Richmond drivers get a one-month grace period before bike lane parking tickets return

If you’ve ever watched a cyclist swerve into traffic to get around a car parked in a bike lane, you know it’s not just annoying, it’s dangerous. Richmond is betting that a little education might go further than a fine, at least for now.

Mayor Danny Avula has kicked off an April-long awareness campaign targeting drivers who park in designated bike lanes. Instead of slapping a $65 citation on your windshield, Richmond Police and the city’s parking enforcement vendor will leave a warning notice on your windshield throughout the month. Think of it as a friendly heads-up before the real consequences start.

That grace period ends May 1, when citations and the $65 civil penalty come back in full force.

The push is part of Richmond’s broader Vision Zero effort, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries through a mix of education, street design, and enforcement. Dedicated bike lanes are a key piece of that puzzle, but they only work if they’re actually clear for cyclists to use.

“It can be very dangerous for people who ride bikes and people who drive vehicles,” Avula said, framing the campaign as a safety measure for everyone on the road.

So if you’re in the habit of pulling into a bike lane for a quick errand or delivery stop, April is your chance to break that habit without it costing you. Come May, your wallet won’t get the same courtesy.