Richmond issues warnings for illegal bike lane parking in April

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The city of Richmond is reminding drivers not to illegally park in bike lanes as part of its ongoing efforts to make roadways safer for its Vision Zero principles.

On Wednesday, April 1, the city of Richmond stated in a press release that it is continuing to work to make roadways safer through the Vision Zero principle of education, engineering and enforcement.

The dedicated bike lanes in Richmond provide safe lanes for cyclists, but they become less safe when vehicles are illegally parked in them.

To create awareness and educate residents about the lanes, Mayor Danny Avula has started a month of safety reminders by issuing violation warnings, not citations, to drivers parked illegally in bike lanes.

During April, officers of the Richmond Police Department and Richmond's parking enforcement vendors will hand out violation warnings on vehicles rather than parking citations.

On May 1, citations will be issued again with a civil penalty of $65 for any vehicle parked in a designated bike lane.

“This safety initiative is a reminder to not park or block bike lanes,” said Avula. “It can be very dangerous for people who ride bikes and people who drive vehicles. Thank you for helping us keep Richmond roadways safe for all!”

For more information, visit the city of Richmond's website here.