Do you have to ride bikes in the street? is it the law?

[Chezzy]

i get anxiety if i ride in the street
i like to ride on side walks, or bike paths,
what laws are for bikes in illinois?
no links please, i dont open links in y/ a/ i got a computer viris once for open a link from y/ a/
thanks to all...

 

[Democrat Pat]

I'm with you - a sidewalk guy.

Bikes in the streets get me riled up as a car driver too.

 

[digital_nomad]

it might be a local ordinance, so it depends. The rule I do know is this: if you ride in the street - motor vehicle rules apply to you - staying to the right, stop at stop signs, and even signalling turns!

You are legally required to have a white light on the front and a red light on the rear of the bike after dark too.

 

[T.J.]

It is illegal to ride on the sidewalk.

You are supposed to ride in the street or on a designated bike trail

 

[scot_heath]

here in california, it's illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk. We have bike lanes along the roads, but even without those, you can not ride on the sidewalk.

They do seem to make an exception for young children riding their bikes on the sidewalks, but other than that, you get a ticket. The law is cars and bike have to share the road, the side walks are for people walking only.

That's just california anyway, and yes we are a weird state I know LOL

 

[phillip]

Yeah. But no one enforces it and everyone does it. If a cop saw you biking on a sidewalk he'd do nothing.

 

[Sonja]

IF A BIKE IS 20" OR LARGER YOU MUST RIDE IN THE STREETS BUT MOST OFFICERS DO NOT TICKET FOR IT DEPENDING ON WHAT CITY YOU LIVE IN OR NEIGHBORHOOD.

 

[tonalc2]

It's not state law, it would be a city ordinance. And according to the card on the cited page, some places in Illinois allow it.