Are There Trash Bins in Your Bike Lane?

For cyclists, there are few experiences less frustrating than having than having the path of bike lane blocked by trash bins.

Local riders take a number of approaches to this problem--some kick them out of the way, others get off their bike and politely roll them onto the homeowners driveway. Some have even launched their own education campaigns.

Now, after years of public pressure, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation is launching an ad campaign to educate Angelenos about the illegality of leaving trash bins in bike lanes, but they need to know where to focus the campaign.

A new poster--which advises homeowners not to "trash the bike lane!"--will be posted in the advertising space of Bureau of Sanitation vehicles.

According to the LADOT Bike Blog, the campaign will actually comprise three parts.

From the LADOT Bike Blog:

The campaign will be [composed] of three parts; advertisements on the side of Bureau of Sanitation vehicles, language to be included in print materials distributed to the Bureau of Sanitation’s customer base, and staff training to ensure that after pick up, trash receptacles are not deposited in bike lanes.

LADOT has yet to launch the campaign, as they are trying to determine which parts of the city are in the greatest need of education.

"We’ll need your help in order to determine specific areas of the city where we should target the 'Don’t Trash the Bike Lane' campaign," the post states. "If you happen to know what bike lanes get blocked on a regular basis, be sure to leave us a comment below, or email us at ladotbikeblog (at) gmail (dot) com."

If a recent DIY-campaign launched by Glassell Park resident Marino Pascal is any indication, Northeast Los Angeles might be a good place to focus the LADOT ads.

Pascal got the jump on the city by placing his own hand-made stickers on recepticals that lined the bike line on on Eagle Rock Boulevard near the Verdugo Bar.

Which bike lanes do you find blocked most often? Avenue 50? York Boulevard? Let us know in the comments, and send your feedback to ladotbikeblog (at) gmail (dot) com.