As much as we envy the network of bicycle lanes enjoyed by many European countries, the reality for the average cyclist in the United States is very different. Bike lanes, originally designed for the safety of cyclists, often become makeshift parking lots for waiting and parked vehicles.
More than once, we have been cycling when we have encountered a delivery vehicle, a car waiting or dropping off passengers, or simply a driver looking for a shortcut and blocking the path for cyclists. This daily invasion forces cyclists to swerve abruptly onto the road, which is exactly what the bike lane was protecting them from in the first place. What is an act of convenience for the driver can end up becoming a serious risk for a cyclist.
Faced with such a lack of civility and respect for traffic laws, the state of Maryland has said enough is enough. Montgomery County has promoted a measure that has been in place since the middle of the month: from now on, anyone who stops, parks, or leaves a vehicle in these spaces dedicated exclusively to cyclists will be systematically fined $60.
The $60 parking ticket
This legislation was passed by the Montgomery County Council on November 4, 2025. Although this fine is established as a local ordinance, it is a coordinated effort with existing state regulations. Obviously, the fine is not exorbitant, but it is enforced without exception. It does not matter if a vehicle stops to park within the boundaries of the designated bike lane; all such vehicles will be immediately fined $60.
This is not a confiscatory measure intended to fill local coffers, but rather a negative incentive to raise public awareness of the proper use of these bike lanes. The driving force behind this measure, Councilman Evan Glass, argued that this is the only way to ensure that bike lanes function safely. It is a matter of public safety, in which it must be ensured that the infrastructure for cyclists is fully functional for its purpose.
We cannot accuse the councilman of being paranoid; during the nine months prior to the law’s passage, there were 110 traffic accidents involving cyclists in this county alone.
Laws surrounding cycle lanes
Montgomery County’s local effort to fine parking in bike lanes is supported by state legislation. Senate Bill 133 (SB133) made it a state law to prohibit parking, stopping, or standing in bike lanes or paths. Montgomery’s local ordinance merely complements this general law.
With a symbolic fine of $60, it ensures effective enforcement and an immediate impact on driver behavior. [There is no greater incentive than the economic one, as we like to say… even when you couldn’t care less about cyclists and eco-friendly public transportation.]
Meanwhile, the neighboring county of Prince George’s is currently considering implementing the same (or at least a very similar) measure. In this county, the proposed fine for the same offense would be $50. The entire philosophy behind this type of legislation is the “Vision Zero” initiative, which actively seeks to eliminate all traffic-related deaths and serious injuries. It has been established as a goal for 2030 in Montgomery County, and these types of fines act as a key deterrent. Until now, driving habits have always prioritized car mobility over the safety of the most vulnerable road users.
But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the development of bike lanes in Maryland has been a gradual effort spanning several decades.
The county’s first master plan that included a bicycle network was the 1978 Master Plan of Bikeways. The present cycle lane system we see today in Maryland was first installed in the 2010s. In a country where the car has been king of the road since the fifties, it will take time for public consciousness to take root in the American driver’s mind. In the meantime, local officers will do their part giving $60 tickets to anyone who dares touch a cycle lane without being mounted on a bike!
So now you know, if you have to wait for someone—even for a minute—it’s probably more cost-effective to put a few quarters in a parking meter… It’ll be cheaper than a $60 fine!