[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Crystal Lake 1-19-1993 (Art. V, Ch. I, Section V, of the 1993 Code); amended in its entirety 12-16-2025 by Ord. No. 8179. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BICYCLE
Every device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels either of which is over 16 inches in diameter, and every bicycle as defined by Section 1-106 (Bicycle) of Chapter 1 (Title and Definitions) of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/1-106 and as amended from time to time).
DEPARTMENT
The Department of Transportation of the State of Illinois.
HIGH-SPEED SCOOTERS
A device with 2 or 3 wheels, handlebars, and a floorboard that can be stood upon while riding, that is:
A. 
Solely powered by an electric or gas motor and human power;
B. 
Whose maximum speed, with or without human propulsion, is greater than 10 miles per hour; or
(1) 
Whose motor exceeds 750 watts if electric; or
(2) 
Whose gas-powered motor has at least 15 cubic centimeter displacement; and
C. 
For which the State of Illinois issues certificate of title documents, registration documents, and requires a valid driver's license to operate.
LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC BICYCLE
A. 
A bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts that meets the requirements of one of the following classes:
(1) 
CLASS 1 LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC BICYCLEMeans a low-speed electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 miles per hour.
(2) 
CLASS 2 LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC BICYCLEMeans a low-speed electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 miles per hour.
(3) 
CLASS 3 LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC BICYCLEMeans a low-speed electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 28 miles per hour.
B. 
A low-speed electric bicycle is not a moped or a motor-driven cycle.
LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC SCOOTER
A device weighing less than 100 pounds, with 2 or 3 wheels, handlebars, and a floorboard that can be stood upon while riding, that is solely powered by an electric motor and human power, and whose maximum speed, with or without human propulsion, is no more than 10 miles per hour. "Low-speed electric scooter" does not include a moped or motor-driven cycle.
LOW-SPEED GAS BICYCLE
A 2-wheeled or 3-wheeled device with fully operable pedals and a gasoline motor of less than one horsepower or 15 cubic centimeter displacement that is operated at speeds of less than 20 miles per hour.
MOTOR-DRIVEN VEHICLE
A low-speed electric bicycle, low-speed electric scooter, or high-speed scooter.
PERSONAL MOBILITY DEVICE
Any self-propelled vehicle, including a three-wheeled vehicle, designed for and used by a person with disabilities, that is incapable of speed in excess of eight miles per hour on level ground.
A. 
Every bicycle and motor-driven vehicle, 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 Department 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. 
A bicycle or motor-driven vehicle shall not be equipped with, nor shall any person use upon a bicycle or motor-driven vehicle, any siren.
C. 
Every bicycle and motor-driven vehicle shall be equipped with a brake which will adequately control movement of and stop and hold such bicycle or motor-driven vehicle.
D. 
No person shall sell a new bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or low-speed gas bicycle, or pedal for use on a bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or low-speed gas bicycle that is not equipped with a reflex reflector conforming to specifications prescribed by the Department, on each pedal, visible from the front and rear of the bicycle during darkness from a distance of 200 feet.
E. 
No person shall sell or offer for sale a new bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or low-speed gas bicycle that is not equipped with side reflectors. Such reflectors shall be visible from each side of the bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or low-speed gas bicycle from a distance of 500 feet and shall be essentially colorless or red to the rear of the center of the bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or low-speed gas bicycle and essentially colorless or amber to the front of the center of the bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or low-speed gas bicycle provided. The requirements of this subsection may be met by reflective materials which shall be at least 3/16 of an 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 such bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or low-speed gas bicycle and which reflective materials may be of the same color on both the front and rear tire or rim. Such reflectors shall conform to specifications prescribed by the Department.
F. 
No person shall sell or offer for sale a new bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or low-speed gas bicycle that is not equipped with an essentially colorless front-facing reflector.
G. 
Each Class 3 low-speed electric bicycle shall be equipped with a speedometer that displays the speed the bicycle is traveling in miles per hour.
H. 
All individuals operating motor-driven vehicles must maintain the motor-driven vehicle in good working condition.
I. 
Alterations. It is unlawful for any person to use a motor-driven vehicle in the City that has been altered from its original manufactured design to change the vehicle's speed, method of propulsion, braking, or other operations, such as by removing pedals, chains, or adding a throttle.
A. 
It shall be considered a misdemeanor for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in this chapter.
B. 
The parent or guardian of any juvenile shall not authorize or knowingly permit a juvenile to violate any of the provisions of this chapter.
C. 
These regulations applicable to bicycles shall apply whenever a bicycle is operated upon any street or sidewalk or upon any public path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, subject to those exceptions stated herein.
D. 
Every person operating a bicycle or motor-driven vehicle in the City shall comply with all of the regulations set forth in Chapter 11 (Rules of the Road), Article XV (Bicycles) of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-1501 through 5/11-1518, inclusive, and as amended from time to time) and shall also be subject to the regulations of this chapter. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Chapter 175 and the provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code, the more restrictive provision shall apply as determined by the City.
A rental agency shall not rent or offer any bicycle or motor-driven vehicle for rent unless such bicycle or motor-driven vehicle is equipped with the lamps and equipment required in this chapter.
A. 
In general. Every person riding a bicycle or motor-driven vehicle upon a street or roadway shall be subject to the provisions of the traffic ordinances of this City applicable to the driver of a vehicle except as to special regulations in this chapter and except as to those provisions of the ordinances which, by their nature, can have no application.
B. 
Obedience to traffic control devices. Any person operating a bicycle or motor-driven vehicle shall obey the instructions of official traffic signals, signs and other control devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
C. 
Compliance with signage. Whenever authorized signs are erected that no right or left turn or U-turn is permitted, no person operating a bicycle or motor-driven vehicle 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. 
Riding on bicycles. A person propelling a bicycle or low-speed electric bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.
E. 
Capacity. No bicycle or motor-driven vehicle 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 of a bicycle or low-speed electric bicycle may carry a juvenile securely attached to his/her person in a backpack or sling.
F. 
Reasonable care. No person shall operate a bicycle or motor-driven vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions existing at the time and place. No person operating a motor-driven vehicle upon a public street may exceed the posted speed limit on that street.
G. 
Riding on right. Every person operating a bicycle or motor-driven vehicle on a roadway shall ride as near the righthand side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.
H. 
Emerging from alley or driveway. The operator of a bicycle or motor-driven vehicle 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.
I. 
Clinging to vehicles. No person riding upon a bicycle or motor-driven vehicle shall attach the same or himself or herself to any automobile or vehicle upon a roadway.
J. 
Riding in a group. Persons operating a bicycle or motor-driven vehicle upon a street or roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
K. 
Carrying articles. No person operating a bicycle or motor-driven vehicle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the use of both hands in control and operation of the bicycle or motor-driven vehicle. A person operating a bicycle or motor-driven vehicle shall keep at least one hand on the handlebars at all times.
L. 
Parking. No person shall park a bicycle or motor-driven vehicle upon a street other than upon the roadway against the curb or upon the sidewalk in a rack to support the bicycle or motor-driven vehicle, or against a building or at the curb, in such manner as to afford the least obstruction in pedestrian traffic.
M. 
Bicycle paths. Whenever a usable path has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use the path and not ride on the roadway.
N. 
Location restrictions.
(1) 
No person shall ride a bicycle or motor-driven vehicle on 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 or motor-driven vehicles thereon by any person, and, when such signs are in place, no person shall disobey the same.
(3) 
Whenever any person is riding a bicycle or motor-driven vehicle upon any sidewalk, or motor-driven vehicle upon any roadway, such person shall yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.
(4) 
A person may not operate a low-speed electric scooter or high-speed scooter (i) on any public street or any state highways within the City having a speed limit in excess of 35 miles per hour; (ii) on any sidewalk within the City; or (iii) where prohibited by signage; provided that a low-speed electric scooter may be driven across a public street within a designated crosswalk and may be driven upon a bicycle path.
(5) 
A person may not operate a low-speed electric bicycle upon any sidewalk within the City or where prohibited by signage. Low-speed electric bicycles may be operated upon streets and bicycle paths.
O. 
Impairment. A person may not operate a bicycle or motor driven vehicle under the influence of alcohol or any drug.
P. 
Low-speed gas bicycles. For purposes of this § 175-5, low-speed gas bicycles shall be subject to the same requirements and standards as Class 3 low-speed electric bicycles.
Q. 
High-speed scooters. A person operating a high-speed scooter must comply all applicable provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code, including, without limitation, any and all license, registration, title, and insurance requirements.
R. 
Use of roadways. Notwithstanding any provisions in the City Code authorizing the use of any types of scooters or bicycles on public streets and roadways within the City, such streets and roadways of the City are not intended to serve such scooters and bicycles.
S. 
Age restrictions.
(1) 
It is unlawful for any person under the age of 18 years to operate a low-speed or high-speed electric scooter within the corporate limits of the City.
(2) 
It is unlawful for any person under the age of 16 years to operate a Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3 electric bicycle within the corporate limits of the City.
The following are exempt from the prohibitions contained in this Chapter 175:
A. 
Any police vehicle, fire vehicle, municipal vehicle, park district vehicle, vehicle owned by another unit of state or local government, operated by an employee in the course of his or her duties;
B. 
Personal mobility devices, except that § 175-3 shall apply.