Truck parked in cycle lane

[Massy]

I had ‘an exchange of views’ with a truck driver today. I was cycling along in a cycle lane until my way was blocked by his truck. The driver and his mate were sat in the cab facing me so I stopped right in front of them and gave them a big shrug gesture intended to indicate ‘how am I supposed to get through you?’ They ignored me so I decided to take a photo. This caused the driver to open the window and talk to me.
The conversation went along something like this:
him: what did you do that for?
me: because you are parked in the cycle lane and I will send the photo to the council and police.
him: well I’m working at that house, where am I supposed to park?
me: I have no idea!

He couldn’t get on the house’s drive and there is a cycle lane both sides of the road. He had scaffolding on the back of the truck so I presume he did need to park near the house.

it is illegal to park in cycle lanes and doing so puts cyclists at risk - I ended up going past on the pavement rather than into the traffic but I do actually have some sympathy with workers in this situation. Having reflected on it I still don’t know where else he could have parked.

Your poll says
‘Should the law on parking in cycle lanes have some exemptions?’
It already does. It’s possibly different per local authority, but it depends things like solid white line vs broken line, local waiting restriction times, whether someone is loading/unloading. It will also depend on whether there is a double yellow or red route etc.
As mad as it may sound, they might possibly not have been doing anything wrong. Check the route under the local authority guidelines for cycle lanes for wherever you were to be sure. Some say something along the lines of ‘you shouldn’t park in a cycle lane unless unavoidable’ - presumably they have to define ‘unavoidable’ though.

Scaffolders are the pirates of the trades. They do what the hell they like and parking tickets are the only language they understand. Shop them!

Where is he supposed to park, in the road but not obstructing the cycle lane? If he needs to drop off/pick up he has no choice.

it is illegal to park in cycle lanes and doing so puts cyclists at risk - I ended up going past on the pavement rather than into the traffic

It’s also unlawful to cycle on the pavement but I suppose your safety is more important than the pedestrians you’re endangering.

Then he can obstruct car drivers in metal boxes with airbags who already take up far more space, rather than more vulnerable pedestrians, parents with pushchairs and cyclists.

do you have a local cycling campaign? Ours is good on this kind of stuff. Also highlight it with your local county councillor.

Builders can get exemption to park on yellow lines etc. if he's actively delivering scaffolding then of course he needs to pull up!

And yes here you can legally block the cycle lane for essential deliveries, you cannot park in the car lane leaving the cycle lane free as some suggest

Don't suppose you're in Southampton?

I ask, as yesterday one of the local roads had a scaffolding truck parked over the pavement and partially blocking the road. Two of the guys were unloading, one was directing traffic, and pretty efficiently. Probably the most considerate scaffolders I've ever come across.

The OP didn't say they rode the bike on the pavement.

What is OP supposed to do? Fly over the lorry? Or run the risk of being knocked off by drivers in the mainstream of traffic who then berate you for having the temerity to leave the cycle lane.

I frequently pass obstructions by going past on the pavement, roadworks and temporary traffic lights being one example, this is after nearly being wiped out by a van driving on my side of the road, when the road was narrowed by gas works, rather than waiting the 3 seconds for me to get through - they would have waited if I was a range rover! I generally push the bike as the pavement is too bad to ride on and there are people walking on it. And I'm a middle-aged woman on a bike with a shopping basket.

There is one near my house and I always phone the council who send out traffic wardens, after me doing it 3 times to the same vehicle - they haven't done it again.

It is selfish and illegal - we should all be reporting this behaviour or they think they can get away with it

Thanks for all your thoughts. I can't find any guidelines on my council website about cycle lanes however this particular one had an unbroken white line with raised studs at intervals. However even if deliveries are allowed I don't think it extends to sitting and eating sandwiches afterwards!

I remember cycling to work early one morning and finding the cycle lane blocked by a sign that warned drivers of roadworks ahead. I moved it onto the road. I did the same with the next six signs that were blocking my route.
The cycle path stayed clear, and the signs stayed on the road for about three months while the work was being done.