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Amazon trucks blocking bicycle lanes

Old 07-10-20, 08:58 AM
  #1  
Illgot
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Amazon trucks blocking bicycle lanes

I keep running into Amazon trucks blocking the bicycle lanes. Asked one driver to not block the lanes and he was dismissive, dropped off his package and drove off. What irritated me was he was parked in a parking spot moved 2 houses over and parked in the bicycle lane blocking it.

What happens if I just collide with the truck or have to move into the road and get hit by a car?

edit: lots of mobile spelling issues.

Last edited by Illgot; 07-10-20 at 10:29 AM.
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Old 07-10-20, 09:02 AM
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Do they have some other place to pull over and park?

i don’t want them in bike lanes either but this may be a road/ infrastructure issue to take up with your city or county.
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Old 07-10-20, 09:15 AM
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The right side of the road is prime territory. Unfortunately, that's where the bike lanes are. Buses, delivery and garbage trucks are going to be there. It's part of bike riding.
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Old 07-10-20, 09:25 AM
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It's not only amazon trucks in my area, it's ups, fedex, other delivery trucks/cars and etc. Online business is booming for some and brick and mortar stores are going bankrupt as a result of the ongoing events, thus more delivery trucks all over. Better get used to it.
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Old 07-10-20, 10:27 AM
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I work for a major utility, if our underground facilities are in the bike lane, or our equipment cabinets are right next to the bike lane, while I'll feel bad for being there, you're going to go around my truck.

I also used to drive trucks, so I wouldn't think twice about a delivery or utility vehicle being parked in the bike lane, I understand the problem. Cars parked for their convenience are a different story.
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Old 07-10-20, 10:53 AM
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Originally Posted by Wileyrat
I work for a major utility, if our underground facilities are in the bike lane, or our equipment cabinets are right next to the bike lane, while I'll feel bad for being there, you're going to go around my truck.

I also used to drive trucks, so I wouldn't think twice about a delivery or utility vehicle being parked in the bike lane, I understand the problem. Cars parked for their convenience are a different story.


When someone does something illegal/dangerous to you, ask not for whom the bell tolls.... Karma will find you.
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Old 07-10-20, 11:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Digger Goreman


When someone does something illegal/dangerous to you, ask not for whom the bell tolls.... Karma will find you.
You do realize that it's nothing more than a phone call for someone like me to have that bike lane closed for a considerable "safe" working distance, don't you? I've been riding long before there were such a thing as bike lanes, and I've managed to stay alive. A little common sense goes a long ways.
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Old 07-10-20, 11:12 AM
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First world problems.
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Old 07-10-20, 11:22 AM
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Generally, I don't take blocking bike lanes terribly serious as I can look behind me to see if it's safe to shift over. What really bugs me is when the driver insists on getting back into his truck by walking around the front of it. Basically, there is no way to do that without stepping out blindly into the lane, and I've almost hit them doing this on my bike and in my car. It's something small children are taught not to do, yet here's a guy whose job requires him to get back in the truck dozens if not hundreds times a day completely doing it wrong.
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Old 07-10-20, 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Ross520
First world problems.
it is but it is also serious for people in America. There is usually zero bicycle infrastructure and cities expect you to ride in the car lanes. Which would be fine but the people in cars expect you to ride on the sidewalks (which can be illegal in parts of a city).

When there are bicycle lanes the city expects you to use that and if you get into an accident while not using the bicycle lanes it is the bicyclist who is as fault. Hell, half the time it is the bicyclists fault even if they are in the bicycle lane when a car hits them here.
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Old 07-10-20, 01:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Wileyrat
You do realize that it's nothing more than a phone call for someone like me to have that bike lane closed for a considerable "safe" working distance, don't you? I've been riding long before there were such a thing as bike lanes, and I've managed to stay alive. A little common sense goes a long ways.
which is fine, if you officially shut it down we are no longer liable and forced to use the bicycle lane. By parking there and just blocking it without making it official you are forcing bicyclists to retain liability while taking up the bicycle lane. Make it official, don't be lazy and don't use the bicycle lanes. It's no different than if you just decide to park in the middle of the vehicle lanes because it is more convenient.

Last edited by Illgot; 07-10-20 at 02:19 PM.
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Old 07-10-20, 02:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Illgot
which is fine, if you officially shut it down we are no longer liable and forced to use the bicycle lane. By parking there and just blocking it without making it official you are forcing bicyclists to retain liability while taking up the bicycle lane. Make it official, don't be lazy and don't use the bicycle lanes.
Making it "official" though requires a call to the city x-number of hours or days in advance. More if there is a weekend in-between. The broken water main, gas service or clogged storm sewer that he is there to fix doesn't always wait that long to make itself a problem.
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Old 07-10-20, 02:08 PM
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h
Originally Posted by Illgot
which is fine, if you officially shut it down we are no longer liable and forced to use the bicycle lane. By parking there and just blocking it without making it official you are forcing bicyclists to retain liability while taking up the bicycle lane. Make it official, don't be lazy and don't use the bicycle lanes. It's no different than if you just decide to park in the middle of the vehicle lanes because it is more convenient.
I composed a long post explaining to you the way the MV laws are regarding utility work and traffic restrictions, but it timed out before I had a chance to post it. So, I'm just going to say you better know the laws and what you're talking about before you post your response, because I do. It's what I do for a living.

In a nutshell I can't block a sidewalk without closing it due to the ADA laws, but I can legally park in a bike lane, with my cones out, until our work function is complete. Remember, I'm a cyclist too, and I don't like it either, but that is the way it is.

Last edited by Wileyrat; 07-10-20 at 02:19 PM.
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Old 07-10-20, 02:48 PM
  #14  
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I just yell “**** you” as I go around them. All of them. With a finger displayed as well. It’s my street and I am sick of being threatened by these untrained losers. They are easy to spot.

Last edited by cb400bill; 07-11-20 at 12:22 PM. Reason: Do not change the spelling of words to bypass the forum censor.
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Old 07-10-20, 02:51 PM
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Rebuild the city streets,
Cars park towards the center, the lane for bikes bikes is on the other side, rear to the sidewalk..
then you only get 'doored' by the passenger, not the driver ...

Its already being done


So? do you go to your city council meetings and bring this issue up?
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Old 07-10-20, 03:11 PM
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"Untrained losers"?

Originally Posted by Joe Bikerider
untrained losers.
Really, Joe? Did you know that virtually every one of the Founders was an "untrained loser," including George Washington? Untrained losers with jobs are called WORKERS. And they used to be respected as the engines that drive the economy back before we began praying at the altar of Wall Street and Private Equity.

Originally Posted by Joe Bikerider
They are easy to spot.
You mean, like, you just look for their BIG BROWN TRUCKS? There's some good fieldcraft, there, to find them.

I am willing to cut you some slack because I grew up in Walnut Creek. And I also find their corporate attitude about misuse of public infrastructure infuriating. But I wonder if you're not angry because they have some other characteristic that you think you are superior to. It's not a pretty look for you, my Walnut Creek homie.
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Old 07-10-20, 03:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Illgot

What happens if I just collide with the truck or have to move into the road and get hit by a car?

.
If you were to collide with a truck parked in front of you, that would be 100% your fault for not paying attention and for not thinking ahead and for not planning an evasive move....If you got hit while passing the truck, it would also be your fault for not looking back to see if the road was clear... Looking back to see if the road is clear before passing should be a second nature when riding in traffic or use a mirror. A mirror is one of the most useful items you can ever put on your bike.
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Old 07-10-20, 03:32 PM
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It just not Amazon trucks. It is any kind of delivery trucks. They all have the attitude that they can stop anywhere. They will stop in the driving lane blocking in cars that are parked at the curb. You have wait for the jerks to come out and move their trucks.
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Old 07-10-20, 03:34 PM
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Not the biggest issue in the realm of bike transportation. I just go around.
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Old 07-10-20, 05:21 PM
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FedEx is always trying to make up for lost deliveries/delivery times, so I just give them that "good for you for trying" look... Since they are just trying to be a delivery service that they claim to be.

No issues with brown santa, usps, amazon, or DHL. They seem to use common sense when delivering goods, & those four businesses try to do it as quickly as possible.
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Old 07-10-20, 05:32 PM
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
Generally, I don't take blocking bike lanes terribly serious as I can look behind me to see if it's safe to shift over. What really bugs me is when the driver insists on getting back into his truck by walking around the front of it. Basically, there is no way to do that without stepping out blindly into the lane, and I've almost hit them doing this on my bike and in my car. It's something small children are taught not to do, yet here's a guy whose job requires him to get back in the truck dozens if not hundreds times a day completely doing it wrong.
As someone who's been working in the roads for decades and buried a few co-workers, there is a reason you try not to walk behind the vehicle. You look before you step out.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/...le/2811828002/
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Old 07-10-20, 05:41 PM
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Originally Posted by dedhed
As someone who's been working in the roads for decades and buried a few co-workers, there is a reason you try not to walk behind the vehicle. You look before you step out.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/...le/2811828002/

Wait, what? If you cross the vehicle in front, you can't look back in the lane where the traffic is coming from until you step into the lane. The truck blocks your view of the oncoming traffic. If you cross behind the truck, you can see what's coming. By front, I mean at the cab end.
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Old 07-10-20, 06:00 PM
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Originally Posted by BNSF
Making it "official" though requires a call to the city x-number of hours or days in advance. More if there is a weekend in-between. The broken water main, gas service or clogged storm sewer that he is there to fix doesn't always wait that long to make itself a problem.
Here I don't have to make anything "official" to block anything. All I'm required to do is have my proper lights functioning. Granted, I'm going to put out cones etc as needed as well.


Wisconsin Legislature: 347.26(7)
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Old 07-10-20, 06:10 PM
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
Wait, what? If you cross the vehicle in front, you can't look back in the lane where the traffic is coming from until you step into the lane. The truck blocks your view of the oncoming traffic. If you cross behind the truck, you can see what's coming. By front, I mean at the cab end.
Right, you look before you step out. No, it doesn't block your view enough to know if your good to go. If you're coming from the curb, as in a delivery driver, you've already looked back before you got to the truck. I've been working in the street a long time and the back of the truck is not a good place to be.
Enough workers get killed that they created attenuator trailers or have 2 vehicles with the rear an unmanned blocker.
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Old 07-10-20, 06:22 PM
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Wonder if the OP checked for signs. Here in Philadelphia, the sides of streets with bike lanes are usually marked with “No Parking” signs. That does not prohibit stopping. As one parking official explained to me, the difference between stopping and parking is about 15 min.
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