Press Releases - County Council

Council Passes Bicycle Safety Legislation

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, November 4, 2025

From the Office of Councilmember Evan Glass

New legislation strengthens protections for cyclists by prohibiting standing, stopping, or parking in bikeways

ROCKVILLE, Md., Nov. 4, 2025— The Montgomery County Council unanimously passed legislation today that enhances safety for cyclists by prohibiting vehicles from standing, stopping, or parking in designated bikeways across the county. The bicycle safety legislation (Bill 28-25) was introduced by Councilmember Evan Glass and co-sponsored by Councilmembers Natali Fani-González, Andrew Friedson, and Dawn Luedtke.

“Dedicated bike lanes are critical safety infrastructure, but only if people can actually use them safely,” said Councilmember Evan Glass, Chair of the Transportation & Environment Committee. “This new law builds on the Safe Streets Act and advances our efforts to ensure cyclists no longer have to veer into traffic to avoid parked cars — making our roads safer for everyone. Its passage marks an important step toward our Vision Zero goals and a safer Montgomery County.”

In the first nine months of this year, there have been 115 cyclist-involved crashes, 6 with serious injuries and one fatality in Montgomery County. The legislation brings local law into alignment with other regional jurisdictions that already prohibit parking in bikeways, including Rockville, Washington, D.C., and Howard County. Additionally, 310 pedestrians have been injured, and 12 killed while walking on our roads.

“As a County, we have put significant resources into creating separate and safe spaces for bicyclists on many roads, making those roads safer for all who bike, walk and access transit,” said Peter Gray, Maryland organizer with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. “It makes perfect sense to prohibit cars and trucks from blocking the use of those bike lanes, even for short periods of time. Blocked bike lanes force cyclists to move into car traffic lanes, thus negating the very purpose of those bike lanes, which is to make it safer for all non-car users to travel on those roads.”

“The Action Committee for Transit strongly supports this bill,” said Shanika Whitehurst, President of Action Committee for Transit. “Parked cars in bikeways endanger the safety of people who are using them. One life lost is one too many, and this bill will provide a necessary layer of added safety.”

“Protected bike lanes also means that students have safer routes when cycling to and from school,” said Melissa Regan, Co-chair of MCCPTA Safe Routes to Schools. “Biking to school has many benefits but safety must have priority. This bill directly addresses keeping protected bike lanes cleared so that even our youth have the open path needed for safe school travel.”

With the passage of Bill 28-25, Motor Vehicles and Traffic – Parking in Bikeways – Prohibited, Montgomery County continues advancing its Vision Zero goals of eliminating serious and fatal traffic collisions by 2030.

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Release ID: 25-372
Media Contact: Chenda Hong 240-883-7573
Categories: Evan Glass