A DPW parking enforcement van blocking a bike lane on September 7 on E Street NW. (Photo by Mark Wilkins)

The D.C. Department of Public Works will send out some of its officers on bikes to “better understand the issues District cyclists face, and address these issues in real time,” DPW Director Chris Shorter says.

This comes after Shorter sent a memo to his staff this summer acknowledging photos shared by residents of DPW vehicles idling or parked in bike lanes. “This is unacceptable for any reason, at any time, by any employee,” Shorter wrote.

As of Friday, though, at least one DPW employee wasn’t heeding the directive.

Area resident and celebrity photographer Mark Wilkins spotted a parking enforcement van on E Street NW between 4th and 5th streets on Friday morning that looked like it needed some enforcement of its own. It was double-parked and blocking the bike lane.

I KNOW FOR FACT @DCDPW if I double parked like this to run into @McDonalds .. I would have been ticketed and towed.. @babesandballers @MayorBowser @tkradio @danasdirt #BlockingTheBikeLane pic.twitter.com/pwwwrE427s

— Marky Mark (@DCCelebrity) September 7, 2018

Enforcement of bike lanes has long been a priority for cycling advocates in D.C. The clamor grew louder after the deaths of two bicyclists this summer. One of them, Jeffrey Hammond Long, was hit while riding in a protected bike lane on M Street NW by a truck making a right-hand turn.

When the D.C. Department of Transportation installed that bike lane, the agency said it was “designed to give bicyclists more protection from cars than a typical bike lane, and to prevent delivery vehicles from illegally parking in the bike lane.”

Following the fatal crash, DDOT has made changes to the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue, M Street, and 21st Street NW, including removing parking spots that hindered visibility. But within hours, drivers were using those spots again.

Shorter mentioned Long’s death in his memo to staff over the summer. “Tragically, a District resident lost his life earlier this month while riding in a bike lane,” he wrote. “As you know, the safety of our employees and the residents we serve is always our top priority, which is why this issue is so important.”

Cycling advocates have asked DPW to boost its enforcement of parking laws to protect bikers.

For its part, DPW responded to Wilkins’ tweet by inquiring about the tag number of the van in question.

Shorter told DCist via email that, “Later this month, I am pleased to share that 15 of our parking enforcement officers will begin riding bicycles during their shifts throughout the District (weather permitting). This will allow them to better understand the issues District cyclists face, and address these issues in real time.”