It's a complaint cyclists around town have been asking the city to address for years: vehicles parking in the narrow lanes specially designated for bikes. City data show there were more than 205 bicycle collisions involving injuries in Fayette County between 2020 and 2025. Thirteen resulted in serious injuries and nine were fatal.
Under the new rule, drivers who park in those lanes can be fined $50 for a violation.
Councilman Tom Eblen notes that it's an ordinance that won't enforce itself.
"LexPark and UK Parking Services employees, as well as police officers, can write citations when they see obstructions in bike lanes. Realistically though, much of the enforcement is likely to be in response to complaints," he says.
Whom to call to file a complaint differs based on where and when the violation occurs. In and around downtown, LexPark is the group to call. On the UK campus, university police can handle the complaint.
And after hours or outside those two zones, the Lexington Police non-emergency hotline is the one to dial.
Eblen also cautions that bike lanes are officially marked as such.
"Those are the ones with a white stripe on the side of the street and the image of a cyclist painted on the pavement between the stripe and the curb," he says. "Many neighborhood streets have what's called lane narrowing stripes or lines, but there's not a cyclist insignia painted on the pavement. The ordinance doesn't apply to them."
Lexington drivers are still under a 30-day grace period. Fines start on September 27.