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0 pointsscottbez19mo ago0 comments

The DMV is unfortunately wrong about this, with an invalid interpretation of CVC - the DMV handbook is NOT the law (it's a simplistic layman's interpretation), and is not a valid legal defense.

That said, in SF proper it's absolutely inarguably illegal as a violation called "Obstructing traffic" in the SF transportation code. A bike lane is an active travel lane for vehicles as defined under the CVC (including bicycles), and therefore stopping in one is illegal just like stopping in a car lane. I've had drivers cited for this in the past.

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rahimnathwani9mo ago· 2 in thread

  I've had drivers cited for this in the past.

I'm curious how you've managed to achieve this?

I haven't found SF311 very responsive to requests related to illegal parking. Even if they respond, wouldn't the car be gone by the time they show up?

scottbez1OP9mo ago

Yeah, they ignore SF311 reports by policy. I've managed it by flagging down an amazingly helpful parking control officer that happened to be in the area, or else by calling and reporting an obstruction of traffic (not mentioning the bike lane) and then waiting until the PCO arrived and talking to them.

The officers have almost always been helpful, but I think they generally tend towards lower confrontation and more "efficient" violations like street sweeping or expired meters by default (or perhaps directed by management).

rahimnathwani9mo ago

  by calling and reporting an obstruction of traffic

Would you be able to share the rough process, and how long it usually takes?

e.g.

- Do you call 311 or a different number?

- How soon have you had someone arrive at the scene?

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