By Bob Katzen

Bill (S 2534) Prohibits drivers from parking in bike lanes and from placing their vehicle in a manner that would interfere with the safety and passage of bicyclists. Violators would be fined up to $50.

   Supporters say that prior to passage of this new law, cities and towns passed local ordinances addressing this issue and the result is a patchwork of inconsistent rules and enforcement. They note that when drivers park in these lanes they endanger bicyclists who are forced to merge into traffic.

Bill S.2534

(House, No. 3072) by striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the following text:-
“SECTION 1. Chapter 89 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4C the following section:-
Section 4D. The operator of a motor vehicle shall not stand or park the vehicle upon an on-street path or lane designated by an official sign or marking for the exclusive use of bicycles, except in a case of emergency.
SECTION 2. The first paragraph of section 5 of said chapter 89, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:- Whoever violates section 4D shall, upon complaint made within 3 months after the commission of the offense, forfeit not more than $50.
SECTION 3. Said section 5 of said chapter 89, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 10, the words “four C” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 4D.
SECTION 4. Said section 5 of said chapter 89, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:-
A violation of section 4D shall not be considered a conviction of a moving violation of the motor vehicle laws for the purpose of determining a surcharge on a motor vehicle premium pursuant to section 113B of chapter 175.”.