Iowa City reminding drivers not to block bike lanes

IOWA CITY — Drivers in Iowa City — particularly in the downtown area — are reminded not block bike lanes with their vehicles. And now the city has a new means of enforcement.

Stopping, standing or parking in bike lanes is already prohibited by City Code, but only police were able to issue citations until recently.

The Iowa City Council last week unanimously voted to amend the ordinance to allow parking enforcement staff to issue citations to drivers of vehicles that stop, stand or park in bike lanes.

Darian Nagle-Gamm, the city’s transportation director, told the council earlier this month an increased number of vehicles have been blocking bike lanes, especially around lunch or dinner time.

"It's increased during the pandemic, I think, due to in part the proliferation of food delivery and other delivery services,“ Nagle-Gamm said during the ordinance’s first consideration on March 1.

”This is causing a safety issue, especially for cyclists but also for drivers who really need to swerve around the parked vehicles.“

Nagle-Gamm said the goal is to preserve the bike lanes for cyclists and redirect vehicles to specialty parking zones around the city.

Council members said the change will make it safer for bikers to travel through the downtown by giving them a clear path, as well as making it easier for parking staff to enforce.

“It definitely seems like it's a step in the right direction for creating a better cycling community,” Mayor Pro Tem Megan Alter said during the ordinance’s first consideration.

There is new signage on Clinton Street reminding drivers to not park, stop or stand in the bike lane.

Enforcement staff will issue warnings for one week and will transition to issuing citations in April. Violators will be subject to a $15 fine and possibility of having their vehicle towed.

Enforcement staff will provide a flyer along with the citation. Flyers will have a QR code linking to a map of available parking options in the area.

Commercial delivery trucks should use the designated parking spots for deliveries, and the city created a digital map with temporary loading zones.

Drivers, as well as food delivery and ride-share services, should use permitted parking spots or one of the city’s six parking ramps.

Comments: (319) 339-3155; izabela.zaluska@thegazette.com