Parked Cars in Bike Lanes Near a Southwest Valley School Have Cyclists Worried

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Cyclists say parents are parking in marked bike lanes along Moule Avenue near a southwest valley school during afternoon pickup, and they say it is pushing riders out into traffic. The bike lane has signs that say no parking, but FOX5 video showed cars parked in it along nearly the entire length of the street.

The Clark County School District told FOX5 it has not received any complaints about this school in the past month. So who is right? In a way, both sides have a point. Parents say there is not much parking. Cyclists say the lane is there to keep them alive. Here is the full story and what it means for families in the southwest valley.

What Happened

FOX5 Vegas ran the story on Oct. 23, 2026, titled "Bicyclists say cars parked in bike lanes near Southwest Valley school create safety hazard," by reporter Sophia Bruinsma. The story focuses on a school off Moule Avenue in the southwest valley. FOX5 did not name the school.

Cyclist Alan Snell told FOX5 he has come across cars parked illegally inside the marked bike lanes. "They're not supposed to be in the bike lanes," he said. He also said the problem is bigger than the lane itself. "They're actually sticking out about three, four feet into the traffic lane in a very confined area," Snell said.

Snell has biked across much of the country. He told FOX5 that Las Vegas is where he has run into the most unsafe driving habits. He wants to see more action, including tickets for drivers who break the parking rules.

FOX5 also talked to a parent, Carrie Davies, who parks in the bike lane to wait for her child after school. She said she was "following suit with everybody else," and that it is "to get my kiddo from school." She said there is not much parking nearby, and that her son "comes out right from the gates right there." She also said the spot was open when she got there, and she took it "to try to get out of here early."

FOX5 reached out to CCSD. The district said it has not received any complaints at this school in the past month. CCSD said it has a traffic unit that patrols its schools during the school year, and that it is committed to safety and visibility around school zones. FOX5 also asked whether this is a problem the district is dealing with, and what the consequences are for parking in bike lanes. The district did not answer those questions.

Why Cyclists Are So Worried

A bike lane is a narrow strip. When a car parks in it, the cyclist has two choices: stop and wait, or swing out into the traffic lane to get around. Swinging out means sharing space with moving cars, often with little warning to the drivers behind. Snell's point about cars sticking three or four feet into the traffic lane makes it worse. Now the cyclist has to go out even farther.

Snell also pointed to a painful memory. He told FOX5 that one year ago, four students were killed walking and biking to and from school. One of them, a 12-year-old girl on a bicycle, had to veer around a car parked in a bike lane while riding home, and she was struck and killed by a school bus operator, according to the FOX5 report.

That is exactly the kind of moment a clear bike lane is meant to prevent. It is why cyclists react so strongly when they see a whole row of cars parked in one, right where kids ride home from school.

Why It Matters to Las Vegas Residents

This is a story almost every parent in the valley can picture. School lets out, and dozens of cars show up at the same time. The parking lot fills. The curb fills. People start looking for any open space they can find, and a long, empty bike lane looks like an easy answer.

The southwest valley feels this more than most areas. It is one of the fastest-growing parts of Clark County, with many newer neighborhoods and many families with school-age kids. More families means more cars at pickup, and the streets around some schools were not built for that many at once.

At the same time, more kids in these neighborhoods ride bikes, scooters and e-bikes to school. That is a good thing. It means fewer cars in the pickup line and more independence for kids. But it only works if the bike lanes are actually open. A lane full of parked cars turns a safe route into a risky one.

There is a fairness question, too. Davies said she was following what everyone else was doing. That is how habits like this spread. One car parks in the lane, then another, and soon it feels normal. Breaking that pattern takes either clear enforcement, a better parking plan, or parents choosing to do it differently together.

Background and History

School-zone safety has been a steady topic in the valley over the past several months. We have covered students hit near schools, new crosswalk efforts and police enforcement pushes. This story takes a different angle. It is not about speeding or crosswalks. It is about parking, and how pickup habits can create a hazard even when every car is sitting still.

Local leaders have put money toward school traffic safety. Clark County has added funding for crossing guards, which we covered in Clark County Adds Crossing Guard Funding. The Las Vegas Grand Prix also gave money to school traffic safety efforts, covered in Grand Prix Gives $100K for School Safety. Those efforts help, but they do not solve the parking crunch at a busy school during afternoon pickup.

The bigger issue is how fast the southwest valley has grown. Neighborhoods, schools, parks and shops keep getting built, and the area keeps adding new things for families, like the planned recreation center we covered in $40M Rec Center for Southwest LV. Growth brings great amenities. It also brings more cars on the same streets.

CCSD says it has a traffic unit that patrols schools during the school year. But the district also told FOX5 it had no complaints about this school in the past month. That suggests one simple truth: if nobody reports a problem, it may not get on anyone's radar.

Both Sides of the Pickup Problem

It is easy to point fingers in a story like this, but it helps to look at it from each side.

The parent's side. Pickup is stressful. Parents are often squeezing it in between work, errands and after-school activities. When the school lot is full and the curb is full, they still have to get their kids. Davies told FOX5 there is not much parking near the school and that her son comes out right by the gate. From her view, the bike lane spot is close, it is open, and it gets her and her child out faster.

The cyclist's side. For someone on a bike, the lane is not a convenience. It is protection. It is the one part of the road set aside to keep riders apart from moving cars. When it fills with parked cars, riders lose that protection right at the time of day when a lot of kids are riding home. Snell told FOX5 he wants more action and more tickets.

The school district's side. CCSD says it has a traffic unit patrolling schools and is committed to safety around school zones. It also says it has not gotten complaints about this school in the past month. Districts often respond to the problems that get reported, and this one may not have been reported through official channels.

The kids' side. This is the side that matters most. The students riding bikes are the ones who have to swerve around parked cars. They are also the youngest and least experienced people on the road. Any fix should start with what keeps them safe.

Common Questions

Where is this happening? FOX5 reported it on Moule Avenue near a school in the southwest valley. The station did not name the school.

Are the bike lanes marked? Yes. FOX5 reported that signs mark the bike lane and say no parking is allowed.

What did CCSD say? The district said it had no complaints at this school in the past month and that it has a traffic unit patrolling schools during the school year. It did not answer FOX5's questions about whether this is a wider problem or what the consequences are for parking in bike lanes.

Why do parents park there? The parent FOX5 spoke with said there is not much parking near the school and that her son comes out right by the gate.

What do cyclists want? Alan Snell told FOX5 he wants more action, including tickets for drivers who break the parking rules.

What Happens Next

For now, nothing has officially changed. CCSD did not say whether it plans any new steps at this school, and it did not explain what the consequences are for parking in a bike lane. FOX5's video and the cyclists' concerns put the issue in the public eye, which may lead to more reports and more attention from the district's traffic unit.

The next few weeks of pickup will tell the story. If the district or police step up patrols, parents may start finding other options. If not, the habit will likely keep going. Snell and other cyclists say they want to see tickets. Parents like Davies say they need somewhere to park. A real fix probably needs both sides in mind.

Schools often handle pickup problems with simple changes, like staggered pickup spots, a clearer car line, or asking parents to park a block or two away and walk. Whether this school tries any of those is up to the school and the district.

Ryan's Take

I spend a lot of time in southwest valley neighborhoods, and school pickup traffic is one of the first things families ask about. Living close to a good school is a big plus. Living on the street where every parent parks at pickup time can be a headache. When I help buyers, I tell them to drive past the home at drop-off and pickup times before they make an offer. It is the best way to see what daily life on that block really looks like.

I also think this is one of those problems neighbors can fix together. Most parents parking in that lane are not trying to put anyone in danger. They are just trying to get their kid and get home. A little planning, a short walk from a legal spot, or a carpool can open that lane back up for the kids who ride. Safe bike routes make a neighborhood better for everyone, and that shows up in how families feel about where they live.

What You Can Do

If you are a parent picking up:

• Do not park in a marked bike lane, especially where signs say no parking
• Park legally a block or two away and walk the last stretch to the gate
• Arrive a little later to skip the worst of the rush, or set up a carpool with neighbors
• Ask your school if it has a pickup plan or a car line map, and follow it

If your child rides to school:

• Ride the route together first and point out spots where cars tend to park
• Teach them to slow down, look back, and signal before moving around anything in the lane
• Make sure they wear a helmet and are easy to see

If you see a problem: Report it. CCSD told FOX5 it had no complaints about this school in the past month. If you see cars blocking bike lanes or other unsafe pickup habits at your child's school, let the school and the district know. A problem that gets reported is a problem that can get fixed.

If you are house hunting in the southwest valley:

• Drive past the home during school drop-off and pickup, not just on a quiet weekend
• Notice where parents park and whether the street turns into an overflow lot
• Look for bike lanes, sidewalks and crosswalks on the route your kids would take to school
• Ask neighbors what pickup is like on their block; they will usually tell you honestly

Small details like these rarely show up in a listing, but they shape your day every school day for years.

Talk with other parents. Bring it up at a PTA or school meeting. When parents agree to keep the lane clear, it stops being "what everyone does."

Have questions about schools, neighborhoods or pickup traffic near a home you are considering? Reach out to Ryan Rose or text/call 702-747-5921 anytime. Ryan Rose | Real Broker, LLC | 702-747-5921 | ryan@rosehomeslv.com | rosehomeslv.com

Sources

• FOX5 Vegas, "Bicyclists say cars parked in bike lanes near Southwest Valley school create safety hazard": https://www.fox5vegas.com/2026/10/24/bicyclists-say-cars-parked-bike-lanes-near-southwest-valley-school-create-safety-hazard/