Enforce Bike Lane Protection in Memphis

To: City of Memphis Officials and Memphis Police Department

**We, the undersigned, call on the City of Memphis and the Memphis Police Department to take immediate action to protect the safety and mobility of cyclists by strictly enforcing laws against blocking bike lanes—**including by police vehicles.

Bike lanes are not parking spaces. They are not for deliveries, construction staging, or short stops. They are dedicated, life-saving infrastructure for people riding bikes across Memphis.

We respectfully demand the following actions:

1. Strict Enforcement of No-Parking Rules in Bike Lanes
All vehicles—including police cruisers, delivery vans, and rideshare cars—must be prohibited from parking or idling in bike lanes. Violations must result in fines or citations.

2. No Deliveries or Package Drops in Bike Lanes
Delivery companies must use legal curb space, not bike lanes, to load and unload packages.

3. Construction Detours Must Accommodate Cyclists
If bike lanes are blocked due to construction, companies must create clearly marked and safe detour routes that allow cyclists to continue safely to their destinations.

4. Police Must Set the Standard
Law enforcement must model lawful behavior by never parking in bike lanes except in true emergencies. Public trust and road safety depend on consistent enforcement—without exception.

5. 311 Reports Must Result in Action
Cyclists have long been instructed to report bike lane violations using 311 or the police non-emergency number. Unfortunately, these reports are routinely ignored or result in no enforcement. This must change. Every report should trigger follow-up, enforcement, and, if needed, penalties.

Bike lanes are essential for safe, equitable, and sustainable transportation. When they’re blocked, cyclists are pushed into traffic, putting lives at risk and undermining the city’s own Vision Zero and mobility goals.

We urge Memphis leadership to act now—before more injuries occur—and treat bike lane obstruction as the serious safety violation it is.