Quick Facts on Illinois Bicycle Law

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Chicago criminal defense lawyer

As you may have noticed, bicycle use is becoming more prevalent throughout the streets of Illinois. This means that motorists must become more mindful about sharing roadways with two-wheeled counterparts. Nonetheless, many bicyclists and motorists are unaware of what rights and obligations bicyclists have when they are sharing major roadways. Bicycle safety law intersects with several of our practice areas, including reckless driving defense and contesting motor vehicle violations. In light of this, we have summarized a few frequently asked questions about Illinois traffic law as it relates to bicyclists.

Can Bicyclists Pass Motorists? Can Motorists Pass Bicyclists?

Both bicyclists and motorists can pass one another as long as reasonable caution is used in the process. Most of the time bicyclists are required to stay as close to the right side of the road as is safe and practicable. This rule is subject to two notable exceptions: first, bicyclists may take up an entire lane on roads that are too narrow for a vehicle and car to ride on side by side.  Second, bicyclists may ride toward the center or left-hand side of the lane when they are preparing to make a left hand turn.

Can Bicyclists Ride on the Sidewalk?

A person may ride a bicycle on a sidewalk except in places where sidewalk-riding is expressly prohibited by official traffic control devices. When the cyclist rides on a sidewalk, he or she is required to yield to pedestrians and audibly signal the pedestrians if the cyclist wishes to past them.

What Rules Apply to Parking Bicycles?

Generally, a person may park a bicycle in any spot on the street that is designated for vehicles.  However, the cyclist must take care that parking the bicycle does not obscure the movement of a lawfully-parked vehicle. Additionally, people may park their cycles on the sidewalk as long as a they do not park the bicycle in a manner that obscures foot traffic and as long as local rules do not specifically prohibit such parking.

Are There Restrictions Against Riding Bicycles in Groups?

Illinois law does not expressly prohibit group bicycle riding. The law does, however, prohibit more than two cyclists riding side-by-side on a street also used by motor vehicles. Such cyclists riding side by side must take reasonable care not to impede the flow of traffic. On a laned roadway, cyclists must ride in a single lane.

At Kathryn L. Harry & Associates, P.C., we hope our readers find this information informative as a general overview of bicycle law in Illinois. More detailed information about Illinois bicycle law can be found in the Illinois Vehicle Code, Article XV.

We also hope, by keeping the law in mind, our readers can avoid legal trouble on the roads.  However, we understand that driving mistakes do happen and it is our job to make sure the full consequences of your mistakes do not follow you indefinitely.

If you or someone you know would like legal assistance in defending against a violation of the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code, we encourage you to speak with one of our experienced Naperville criminal law attorneys at 630-472-9700 to start developing your defense strategy today.