Chicago Bicycle Laws
Bicycles are one of the most relaxing and pleasant ways to get around Chicago. Unfortunately, they are also one of the most vulnerable and dangerous modes of transportation. When a bicycle is hit by a car, the bicyclist often suffers severe and permanent injuries.
Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. is a Chicago personal injury law firm with extensive experience representing victims of bicycle collisions. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn how we can pursue compensation from the parties responsible for your injuries.
How an Experienced Bicycle Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you’ve been injured while riding a bicycle in Chicago, Illinois, an experienced bicycle accident lawyer can help in the following ways:
- Investigating the accident, talking to witnesses, reviewing medical records and police reports, and examining any video
- Determining who is liable for your injuries
- Calculating your losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering
- Negotiating with the insurance company for maximum compensation
- Representing you in court, if necessary
While results will vary from one case to another based on the circumstances and injuries, we have a track record of obtaining substantial verdicts and settlements in bicycle accident cases, including $2.065 million in one bike accident and $1.7 million in another. One of our clients had this to say about working with us: “Fantastic. Incredibly welcoming, professional and provided first-class service.”
Illinois Bicycle Laws to Know
Some laws affecting bicyclists in Chicago are statewide laws, while others are specific to Chicago. According to the Illinois Bicycle Rules of the Road, these are the laws all bicyclists in Illinois must follow.
Traffic Laws Cyclists Must Follow
- Bicycles must follow the same laws and rules of the road as motor vehicles, as described in the Illinois vehicle code.
- Ride your bike as close to the right-hand curb as possible.
- Ride in the same direction as vehicular traffic.
- Riding side by side is allowed, but no more than two bikes can do so unless they are on a bike path.
- No more than one person may ride the same bike unless the bike is designed to carry a passenger.
- Give parked cars at least four feet to avoid being hit by a car door opening. Take the full lane if necessary to avoid parked cars.
- Where riding on sidewalks is permitted, you must give pedestrians the right of way and notify them with an audible signal from behind before passing them.
- Obey all pedestrian signs and signals when riding on sidewalks.
Where Bicyclists Can Ride
In Chicago, you should ride as close to the right-hand side of the road as possible, except when:
- Overtaking or passing a bicycle or a vehicle proceeding in the same direction
- Getting ready to turn left
- Avoiding objects
- Avoiding lanes too narrow for bicycles to ride side by side
- When approaching a right turn
- On a one-way highway with at least two marked traffic lanes
In Illinois, bicyclists are allowed to ride on the sidewalk. However, local ordinances do not always permit this.
Turning
You must use hand and arm signals to notify motorists before turning, including the signals for a left turn, a right turn, and a stop. You may make a right turn only from the right lane. When turning left, you can turn with traffic or make a box turn by crossing the street and following traffic signals to cross the street again to the left. You must give pedestrians the right-of-way at intersections.
Equipment Requirements
If riding your bicycle at night, Illinois law requires a front lamp with a white light that can be seen from at least 500 feet away and a red rear reflector visible from 100 to 600 feet away. You may also have a rear light that can be seen from 500 feet away.
Chicago Bicycle Laws
Bicyclists in Chicago have the same rights and must follow the same traffic code as drivers. This includes:
- Obeying stop signs and official traffic control devices
- Yielding the right of way to pedestrians
- Not riding on the sidewalk
While bicyclists are allowed to ride on the sidewalk in Illinois, they are not allowed to do so in the city of Chicago unless:
- The sidewalk is a designated bicycle path
- You are using the sidewalk only to access a nearby road or bicycle path
It is specifically prohibited to ride a bicycle on the North Sheridan Road sidewalk between West Ardmore Avenue and West Sheridan Road.
Other requirements for bicyclists in Chicago include:
- Bicyclists must ride in a single file unless they are in a bike lane or are not impeding the normal flow of traffic.
- There are no bicycle helmet laws in Illinois. Bike messengers and delivery riders must wear bicycle helmets in Chicago. Otherwise, bike helmets are recommended but not required.
Bicyclists also enjoy protections under Chicago law, including:
- Restrictions on drivers turning in front of a bicyclist
- Restrictions on opening a vehicle door into an oncoming bicyclist
- Rules requiring drivers to give bicyclists at least three feet when passing
Contact Our Bike Accident Lawyers for a Free Case Review
If you’ve been hurt in a bicycle collision in Chicago, Illinois, filing a personal injury claim may provide the financial resources you need to pay medical bills and other unexpected expenses. The person who caused your injuries may be liable for your medical expenses, your lost wages and other income, and your pain and suffering.
The driver’s insurance company is responsible for paying your damages after a crash, but insurance companies are not eager to pay and try to minimize victims’ recovery. They may try to pressure you into accepting a small settlement so they can avoid a lawsuit, especially if they know you aren’t represented by a lawyer. Don’t let that happen.
Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. is a personal injury law firm serving Chicago, Illinois, since 1982. Our firm currently has over 20 lawyers and 35 staff members. Founder Patrick A. Salvi is a recipient of the Illinois Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Award for Excellence, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association’s Leonard M. Ring Lifetime Achievement Award, and many other prestigious legal awards.
If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident in Illinois, contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. today for a free case review.
