Halt Bike Lane Expansions

The implementation of bike lanes, despite the expenditure, poses a challenge due to inadequate maintenance protocols. Additionally, cyclists utilizing these lanes often impede traffic flow, creating difficulty for motorists to navigate around them, exacerbating the issue of road congestion.



Why It’s a Problem

The proliferation of bike lanes presents a multifaceted problem with far-reaching implications. Not only do they consume valuable road space and infringe upon parking real estate, but they also serve as breeding grounds for conflict between motorists and cyclists. The push to integrate bicycles onto roads intended for vehicular traffic escalates safety risks and exacerbates congestion as cyclists impede the flow of cars. Moreover, the accommodation of bike lanes often results in the removal of loading zones, adversely impacting small businesses reliant on efficient transportation logistics. The segregated nature of these lanes further complicates matters, impeding the passage of essential vehicles like firetrucks and delivery trucks. Neglected maintenance renders many bike lanes unusable, rendering them wasteful expenditures. Moreover, their seasonal usage and the associated increase in fatalities cast doubt on their overall efficacy and safety.


Here’s the Solution

The Motorist Rights Coalition proposes a comprehensive solution to address the challenges posed by bike lanes. Their approach involves halting the addition of new bike lanes while advocating for the removal of segregated bike lane barriers. Furthermore, they emphasize the importance of maintaining existing lanes by implementing regular cleaning and plowing measures. The coalition advocates for legislation mandating cyclists to utilize non-segregated bike lanes and sidewalks, thereby reducing conflicts on the roads. Moreover, they stress the need for public education to raise awareness about the true impact of bike lanes on traffic flow and safety, fostering a more informed and collaborative approach to transportation planning.


Here’s How Your Life Will Improve

Halting bike lane expansions promises transformative outcomes and improvements for motorists, transcending political divides with its bipartisan opposition. By reclaiming road space, drivers stand to gain a smoother and safer commuting experience, free from the anxiety of navigating around cyclists. With the cessation of bike lane expansions, the preservation of parking spaces alleviates urban congestion and facilitates easier loading and unloading operations, benefitting both businesses and residents alike. Daily travel becomes more streamlined, as motorists encounter fewer obstacles and experience reduced congestion on the roads. Moreover, the decline in bike lanes usage shifts the focus back to vehicular traffic, enhancing overall road efficiency and safety. Importantly, the cessation of further investments in bike lanes ensures that taxpayer funds are allocated judiciously, redirecting resources toward solutions that serve the broader community’s needs.


The Facts About Bike Lanes

Here are the facts about bike lanes you need to know…

  • Parking Effects: A study conducted in Portland, Oregon found that the reallocation of on-street parking to bike lanes resulted in a reduction in available parking spaces by around 7%.
  • Traffic Congestion: A report from the Journal of Urban Planning and Development indicated that the introduction of bike lanes in certain areas can lead to a modest increase in travel times for motor vehicles due to reduced lane capacity.
  • Cost: Infrastructure changes to implement bike lanes can require significant investments. A study in New York City estimated the cost of building protected bike lanes to range between $445,000 and $3.7 million per mile.
  • Maintenance Expenses: Bike lanes, like other road infrastructure, require regular maintenance and sometimes lane-specific repairs.
  • Limited Usage: In colder climates or areas with inclement weather, bike lane usage may decline during winter months, leading to potentially lower overall usage rates.
  • Reduced Safety: Bike lanes make the worst common cycling accidents more common. Since cyclists are constrained to the right side of the road, they often are at risk of drive out, left cross, and right hook accidents where the cars must cross into the bike lane, crowding out the cyclist.
  • Higher Rate of Accidents: Forester estimated that accidents on bike lanes are 2.6 times higher than on roadways, because bike paths are more dangerous. He forecast more car-bike collisions, because it is difficult to make intersections between cycle lanes and roads as safe as normal roads.
  • More Deaths: common causes of bicycle accidents, often resulting in severe injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), most bike accidents occur due to falls or collisions with cars. In 2017 alone, 738 cyclists died from accidents involving motorists according to the NHTSA.

Next Steps

The Coalition for Motorists Rights is dedicated to advocating for an immediate halt of any and all bike lane expansions recognizing its adverse impact on individuals and communities. With a shared commitment to fostering positive change, we have outlined a strategic roadmap to guide our efforts towards achieving this goal. Through grassroots mobilization, legislative engagement, and strategic alliances, we aim to effect meaningful reform and champion the rights of motorists across our state in the following 5 simple steps…

Step 1 – Collect 10k signatures by the start of 2025 legislative session

Step 2 – Present the petitions to legislators

Step 3 – Get legislation introduced in both chambers of the state legislature

Step 4 – Get cosponsors for the bill

Step 5 – Educate people on the true impact of these enforcement cameras


How Are Other States Addressing the Issue

Several states are actively responding to concerns regarding bike lane expansions with decisive action. In Texas, legislation proposed a temporary halt on new bike lane projects in urban areas with high traffic congestion, aiming to conduct thorough assessments of existing bike lane networks before resuming expansion plans. Meanwhile, California’s Department of Transportation (Caltrans) initiated a comprehensive review of proposed bike lane expansions across cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, engaging with local stakeholders and exploring alternative routes to enhance cyclist safety. In New York, state officials announced a moratorium on new lane construction in response to criticism over segregated bike lanes in New York City, signaling a commitment to address concerns of motorists and cyclists alike while aligning transportation investments with urban planning goals. These examples highlight states’ proactive efforts to reevaluate bike lane policies and promote safer, more efficient roadways.


The Cost of Inaction

The consequences of failing to halt bike lane expansion carry significant costs across various fronts. With these lanes multiplying rapidly, they encroach upon and diminish valuable road space, creating challenges for motorists and exacerbating congestion. Reductions in parking spaces, a byproduct of such expansions, pose a threat to businesses, potentially deterring customers and impacting their bottom line. Moreover, taxpayers shoulder the financial burden of planning, constructing, and maintaining these lanes without commensurate benefits. The inaction surrounding this issue risks not only inconvenience but also undermines community infrastructure and economic vitality, amplifying the urgency for decisive action.


Why We Need to Act Now

The urgency to halt the expansion of bike lanes is underscored by the escalating risks faced by cyclists and the detrimental impacts experienced by residents and small businesses. With cyclists increasingly getting hit on roads designed to accommodate both bikes and cars, safety concerns have reached critical levels. Moreover, the loss of parking spaces due to expanding bike lanes exacerbates the challenges faced by residents and small businesses reliant on accessible parking for daily operations. The situation is particularly pressing in cities like Fairfax, Virginia, where massive bike lane expansion plans are actively underway, draining taxpayers’ coffers with exorbitant costs projected over the next two years. As construction progresses, the window of opportunity to reconsider and redirect resources toward more holistic transportation solutions is rapidly closing, amplifying the need for immediate action to mitigate adverse consequences and ensure the safety and well-being of all stakeholders.


What You Can Do

Do you care about this issue as much as we do? Here’s how you can help…

  • Sign the Petition
  • Share the Petition with Your Friends
  • Post it on Social Media
  • Contact your legislators
  • Donate
  • Run for Office
  • Talk About it with Your Friends
  • Get our Bumper Sticker/Yard Signs
  • Volunteer – Knock Doors for Candidates Friendly to our Cause
  • Help Fund Our Efforts