How are people going to move in or out of an apartment? Though it would be inconvenient, perhaps you could walk your bike on the sidewalk for a few yards? Or safely ride around the truck.

@Betty: Sure- we could extend that logic to essentially any illegal parking that one thought only to be a minor inconvenience to others: I could double-park for food delivery, drop-off/pick-up, or heck if I simply wanted to hang out for a bit. The motor vehicle drivers could whip out onto the opposing traffic lane, no problems right? There are laws for a reason: the safety of ALL residents and and passersby, they're not whimsical, follow if you so choose...

No shortage of righteous indignation here

This was pointed out as a problem many times during the community sessions. By ignoring this consideration, the city effectively decided that these types of temporary obstructions aren't a problem.

@Betty you apply for a street occupancy permit throught the City of Cambridge. Parking where this moving truck is illegal. This should not fall on people biking but rather on the people moving who failed to plan.

It's not clear that the moving truck lacked a street occupancy permit.

The moving truck certainly lacked a permit because you cannot get a permit for this part of the road. Here is the info from the city of Cambridge webpage on street occupancy permits: "Permits will only be issued in areas where it is legal to park a car. We will not issue permits for disability (HP) parking spaces, across driveways, within ten feet of a fire hydrant, in loading zones, bus stops, or other locations posted no parking or no stopping."

There is parking right across the street from this bike lane on Garden, as well as spots on the same side of the street on Arsenal Sq. They could have easily gotten a permit for those spots legally.

This does not just affect bike lanes. This is a common problem by people moving or craftsmen doing work. They do not apply for parking permits because it costs 20 dollar and rather park illegally or in the bike lane or in “second row” blocking the street for anything that is wider than a car (eg fire trucks). Since the city does not enforce this or issue fines people just see no reason anymore to get parking permits for their moving trucks or their contractors.

As a frequent cyclist living close to Harvard square I fully understand that the bike lanes make it hard to have a truck close to a house for moving or work. I’m not opposed to the trucks parking in the bike lane for that purpose as long as they get a permit and the city puts up a few traffic cones to make it safe for bikers and cars.

A spy a driveway entrance just behind the truck.

Thank you for reporting your concern to City of Cambridge via Commonwealth Connect. We have reviewed the information you provided our staff and will be investigating this issue further.

In the future, if you see this type of activity, we encourage you to call the Cambridge Police non-emergency number at 617-349-3300 and an available, nearby officer will be dispatched to the location. Tell us how we're doing by completing a short survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/CambServiceRequests