Urban Cycling's Today Is So Yesterday

Speedy, aggressive cyclists zipping along city streets on fixed gear bicycles without brakes causing consternation among pedestrians and other roadway traffic is a scene that is sooo today. Well, yes. But it is also soooo 1895. A very interesting piece appeared in yesterday's New York Times about the beginnings of the long standing conflicts that exist between urban bicyclists and virtually everyone else trying to make their way around the big city. Check it out.

Ride To The Right, Except When You Can't

Illinois bicyclists must ride along the right side of the roadway, except when they can't. Let me explain: If you are able to travel at the same speed as motorized traffic, then you may travel in the same lane. However, if you cannot the law requires that you ride "as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway." 625 ILCS 5/11-1505. But anyone with experience riding in the city knows that doing so is rarely easy. Torn-up pavement, stopped cars, debris, CTA buses, pedestrians and man-eating crocodiles often inhabit the "right-hand curb or edge of the roadway" making cycling scary and dangerous. What is the cyclist permitted to do when faced with such hazards? Section 11-1505 of the Motor Vehicle Code contains an exception. It states that you must ride to the right "except. . . When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions [like] fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicycles, motorized pedal cycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge." (emphasis added) What this means in plain language is that if an object like, say, a tree branch or a bus sits in your path on the right side of the road, you may move to your left, taking the traffic lane, in order to proceed around the object. You must then return to the right side of the road.

Bicyclists may "take the lane" when it is reasonable to do so. City streets do not exist for motorized traffic, but for all traffic. That is the law. That fact noted, I must caution that taking the lane does not mean darting into traffic, not looking before merging left. The Municipal Code of Chicago, and good sense, states, "Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near as practicable to the right-hand side of the roadway, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same same direction and at all times giving the right-of-way to other moving vehicles." 9-52-040(c) If there is a motor vehicle coming up on your left that vehicle will have the right of way and the cyclist must yield. However, the motorist owes the cyclist a duty of care as well. Chicago's Municipal Code states, "The operator of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle or individual proceeding in the same direction on a highway shall leave a safe distance, but not less than 3 feet, when passing the bicycle or individual and shall maintain that distance until safely past the overtaken bicycle or individual." 9-36-010(c) When a bicyclist moves to his or her left to go around an object along the right side of the roadway cars and trucks may not crowd or buzz the cyclist, but must give three feet of space at minimum.

Two Options For Left Turning Bicyclists In Illinois

Making a left turn on a bicycle in urban traffic can be a little scary at times. Generally, bicyclists are required to ride as far to the right as possible on the roadway. Turning left might mean crossing into a regular lane, the realm of motorized traffic. Luckily, Illinois law offers bicyclists some flexibility when it comes to turning left.

Let's use the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Armitage Avenue in Chicago to illustrate how to make a legal left:


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The view above is from northbound Milwaukee Avenue approaching its intersection with Armitage. Riding our virtual bicycles, we wish to turn left onto westbound Armitage. Under Illinois law, we have two options for doing so. Section 11-1510 of the Illinois Vehicle Code states:

(a) A person riding a bicycle or motorized pedalcycle intending to turn left shall follow a course described in Section 11-801 or in paragraph (b) of this Section. (emphasis added)

Option 1 (Sec. 11-801): If traffic permits, you may take the extreme left lane of northbound Milwaukee Avenue, in this case the designated left turn lane, and turn as a car would. The law states that, "Any person operating a bicycle . . . upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic . . . shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except . . . When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway." 625 ILCS 5/11-11-1505. (emphasis added) Pedaling along the right edge of northbound Milwaukee, you may merge into traffic to the left turn lane as you begin to approach the intersection. Section 11-801(2) states:

The driver of a vehicle [bicycle] intending to turn left at any intersection shall approach the intersection in the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in the direction of travel of such vehicle, and after entering the intersection, the left turn shall be made so as to leave the intersection in a lane lawfully available to traffic moving in such direction upon the roadway being entered. Whenever practicable the left turn shall be made in that portion of the intersection to the left of the center of the intersection.

Simple, right? You have the same rights and responsibilities as a motor vehicle when it comes to turning left. That point noted, it is sometimes just plain dangerous and frightening to merge across lanes of moving motor vehicle traffic on a bicycle. Recognizing that, Illinois law provides a second option.

Option 2 (Sec. 11-1510 b): This option does not require taking the left lane of Milwaukee Avenue at all. Instead, we would pedal our virtual bike in the right lane of Milwaukee Avenue across Armitage, assuming of course the traffic light is green in our favor. We would then position ourselves in front of Walgreens, facing westbound on Armitage. The best place would probably be to the right and a bit in front of the red minivan in the photo above. After doing so we would wait for the light controlling traffic on Armitage to change before proceeding west. Section 11-1510(b) states:

A person riding a bicycle. . . intending to turn left shall approach the turn as close as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway. After proceeding across the intersecting roadway to the far corner of the curb or intersection of the roadway edges, the bicyclist. . . shall stop, as much as practicable out of the way of traffic. After stopping the person shall yield to any traffic proceeding in either direction along the roadway such person had been using. After yielding, the bicycle. . . shall comply with any official traffic control device or police officer regulating traffic on the highway along which he intends to proceed, and the bicyclist. . . may proceed in the new direction.

Option #2 is probably the safer approach but may not be the fastest way to make a left turn. Of course, if you get into a bicycle accident you may not go anywhere quickly for quite some time. The approach you take should depend on the intersection, traffic conditions and your skill and comfort level as an urban cyclist. Remember, that just because you have the legal right to do something does not mean that you should. In a bike accident, the cyclist usually loses.

A Better Approach For Illinois Bicyclists: Our Own Private Idaho

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In Illinois, bicyclists are required to stop at all traffic control devices such as stop signs and. . . Oh, why am I bothering? You're not going to do it, are you? As sure as the sun will rise in the east, bicyclists will not come to a complete halt at stop signs and motorists will hate them for it. This tension between bicyclists and motorists is dangerous, especially for those who bike in heavily trafficked urban areas. A pissed-off person behind the wheel of a 2,000 lb rolling chunk of metal is liable to hurt someone. Perhaps if the law changed in Illinois to reflect the way real people actually ride their bicycles, some of the tension between these two groups can be lessened. If the motorist knows that the law permits a bicyclist to merely "slow and go" at stop signs and lights, maybe some of that anger will dissolve. People, after all, tend to resent seeing someone get away with something.

Presently, Illinois law states that, "Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this Code. . ." 625 ILCS 5/11-1502. Not surprisingly, the Illinois Vehicle Code requires all vehicles to stop at all traffic control devices directing him or her to do so. 625 ILCS 5/11-305. I submit, however, that this law is impractical. Bicyclists are not going to halt at stop signs for two reasons: (1) As anyone who has ridden a bike will attest, momentum is vital. A bicycle is fun because of the freedom of movement it encourages. Gliding along the pavement without doors or walls or a roof, under one's own power is what makes it so enjoyable. Constantly, starting and stopping at every sign and light in the city is just a drag. Why even bother to ride then? (2) Though Illinois law treats bicycles as "vehicles" like cars, buses and garbage trucks, bicyclists do not see themselves that way. Bicyclists see themselves as something between a pedestrian and a "vehicle". Bicycles operating in the city can at times travel nearly as fast as a car. At the same time, bikes are not nearly as heavy as other vehicles. They have a light maneuverability like a pedestrian. What sense does it make for a bike to be required to lumber about like a CTA bus?

For those of you nodding your heads in agreement I have one word for you: Idaho. Since 1982, Idaho law has been unique in what it requires of bicyclists. When approaching a stop sign bicyclists in Idaho may merely slow before proceeding through an intersection if it is safe to do so. Upon approaching a red light a bicyclist must stop, but after doing so may proceed through the intersection once it is safe to do so even if the light remains red. If the cyclist's intent is to turn right at a light controlled intersection, he or she may simply slow and go like at a stop sign. The full statute states as follows:

(1) A person operating a bicycle or human-powered vehicle approaching a stop sign shall slow down and, if required for safety, stop before entering the intersection. After slowing to a reasonable speed or stopping, the person shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another highway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time the person is moving across or within the intersection or junction of highways, except that a person after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way if required, may cautiously make a turn or proceed through the intersection without stopping.

(2) A person operating a bicycle or human-powered vehicle approaching a steady red traffic control light shall stop before entering the intersection and shall yield to all other traffic. Once the person has yielded, he may proceed through the steady red light with caution. Provided however, that a person after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way if required, may cautiously make a right-hand turn. A left-hand turn onto a one-way highway may be made on a red light after stopping and yielding to other traffic.

(3) A person riding a bicycle shall comply with the provisions of section 49-643, Idaho Code.

(4) A signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given during not less than the last one hundred (100) feet traveled by the bicycle before turning, provided that a signal by hand and arm need not be given if the hand is needed in the control or operation of the bicycle.

This statute makes good sense. It does not allow bicyclists to simply ignore traffic control devices. They must look for traffic and yield the right-of-way to vehicles in or close to the intersection. It recognizes the reality that bicyclists are hybrid travelers, not quite vehicles and not quite pedestrians. It also codifies what cyclists do anyway. By making this practice legal, everyone on the road can proceed happier. Bikers can proceed with the confidence that by exercising this slow and go approach they are complying with the law. Motorists will be put on notice that bikes may not stop at controlled intersections. Maybe bicyclists will be no longer be viewed by motorists as outlaws on city streets, thumbing their noses at laws they themselves are required to obey. Maybe changing the law will help foster mutual respect between cyclists and drivers. Fingers crossed.

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