PORTLAND, Ore. - On Monday the city of Portland transformed Stark and Oak streets in downtown. Street painters took away a lane for car traffic and gave it to cyclists as a "bike buffer zone." 

"I ride down this street with cars normally," said one cyclist using the new lane, "so the [designated] bike lane just makes you feel safer."

In these lanes cyclists are supposed to get an entire lane to themselves - a move heralded as a safe passage for shyer big-city bike commuters. But unlike the nearby cycle-track, cars will still park along the curb.

The lanes however are so new that drivers don't seem to know where they should and shouldn't be. Our cameras caught scores of cars traveling the lanes. Some were even tailgating cyclists.

Near Portland State University, you'll see the results of more established "cycle tracks." Cars there park in the center of the road while cyclists ride one side and drivers stay on the other.

The city also opened a similar lane on Aug. 31 on Southwest Broadway for two lanes of vehicle traffic, but cars park in the third lane and the far right lane is now reserved for bicycles. Those cyclists are then shielded from moving cars by a line of parked cars.

Another "bike buffer" lane went into use in August in the Lents neighborhood on Southeast Holgate Boulevard.

With these and new car and mass transit lanes downtown, including new Max and bus lanes up and down Southwest Fifth and Sixth avenues, city planners have said the changes will only be safe if everyone on the road follows the rules.

So what rules should drivers be following in the face of these new bike-only lanes? According to regulatory sources, there are only three reasons drivers should ever be in the bike lane itself.

Those driving vehicles through downtown Portland can drive through the bike buffer lanes only if they are:

           1. Pulling out of a garage or driveway

           2. Parking in a spot along the street

           3. Turning right

City officials said the lanes are only "experimental" and will only be on streets with little traffic.

Some business owners in the area support the change saying it will bring new character to the area. Others worry it will cause more problems for delivery trucks.

Portland police said they won't be ticketing drivers on such a new program. They hope to join with the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation to educate everyone on exactly which lanes to use.

After that, the grace period will likely be over.