I was out garage sale hunting last weekend when I made a stop at a sale that only had parking in their driveway (which is frowned upon) or in front of their house in the bike lane.  I wasn't trying to risk getting a ticket for parking there—that's why I need to know if it's illegal to park in a bike lane for next time!

Read More: How A Rockford Cyclist's Compliment Made My Entire Day 

After pulling over in the bike lane, I thought to myself, "what if a cyclist comes through here and slams into my car?"  That's when I made the decision to forget the garage sale and find a garage sale that had public parking.

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I still don't know if it's illegal to park in a bike lane, but we're going to find out together.

Is It Illegal If You Park In A Bike Lane In Illinois?

Related: The 10 Most Bike-Friendly Towns In Illinois

After doing some research, I learned that it all depends on where you live.  What every single source told me, though?  Make sure not to stand or drive in the bike lane for everyone's safety—go figure.

Some municipalities have roadways with designated bike lanes. Even if bicyclists are not present, do not drive, park, or stand in the bike lane. Wait for bicyclists to pass before entering the lane to park. [ilsos.gov]

After getting mixed answers from different official sites, I'm going to say it's very much illegal to park in a bike lane because you're obstructing flow of bicycle traffic.  The only exception would be for emergency personnel.

In Chicago, if you park or even stand in a bike lane, you could be fined $250!  Save yourself the trouble and just don't park in the bike lane and risk paying a huge fee, or to get your car out of the impound.