[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). Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
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.
A.
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 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.
A bicycle shall not be equipped with nor shall any person
use upon a bicycle any siren.
C.
Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will
adequately control movement of and stop and hold such bicycle.
D.
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 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
that is not equipped with side reflectors. Such 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 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 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
that is not equipped with an essentially colorless front-facing reflector.
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 child shall not authorize
or knowingly permit a child 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 upon any public path set
aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, subject to those exceptions stated
herein.
No person who resides within this City shall ride or propel a bicycle
on any street or upon any public path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles
unless such bicycle has been licensed and a license plate is attached thereto
as provided herein.
A.
License application. Application for a bicycle license
and license plate shall be made upon a form provided by the City and shall
be made to the Chief of Police or his/her designated representative.
B.
Issuance of license.
(1)
The Police Department, upon receiving proper application
therefor is authorized to issue a bicycle license which shall be effective
as long as the bicycle is in service in the City or until transfer of ownership
of said bicycle.
(2)
The Police Department shall not issue a license for any
bicycle when it knows, or has reasonable ground to believe, that the applicant
is not the owner of or entitled to the possession of the bicycle.
(3)
The Police Department shall keep a record of the number
of each license, the date issued, the name and address of the person to whom
issued and the number on the frame of the bicycle for which said license is
issued.
C.
Attachment of license plates.
(1)
The Police Department, upon issuing a license, shall
also issue a license plate bearing the license number assigned to the bicycle
and the name of the City.
(2)
The license plates shall be firmly attached to the frame
of the bicycle for which issued in such position to be plainly visible.
(3)
No person shall remove a license plate from a bicycle
during the period of which it is issued except upon a transfer of ownership
or in the event the bicycle is dismantled and no longer operated upon any
street in the City.
A member of the Police Department shall inspect each bicycle before
licensing the same and shall refuse a license for any bicycle which he/she
determines is in unsafe mechanical condition.
Upon the sale or other transfer of a licensed bicycle, the licensee
shall remove the license plate and shall either surrender the same to the
Director of Finance or may, upon proper application, have said plate assigned
to another bicycle owned by the applicant.
A rental agency shall not rent or offer any bicycle for rent unless
the bicycle is licensed and a license plate is attached thereto as provided
herein and such bicycle is equipped with the lamps and equipment required
in this chapter.
A.
Every person riding a bicycle 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 shall obey the instructions of official traffic signals, signs and
other control devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by
a police officer.
C.
Whenever authorized signs are erected that no right or
left turn 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.
Riding on bicycles. A person propelling a bicycle shall
not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached
thereto.
E.
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/her person in a backpack
or sling.
F.
No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater
than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions existing at the time and
place.
G.
Riding on right. Every person operating a bicycle on
a roadway shall ride as near the right-hand 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
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
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 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 shall
carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the use of both hands
in control and operation of the bicycle. A person operating a bicycle shall
keep at least one hand on the handlebars at all times.
L.
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 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.
Riding on sidewalks.
(1)
No person shall ride a bicycle 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 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 upon any sidewalk
or roadway, such person shall yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians and
shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former §§ 5.142, Bicycle Safety Warden,
and 5.143, Compliance Board, which immediately followed this section, was
deleted 2-20-2007 by Ord. No. 6161.
