Chad Freeman loves to bike around the Heights area but says that sense of peace is quickly disturbed when you have dedicated bike lanes that abruptly end or aren’t complete, forcing cyclists into traffic.

HOUSTON – It’s shocking how easily a cyclist can get sideswiped by a car parked in a bike lane while the vehicle is trying to pull out of the lane. When I spoke with Maria Irshad with Park Houston, she told me they’re doing their best to implement this new ordinance, according to Irshad they have a bike squad dedicated to monitoring dedicated bike lanes. “...we’ve also had mobile units, so officers in vehicles driving adjacent to the dedicated bicyle lanes to monitor these instances,” Irshad, Park Houston. Park Houston has issued 21 warnings and a total of two citations for vehicles parked blocking a bike lane for the months of January and February of this year. It’s a $100 fine for parking in the bike lane but first time offenders can take an online class to skip the fine which is the city’s way to help educate drivers.

HOUSTON – Right now, there are a total of 340 miles of high comfort bike lanes, meaning all ages and abilities can safely use these bike lanes and 22 miles of those are on-street protected bike-only lanes. In 2020, Houston bikeways completed four new miles of on street bike lanes. If you didn’t know, there are high comfort bike lanes that are safe enough a 10-year-old can ride on the bike lane. Then, there’s protected on-street bike lanes: There’s a buffer between the bike-only lane and the vehicles on the street. The City of Houston sprawls over 637 square miles and according to Bike Houston.

HOUSTON – Houston City Council has passed an ordinance Thursday that prohibits vehicles to park in dedicated bicycle lanes. Mayor Sylvester Turner, who listened to bicyclists, said in a statement the city is taking a step further to protect the designated bike lanes for Houstonians to enjoy. “The ordinance is an opportunity to promote safety and educate those who park in dedicated bicycle lanes without realizing how it impedes access," Mayor Turner said in a statement. A flyer will be distributed to vehicles parking on the bike lanes during a 90-day warning period, however no word on when the 90-day period will start. The ordinance is also a commitment by the city of Houston to become a bike-friendly city by the year 2027, according to the release.