With ‘Complete Streets,’ can churchgoers still park in bike lanes?

A reader wants to know if the city’s new “Completre Streets” bill, strengthening enforcement of parking resstrictions in bike lanes, will still allow for churchgoers to park in bike lanes during services.

In response to a short post NewsWorks ran about Philadelphia City Council’s unanimous passage of the “Complete Streets” bill, we got this question from reader Jessie:

What does it mean that parking is illegal in the bike lanes? Does this mean at all times? I know of several churches that have permission to use the bike lanes for parking for certain hours on Saturdays & Sundays. Will this be illegal if the law is passed?

The legislation will help clarify the rules of the road for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike. It’s lasting impact will be a checklist of requirements so all future public and private transportation projects will consider the needs of everyone who uses the roads.

Importantly for cyclists, the bill will allow for enforcement of prohibiting parking in bike lanes.

Azusa Uchikura chased down an answer from the office of Mark Squilla, the councilman who sponsored the bill.

Churches can allow people to park on the bike lanes for services on the weekend. You can’t park all day though.

Also as a side note, delivery trucks can park in the bike lanes while they delivery packages.

The bill does not specify any exceptions to the penalties of parking in a bike lane. It simply states that you can not and the fine can range from $50-75.