Safety Tips for Riding a Bike in Chicago

Riding a bicycle is an excellent way to get around Chicago. It helps you avoid traffic headaches, lowers your carbon footprint, and helps build strength and endurance while letting you explore the city. However, bicycling through Chicago also has risks, like inattentive or careless motorists.

There are ways you can enjoy all Chicago has to offer from two wheels while keeping yourself safe on local roadways. If you want to explore Chicago on a bicycle, strap on a helmet and follow a few essential safety tips.

Understanding Chicago bicycle laws

Illinois law treats bicyclists like motorists, meaning they have the same rights and responsibilities as other Chicago roadway users. Riders must travel in the same direction as other traffic, stop at intersections, and yield to pedestrians. They must also yield the right of way at intersections as cars do, and cyclists must obey all posted traffic signs and signals.

Bicyclists should also know additional regulations before venturing onto city roadways. First, cyclists cannot travel on limited-access highways and expressways. Riding two cyclists abreast is fine if it doesn’t impede normal and reasonable traffic movement. However, riding more than two abreast is prohibited in areas other than paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

Understanding these basic rules of the road can help keep you safe and prevent accidents, but you can take other proactive steps to protect yourself.

Chicago safety tips for bike riders

The city of Chicago recorded 1,717 bicycle accidents in one year. A deep dive into the statistics indicates that over 73 percent of Chicago bike accidents resulted in injuries or fatalities, suggesting that very few cyclists walk away from a crash unharmed.

While bicycling through Chicago offers excellent exercise and recreational activity, protecting yourself from significant injuries means knowing Chicago’s bicycle laws and taking basic safety precautions.

If they want to hit the Chicago streets, cyclists should consider the following:

• Wear a helmet: A helmet is the most crucial safety equipment. Cyclists under 16 are required by law to wear a helmet. Studies show that helmet use significantly reduces the odds of head injury and death when worn correctly. When looking for a bicycle helmet, consider the riding that you are doing and choose a helmet style suited to that style, like mountain biking, multi-use, or kids. The helmet should be snug but comfortable and include a chin or safety strap. Additionally, look for helmets certified by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, not vanity helmets, which do not meet the same rigorous safety standards.
• Check your bike: Before every ride, check your bike to ensure it is in good working order. It should have all the proper safety features, such as reflectors, working brakes, an adequately adjusted seat, stable handlebars, and other accessories. Chains should be in good condition with no visible rust.
• Dress the part: Cycling can be dangerous, especially at night. It pays to stay visible, which means wearing bright colors or safety gear with reflective material. Night riders should consider additional reflective material or headlamps. Suitable footwear is also necessary; avoid wearing flip-flops and opt for good-quality tennis shoes or specialty bicycling footwear. You should also ensure that your shoelaces are tightly tied and that loose clothing gets tucked in so nothing can get caught and pull you off your bike.
• Use appropriate hand gestures: Motorists can’t guess your next move. Always communicate with those around you by using appropriate hand gestures and signaling when you are about to turn.
• Avoid the “door zone”: Dooring accidents occur when parked drivers open their car doors into an oncoming cyclist’s path. The cyclist can hit the car’s open door, causing serious injuries. Be aware of the “door zone,” which extends four feet along the left side of a parked vehicle lane.
• Stay focused and alert: Avoid distractions while riding. Stay focused and alert, always watching your surroundings.
• Bicycling predictably: Weaving in and out of traffic, changing lanes without signaling, and failing to yield are unpredictable behaviors that can confuse other cyclists and motorists, leading to a potentially devastating accident.
• Take a class: They say you never forget once you learn to ride a bike. That may be true, but there is always room for improvement and new skills. Consider taking a bicycle safety course to brush up on the basics and learn more about how to protect yourself on local roadways. Several area organizations offer bike riding and safety courses.

Common causes of Chicago bicycle accidents

Driver error remains the number one cause of most bicycle accidents in the United States. Although accidents can occur due to inclement weather, poor visibility, and mechanical defects, it is typically an error on the part of a driver that leads to a significant collision. Some of the most common causes of Chicago bicycle accidents include:

• Distracted driving
• Drunk or impaired driving
• Speeding
• Unsafe lane changes
• Failing to yield the right of way
• Not looking for bicyclists before entering an intersection
• Dooring accidents
• Improper turns

If a careless Chicago driver hits you, immediately contact the authorities and seek medical attention for your injuries.

Do you need a Chicago bicycle accident attorney?

Sometimes, you can take all the safety precautions you can think of, and an accident can still catch you off guard. When that happens, you need the help of an experienced Chicago bicycle accident attorney. Bicycle accidents can be more challenging than other motor vehicle accidents because injuries tend to be more severe, and establishing liability can be difficult. At Gainsberg Law, our bicycle accident attorneys will stand up for your rights and pursue maximum compensation for your injuries.

Contact our Chicago office today and request a free case review with a bicycle accident lawyer to discuss the details of your situation. We’re here to outline your legal options, discuss your rights, and help you find solutions to your legal issues.