions for people with disabilities and some churches that rely on parking in bike lanes during Sunday services.

For example, Councilman Ricky Burgess said Rodney Street Baptist Church uses what he believes is a bike lane on East Liberty Boulevard for parking on Sundays.

“If they did not have that parking, there would be nowhere for the congregation to park,” Burgess said.

Councilman Bruce Kraus said he believed there was a spot on Grant Street that already has signs to explicitly allow for parking in the bike lane on Sundays to accommodate an area church.

Wilson said he hoped to work such exemptions into the legislation and have it ready for a vote as soon as two weeks from now.