CHAPTER 73:
Motorcycles and Bicycles
Section
Bicycles
73.01 Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles
73.04 Riding on roadways and bicycle paths
73.06 Lamps and other equipment on bicycles
73.07 Lamps on motorized pedalcycles
73.08 Riding on motorized pedalcycles
Motorcycles
73.21 Special equipment for persons riding motorcycles
73.22 Required equipment on motorcycles
73.23 Operating motorcycle on one wheel
BICYCLES
73.01 TRAFFIC LAWS APPLY TO PERSONS RIDING BICYCLES.
(A) Application of traffic laws. Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway shall be granted all of the rights, and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this traffic code, except as to special regulations in this traffic code, and except as to those provisions of this traffic code which by their nature can have no application. (ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 11-1502)
(B) Parents’ responsibilities. The parent of any child and the guardian of any ward shall not authorize or knowingly permit any such child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this chapter. (’81 Code, § 8.13)
Penalty, see § 70.99
73.02 RIDING ON BICYCLES.
(A) Riding position. A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.
(B) Number of persons. No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped, except that an adult rider may carry a child securely attached to his person in a back pack or sling.
(ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 11-1503)
(C) Obedience to traffic-control devices.
(1) Any person operating a bicycle shall obey the instructions of official traffic-control signals, signs and other control devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
(2) Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right or left or U turn is permitted, no person operating a bicycle shall disobey the direction of any such sign, except where such person dismounts from the bicycle to make any such turn, in which event such person shall then obey the regulations applicable to pedestrians.
(D) Speed. No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing.
(E) Emerging from alley or driveway. The operator of a bicycle emerging from an alley, driveway or building shall upon approaching a sidewalk or the sidewalk area extending across any alleyway, yield the right of way to all pedestrians approaching on said sidewalk or sidewalk area, and upon entering the roadway shall yield the right of way to all vehicles approaching on said roadway.
(F) Parking. No person shall park a bicycle upon a street other than upon the roadway against the curb or upon the sidewalk in a rack to support the bicycle or against a building or at the curb, in such manner as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic.
(G) Riding on sidewalks.
(1) No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business district.
(2) The Chief of Police is authorized to erect signs on any sidewalk or roadway prohibiting the riding of bicycles thereon by any person and when such signs are in place no person shall disobey the same.
(3) No person 15 or more years of age shall ride a bicycle upon any sidewalk in any district.
(4) Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk such person shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.
(’81 Code, § 8.13)
Penalty, see § 70.99
73.03 CLINGING TO VEHICLES.
No person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled, or toy vehicle shall attach the same or himself to any vehicle upon a roadway.
(ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 11-1504) Penalty, see § 70.99
73.04 RIDING ON ROADWAYS AND BICYCLE PATHS.
(A) Any person operating a bicycle or motorized pedalcycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as close as practicable and safe to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under the following situations:
(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle, motorized pedalcycle, or vehicle proceeding in the same direction; or
(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway; or
(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicycles, motorized pedalcycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge. For purposes of this subsection, a “substandard width lane” means a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle or motorized pedalcycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
(B) Any person operating a bicycle or motorized pedalcycle upon a one-way highway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of the roadway as practicable.
(ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 11-1505)
(C) Persons riding bicycles or motorized pedalcycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast, except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for their exclusive use. Persons riding two abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane subject to the provisions of divisions (A) and (B) above. (ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 11-1505.1)
Penalty, see § 70.99
73.05 CARRYING ARTICLES.
No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle, or article which prevents the use of both hands in the control and operation of the bicycle. A person operating a bicycle shall keep at least one hand on the handlebars at all times.
(ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 11-1506) Penalty, see § 70.99
73.06 LAMPS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT ON BICYCLES.
(A) Lamps. Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front, and with a red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the state Department of Transportation which shall be visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.
(B) Bell.
(1) No person shall operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with a bell or other device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least 100 feet, except that a bicycle shall not be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a bicycle any siren or whistle. (’81 Code, § 8.13)
(2) This division (B) does not apply to a bicycle that is a police vehicle or Fire Department vehicle.
(C) Brake. Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will adequately control movement of and stop and hold the bicycle.
(D) Reflectors.
(1) No person shall sell a new bicycle or pedal for use on a bicycle that is not equipped with a reflex reflector conforming to specifications prescribed by the state Department of Transportation, on each pedal, visible from the front and rear of the bicycle during darkness from a distance of 200 feet.
(2) No person shall sell or offer for sale a new bicycle that is not equipped with side reflectors. The reflectors shall be visible from each side of the bicycle from a distance of 500 feet, and shall be essentially colorless or red to the rear of the center of the bicycle and essentially colorless or amber to the front of the center of the bicycle. The requirements of this division may be met by reflective materials which shall be at least 3/16 inch wide on each side of each tire or rim to indicate as clearly as possible the continuous circular shape and size of the tires or rims of the bicycle, and which reflective materials may be of the same color on both the front and rear tire or rim. The reflectors shall conform to specifications prescribed by the state Department of Transportation.
(3) No person shall sell or offer for sale a new bicycle that is not equipped with an essentially colorless front-facing reflector.
(ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 11-1507) Penalty, see § 70.99
73.07 LAMPS ON MOTORIZED PEDALCYCLES.
Every motorized pedalcycle, when in use at nighttime, shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front, and with a red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the state Department of Transportation which shall be visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet to the rear when in front of lawful, low-powered beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.
(ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 11-1507.1) Penalty, see § 70.99
73.08 RIDING ON MOTORIZED PEDALCYCLES.
(A) The operator of a motorized pedalcycle shall ride only astride the permanent and regular seat attached thereto, and shall not permit two persons to ride thereon at the same time, unless the motorized pedalcycle is designed to carry two persons. Any motorized pedalcycle designed for two persons must be equipped with a passenger seat and footrests for use of a passenger.
(B) Neither the operator nor any passenger on a motorized pedalcycle shall be required to wear any special goggles, shield, helmet, or glasses.
(C) The provisions of §§ 73.01 through 73.07 shall be applicable to the operation of motorized pedalcycles, except for those provisions which by their nature can have no application to motorized pedalcycles.
(ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 11-1403.1) Penalty, see § 70.99
MOTORCYCLES
73.20 RIDING ON MOTORCYCLES.
(A) A person operating a motorcycle shall ride only upon the permanent and regular seat attached thereto, and the operator shall not carry any other person nor shall any other person ride on a motor-cycle unless the motorcycle is designed to carry more than one person, in which event a passenger may ride upon the permanent and regular seat if designed for two persons, or upon another seat firmly attached to the motorcycle at the rear or side of the operator.
(B) A person shall ride upon a motorcycle only while sitting astride the seat, facing forward, with one leg on each side of the motorcycle.
(C) No person shall operate any motorcycle with handlebars higher than the height of the shoulders of the operator when the operator is seated in the normal driving position astride that portion of the seat or saddle occupied by the operator.
(ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 11-1403) Penalty, see § 70.99
73.21 SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FOR PERSONS RIDING MOTORCYCLES.
(A) Requirement. The operator and every passenger of a motorcycle, motor driven cycle, or motorized pedalcycle and every passenger thereon shall be protected by glasses, goggles, or a transparent shield.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
GLASSES. Ordinary eye pieces such as spectacles or sunglasses worn before the eye, made of shatter-resistant material. Shatter-resistant material, as used in this section, means material so manufactured, fabricated, or created that it substantially prevents shattering or flying when struck or broken.
GOGGLES. A device worn before the eyes, the predominant function of which is protecting the eyes without obstructing peripheral vision. Goggles shall provide protection from the front and sides and may or may not form a complete seal with the face.
TRANSPARENT SHIELD. A windshield attached to the front of a motorcycle that extends above the eyes when an operator is seated in the normal, upright riding position, made of shatter-resistant material, or a shatter resistant protective face shield that covers the wearer’s eyes and face at least to a point approximately above the tip of the nose.
(ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 11-1404) Penalty, see § 70.99
73.22 REQUIRED EQUIPMENT ON MOTORCYCLES.
Any motorcycle carrying a passenger, other than in a sidecar or enclosed cab, shall be equipped with footrests for the passenger.
(ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 11-1405) Penalty, see § 70.99
73.23 OPERATING MOTORCYCLE ON ONE WHEEL.
Any person who operates a motorcycle on one wheel is guilty of reckless driving as defined in § 76.06.