A city of Houston ordinance now prohibits parking in dedicated bicycle lanes. So far, 20 tickets have already been issued for violations.
Maria Irshad, the assistant director for ParkHouston, the agency responsible for on-street parking in the city of Houston, says it's time to start thinking about bike safety in a new way.
READ ALSO: Houston drivers now face fine for parking in bike lanes
"This is a culture shift in the way we go about our transportation, getting people to understand that it's not even OK for people to park in the bicycle lane for five minutes," she said. "You are putting someone in danger, and you're forcing them to go into traffic. That is a safety issue."
ParkHouston does want to educate drivers, so first-time violators can take a bicycle-friendly driver safety course to avoid the fine.
For more information about parking in bicycle lanes, check out the city's information page on the new ordinance.
READ ALSO: Texas-shaped bike route takes you through Houston's newest paths and trails
Houston cyclist outlines Texas with new bike routes
Do you hate Houston traffic as much as we do? Join the club!
Follow Elissa Rivas on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.