Tractor trailer caught on tape in bike lane prompts more discussion around safety

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - Bike lane safety has been a hot topic in the District lately - and bad behavior has led to a crackdown on drivers who ignore or block them.

A video obtained by FOX 5 has some bicycle enthusiasts talking. In the video - recorded by a bicyclist in Northeast - a Harris Teeter tractor trailer veers into a bike lane without warning.

The bicyclist who recorded the video suggested that the maneuver could have been disastrous for anyone riding nearby.

The District is taking bike lane safety seriously - recently it increased fines for parking in a bike lane from $65 to $150 with plans in the fall to hire additional ticket writers who will focus on bike lanes.

Last year, the District recorded 36 traffic deaths in the city - up from 31 in 2017.