Melbourne Council to name and shame illegal parkers in CBD

ILLEGAL parkers in central Melbourne will be named and shamed by the city council on social media. And Lord Mayor Robert Doyle is making no apologies. Here’s what they plan to do.

A van parked in a bike lane on 68 Exhibition St, causes danger to cyclists and disruption. Pic supplied.

ILLEGAL parkers in central Melbourne will be named and shamed by the city council on social media in a road safety blitz.

And Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has made no apologies for outing inconsiderate company drivers who take up disabled parking spots or clog bicycle lanes.

“It’s not so much individuals, although they pop up as well, it’s companies using bike lanes, which is dangerous,’’ Cr Doyle told the Herald Sun.

“If we have a delineated bike lane, it means we’re concerned about the interaction between cars and cyclists.’’

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Cr Doyle said that not only was it dangerous, it disrupted traffic.

Council officers have been issuing tickets to motorists illegally parking on common cycle routes such as Exhibition St.

$155. Because no stopping means no stopping! Our officers are helping to keep cyclists safe every day. pic.twitter.com/TuGu3tLl8b

— City of Melbourne (@cityofmelbourne) June 16, 2017

“It’s a very selfish thing to do when all the messages we’re sending are sharing road space,’’ Cr Doyle said.

Cyclists had complained to the council and sent in photos of parking misdemeanours, he said.

It comes after the Herald Sun reported an increasing number of vehicles blocking bike lanes in the CBD, with cyclists themselves taking to social media to voice their anger.

The fine for illegally parking in a bicycle lane is $155.

The Bicycle Network has campaigned on the problem, with chief executive Craig Richards saying that blocked bike lanes were a constant issue for commuting riders.

He urged cyclists to dob in offending motorists to the council.

The council plans to post photos of illegal parking to its official City of Melbourne Twitter account @cityofmelbourne and Facebook page.

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Park in the empty loading zone? Nah mate. I'll just take up an entire bike lane and half the traffic lane.@cityofmelbourne @bicycle_network pic.twitter.com/OMoYWYzSel

— Phillip Tyson (@PhillipTyson) April 27, 2017

And further towards the city typical construction work respect of bike lanes @cityofmelbourne @bikemelbourne @cathyoke pic.twitter.com/4WxvRubEAs

— Ric Morgan (@R_C_M) June 7, 2017

We are aware the large van was a @SchiavelloGroup van – this is unacceptable driving behaviour.

— City of Melbourne (@cityofmelbourne) June 7, 2017

Forecast for our bike lanes today is mostly clear, with a chance of occasional naughty driver. Officers are out patrolling, every morning. pic.twitter.com/CIw38QCpxQ

— City of Melbourne (@cityofmelbourne) May 24, 2017

@IanRoyall