Prince George’s County will join Montgomery County in prohibiting parking in bike lanes after the Prince George’s County Council unanimously approved new legislation designed to improve roadway safety. The move comes less than two weeks after the Montgomery County Council enacted its own countywide ban on November 4, 2025.
The Prince George’s measure, Bill CB-071, was introduced by Councilmember Eric Olson and passed by an 11-0 vote. The law bans stopping, standing, or parking in county bike lanes. Olson said the intent is to clear space for cyclists and pedestrians while reducing conflicts between road users.
“When bike lanes stay clear, our streets are safer for everyone,” Olson said in a statement. “This bill takes a simple step with a big impact, protecting cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers while advancing our goal of creating safer streets for all.”
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association praised the council’s action. WABA organizer Seth Grimes called the new law “an important safety measure” and noted that blocked bike lanes push cyclists and scooter riders into traffic, where the risk of crashes increases and vehicle flow slows. WABA Executive Director Elizabeth Kiker said the legislation is an important part of Prince George’s County’s Vision Zero commitments.
“Prince George’s County has committed to Vision Zero, to eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries, yet the numbers remain way too high,” Kiker said. She added that clearing bike lanes, expanding protected networks, and improving enforcement are necessary to reduce fatalities.
State data shows 91 traffic deaths in Prince George’s County this year through November 10, including 22 pedestrians. Two bicyclists have been killed in 2025, most recently Lisa Martin, who died in a hit-and-run crash on October 7 while biking in Beltsville.
The bike lane parking ban builds on Olson’s 2023 Walkable Urban Streets Act, which focused on pedestrian safety through lower speed limits, narrower travel lanes, sidewalk and bike lane buffers, and limits on roadway features such as slip lanes in transit and mixed-use areas.
Community members also welcomed the legislation. Advocate Melissa Schweisguth said she relies on the county’s limited bike lane network for work and errands and noted that blocked lanes often force riders into traffic. “Keeping bike lanes clear of vehicles is critical for everyone’s safety, including the many parents and children who bike to school,” she said. “The new law will help people feel comfortable choosing to bike and is essential to achieve the county’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries.”
Prince George’s joins Montgomery County and the City of Frederick, which enacted a municipal bike lane parking ban in August 2025. WABA is now pushing for statewide legislation in 2026 that would prohibit bike lane parking across Maryland.
