A proposed state bill would permit New York City’s transportation department to install up to 50 cameras that would monitor bike lane violations, with drivers that block bike lanes facing a $50 fine.

“Drivers entering bike lanes are breaking the law, even if they have their blinkers on while dashing into a store to drop off a package or grab a coffee. But they’re unlikely to be cited by police, both because the infraction is usually brief and because officers seldom prioritize bike lane enforcement.” Even worse, police cars can often be seen blocking bike lanes themselves.
Reporting for Bloomberg CityLab, David Zipper describes a New York state bill that seeks to address this issue by deploying cameras that record bike lane violations. “The bill would give the city’s transportation department the green light to install up to 50 such bike lane cameras, with violators mailed $50 fines.”
Unlike a similar law passed in June that allows English towns to use bike lane cameras (London has announced it will install camera-based bike lane enforcement), the New York bill doesn’t apply to painted bike lanes that are not already semi-protected by flexible delineators or other physical infrastructure.
Of course, this effort still falls short of fully protecting people on bikes. “The obvious way to protect bike lanes is, literally, to protect them — with hard infrastructure that physically prevents motor vehicles from invading cyclists’ space.” As Zipper notes, “Research shows that protected lanes offer a powerful way to boost street safety — and that fear of a collision (especially among women) may be the single greatest obstacle preventing more people from using a uniquely healthy, climate-friendly, and space-efficient means of transport.”
FULL STORY: A New Tool in the Battle to Keep the Bike Lane Clear

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Research Shows More Roads = More Driving
A national study shows, once again, that increasing road supply induces additional vehicle travel, particularly over the long run.

EV Chargers Now Outnumber Gas Pumps by Nearly 50% in California
Fast chargers still lag behind amidst rapid growth.

Affordable Housing Renovations Halt Mid-Air Amidst DOGE Clawbacks
HUD may rescind over a billion dollars earmarked for green building upgrades.

Has Anyone at USDOT Read Donald Shoup?
USDOT employees, who are required to go back to the office, will receive free parking at the agency’s D.C. offices — flying in the face of a growing research body that calls for pricing parking at its real value.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport