Arlington Heights Bicycle Laws

I'll be giving a presentation and answering questions about bicycling and the law at the upcoming Arlington Heights Bicycle Club meeting. The meeting will be held on May 27, 2009 at 7:30pm at 500 E. Miner Avenue (Recreation Park) in Arlington Heights. In anticipation of my presentation I thought it appropriate to examine the local law relating to the use and operation of bicycles. The Arlington Heights Village Code bicycle regulations are listed on the Village of Arlington Heights' web site- here.

As of the date of this post, there are several things one should be aware of when operating a bicycle within Arlington Heights:

1. Bicycles must have a bell or other device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of 100 feet. No sirens or whistles. Article V, Section 18-501
2. No bicycles on sidewalks downtown. Article V, Section 18-503
3. No riding two abreast- only single file riding is allowed. Article V, Section 18-504(a)
4. No riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Article V, Section 18-504(c)

Specific provisions as of the date of this post are excerpted below.

Article V: Bicycles

Section 18-501 Bicycle Equipment. No person shall operate a bicycle not 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.

Section 18-502 Rental Agencies. Bicycles offered for rent by a rental agency shall be equipped by such agency with the lights and other safety equipment required by this Article, and shall be kept in good and safe working order. Rental agencies shall comply with all the provisions of this Article and shall be responsible for the condition of the bicycles they rent. The Police Chief shall make or cause to be made inspections from time to time to insure compliance with the provisions of this Article. (Ord. #07-039)

Section 18-503 Operation of Bicycles on Certain Sidewalks Prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle on any sidewalk in the Downtown District which is that area bounded by and including Sigwalt Street from Highland Avenue to Arlington Heights Road; Arlington Heights Road from Sigwalt Street to St. James Street; St. James Street from Arlington Heights Road to Highland Avenue; and Highland Avenue from St. James Street to Sigwalt Street.

Section 18-504 Riding Regulations.

a. When two or more persons in a group are operating bicycles, they shall not ride abreast but in single file.

b. The owner, operator of any bicycle emerging from any alley, driveway or garage shall stop immediately prior to driving onto or across a sidewalk or onto a sidewalk line projected across an alley, and shall exercise extreme care in those cases.

c. It shall be unlawful for any person under the influence of liquor or drugs to operate a bicycle in the Village.

d. Bicycles, when parked in a business district, shall be parked in zones, officially designated for that purpose. Bicycles shall not, at any time, in any place, be indiscriminately parked by anyone along buildings, in such a manner as to interfere with pedestrians or along roadways or sidewalks where they may interfere with traffic, or with persons getting into or out of automobiles. No person shall move, or in any manner interfere with any bicycle which is properly parked, nor shall any person interfere, or in any manner hinder any person from properly parking a bicycle, except that the members of the Police Department or Fire Department may move, or, in proper cases, prevent the parking of a bicycle when, in their judgment, such action is necessary in order to properly safeguard persons or property.

e. All bicycles, when operated on roadways, shall be kept to the right and shall be operated as nearly as practicable at the right hand edge of the roadway.

f. No bicycle shall be operated faster than is reasonable and proper, and each bicycle shall be operated with reasonable regard for the safety of the rider or other persons and property.

g. It shall be unlawful for any person operating a bicycle in the Village to guide the bicycle in any manner except through the use of both hands upon the handlebars thereof. It shall be unlawful to engage in any kind of trick or unsafe riding.

h. Turns in traffic shall be in accordance with the provisions relating to turns in traffic in this Chapter.

i. All bicycles shall obey all applicable traffic regulations.

My source is here. Be advised that information contained within this post is only current as of the date of this post. Municipal and village codes are subject to change.