Vehicle Laws - Stopping, Standing, or Parking in a Bike Lane or Bicycle Path - Prohibition
HB1381 prohibits a person from stopping, standing, or parking a vehicle in a bike lane or bicycle path, unless an exception applies or a local jurisdiction authorizes the activity. The bill defines “bike lane” and “bicycle path” by reference to existing Transportation Article definitions and adds a new subsection to the general stopping, standing, and parking rules in §21-1003.
The bill creates several explicit exceptions. It does not apply to authorized emergency vehicles, transit vehicles, vehicles picking up or discharging individuals with disabilities, disabled vehicles that cannot be moved, certain loading or unloading activity when no other parking or curb space is available and hazard lights are displayed or local law allows it, vehicles operating under a local curbside parking permit, or vehicles involved in construction or maintenance near the right-of-way. The prohibition is also subject to local jurisdiction authorization, allowing local governments some flexibility to permit bike-lane use in limited circumstances. The act takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB1381 amends the Maryland Transportation Article by adding §21-1003(gg) to make stopping, standing, or parking in a bike lane or bicycle path generally unlawful, while preserving specified exceptions and local control. It affects drivers, delivery operators, transit and emergency vehicles, contractors, and local governments that manage curbside and bike-lane access. The bill does not change the definitions of bike lane or bicycle path, but it expands the set of traffic rules governing how those facilities may be used and enforced.
The bill appears to have broad legislative support. It received a favorable committee report with amendments and passed third reading in the House by a wide margin, 113 yeas to 18 nays. The available record suggests the measure was viewed as a traffic-safety and bicycle-access bill rather than a controversial policy change, though the amendments and exceptions indicate an effort to balance bike-lane protection with practical needs such as deliveries, disability access, transit operations, and construction activity.
The main points of contention are likely the scope of the prohibition and the breadth of the exceptions. Delivery and loading activity, local curbside parking permits, and local-jurisdiction authorization create flexibility that may concern bicycle advocates if they weaken lane protection, while drivers, businesses, and local governments may view those exceptions as necessary for commerce and curb management. Another likely issue is enforcement: the bill relies on existing traffic-law mechanisms but leaves room for local variation, which can create differences in how strictly bike lanes are kept clear across jurisdictions.