Cars parked in bike and bus lanes in downtown Chicago will now begin receiving automated tickets taken from cameras mounted on city vehicles.
The program, which is still in the pilot phase, uses camera technology to enforce parking and standing violations in bus and bike lanes. The City of Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Department of Finance (DOF) said the goal of the automated ticket technology is to modernize the current system to protect vulnerable road users who are walking, biking, and using transit while improving transit operations.
“I promised to invest in people to improve people’s day-to-day lives, and our transportation system is a critical part of that. As we build a safer and more efficient system, we must work to expand accessibility for our walkers, bikers, transit riders, and drivers alike,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson.
“Through automated technology to enforce parking violations in bus and bike lanes, this pilot program helps us improve transit reliability and protect our vulnerable road users,” Johnson added. “As we evaluate its impact over the next 30 days, I want to ensure our residents know we are not passing out fines. We are evaluating the impact of this technology to learn the best practices and will continue to work to refine our approach to make our streets even safer and more accessible.”
Starting on Nov. 4, the city began a 30-day warning period, during which registered vehicle owners will receive mailed warnings for infractions like parking in bike and bus lanes. Beginning on Dec. 5, drivers will receive a warning notice for the first offense, with subsequent violations resulting in fines. The city also said that in the near future, the program will also enforce violations of metered parking, ticketing vehicles that have not paid the parking meter.
The pilot will operate in largely commercial and business districts in the city’s downtown. The pilot will also run for two years from the date the first citation is issued. Before the pilot ends, CDOT and DOF will provide a report to the City Council that evaluates the effectiveness of automated enforcement, fee collection technologies, and operational practices in improving parking compliance and enhancing traffic safety across all modes of transportation.
The pilot will initially include eight city vehicles equipped with cameras to enforce parking violations. In 2025, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will install equipment on up to six CTA buses on priority routes to further support the program’s goals of improving transit efficiency and safety. Currently, the CTA’s procurement process is underway.
