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Municipal Code of Chicago
MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO
TITLE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
TITLE 2 CITY GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
TITLE 3 REVENUE AND FINANCE
TITLE 4 BUSINESSES, OCCUPATIONS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
TITLE 5 HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TITLE 6 HUMAN RIGHTS*
TITLE 7 HEALTH AND SAFETY
TITLE 8 OFFENSES AFFECTING PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND WELFARE
TITLE 9 VEHICLES, TRAFFIC AND RAIL TRANSPORTATION
CHAPTER 9-4 TRAFFIC DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 9-8 TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES AND SIGNALS
CHAPTER 9-12 TRAFFIC AND SPEED RESTRICTIONS
CHAPTER 9-16 TURNING MOVEMENTS
CHAPTER 9-20 MOVEMENT OF TRAFFIC
CHAPTER 9-24 RIGHT-OF-WAY
CHAPTER 9-28 RAILROAD AND BRIDGE CROSSINGS
CHAPTER 9-32 FUNERAL PROCESSIONS
CHAPTER 9-36 OVERTAKING VEHICLES
CHAPTER 9-40 DRIVING RULES
CHAPTER 9-44 TOWING DISABLED VEHICLES
CHAPTER 9-48 TYPES OF VEHICLES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 9-52 BICYCLES - OPERATION
CHAPTER 9-56 REPORTING OF CRASHES*
CHAPTER 9-60 PEDESTRIANS' RIGHTS AND DUTIES
CHAPTER 9-64 PARKING REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 9-68 RESTRICTED PARKING - PERMITS AND REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 9-72 SIZE AND WEIGHT LIMITS
CHAPTER 9-76 VEHICLE EQUIPMENT
CHAPTER 9-80 MISCELLANEOUS RULES
CHAPTER 9-84 TOWING UNAUTHORIZED VEHICLES
CHAPTER 9-88 DUTIES OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
CHAPTER 9-92 IMPOUNDING AND RELOCATION OF VEHICLES
CHAPTER 9-96 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 9-100 ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUDICATION OF PARKING, COMPLIANCE VIOLATIONS, AUTOMATED TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM OR AUTOMATED SPEED ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM VIOLATIONS
CHAPTER 9-101 AUTOMATED SPEED ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM
CHAPTER 9-102 AUTOMATED TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM
CHAPTER 9-103 SCOOTER SHARING*
CHAPTER 9-104 PUBLIC CHAUFFEURS*
CHAPTER 9-105 AUTOMATED STREET SWEEPER CAMERA PROGRAM
CHAPTER 9-108 SMART STREETS PILOT PROGRAM*
CHAPTER 9-110 PEDICABS
CHAPTER 9-112 TAXICABS
CHAPTER 9-114 PUBLIC PASSENGER VEHICLES OTHER THAN TAXICABS
CHAPTER 9-115 TRANSPORTATION NETWORK PROVIDERS
CHAPTER 9-116 TRAFFIC CRASH REVIEW AND ANALYSIS*
CHAPTER 9-120 BICYCLES
CHAPTER 9-124 TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND RAIL TRANSPORTATION
TITLE 10 STREETS, PUBLIC WAYS, PARKS, AIRPORTS AND HARBORS
TITLE 11 UTILITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
TITLE 12 RESERVED
TITLE 13 BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
TITLE 14 RESERVED*
TITLE 14A ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS OF THE CHICAGO CONSTRUCTION CODES*
TITLE 14B BUILDING CODE*
TITLE 14C CONVEYANCE DEVICE CODE*
TITLE 14E ELECTRICAL CODE*
TITLE 14F FIRE PREVENTION CODE*
TITLE 14G FUEL GAS CODE*
TITLE 14M MECHANICAL CODE*
TITLE 14N 2022 ENERGY TRANSFORMATION CODE*
TITLE 14P PLUMBING CODE*
TITLE 14R BUILDING REHABILITATION CODE*
TITLE 14X MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS*
TITLE 15 FIRE PREVENTION
TITLE 16 LAND USE
TITLE 17 CHICAGO ZONING ORDINANCE
TITLE 18 BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE
APPENDIX TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO (RESERVED)*
TABLES
Chicago Zoning Ordinance and Land Use Ordinance
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9-52-040 Yielding right-of-way.
   (a)   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 the sidewalk or sidewalk area and, upon entering the roadway, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on the roadway.
   (b)   Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.
   (c)   Except as otherwise provided in subsection (e) of this section, any bicyclist upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as near as practicable and safe to the right-hand side of the roadway, except in the following circumstances:
      (1)   when overtaking another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction; or
      (2)   when preparing for a left turn; or
      (3)   when reasonably necessary to avoid conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge. For purposes of this subsection, the term "substandard width lane" means a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane; or
      (4)   when approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
   (d)   Other than while riding a Class 3 low-speed electric bicycle, any bicyclist upon a roadway is permitted to pass on the right side of a slower-moving or standing vehicle or bicycle, but must exercise due care when doing so. When approaching a vehicle which has discharged passengers from its right side, a bicyclist must either yield to those pedestrians or pass on the left.
   (e)   Any person operating a bicycle upon a one-way roadway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near to the left-hand side of such roadway as practicable.
(Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 6-5-13, p. 54983, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 99061, § 1)
9-52-045 Bicycle operator's signals – Hand and arm – Manner.
   A bicyclist upon the roadway or upon any public path set aside for the use of bicycles shall give hand and arm signals in the following manner:
   1.   Left turn, left hand and arm extended horizontally;
   2.   Right turn, left hand and arm extended upward, or right hand and arm extended horizontally;
   3.   Stop or decrease speed, left or right hand and arm extended downward.
(Added Coun. J. 6-5-13, p. 54983, § 1)
9-52-050 Riding in single file required – Exceptions.
   Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall ride single file except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles or except when riding two abreast does not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic. Persons riding two abreast shall ride within a single lane subject to Section 9-52-040 of this Code.
(Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 6-5-13, p. 54983, § 1)
9-52-060 Carrying articles on bicycles.
   No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the rider from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars.
(Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634)
9-52-070 Parking.
   (a)   No person shall park a bicycle upon a street other than upon the roadway against the curb or upon the sidewalk against a rack, parking meter or sign pole to support the bicycle or against a building or at the curb in such manner as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic.
   (b)   A bicycle may be parked within a parking space designated for the parking of a low-speed electric mobility device pursuant to Section 9-52-130 if such parking space has a rack or device to support a bicycle.
(Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 7-21-04, p. 28659, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-14-21, p. 37486, § 2)
9-52-071 Abandoned bicycles.
   (a)   It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon any bicycle on any public way within the city. A bicycle shall be deemed abandoned if it: (1) is in such a state of disrepair as to be incapable of being operated in its present condition, or (2) has not been moved or used in more than seven days and bears physical indicia of having been deserted.
   (b)   Any bicycle deemed abandoned pursuant to subsection (a) of this section may have a notice affixed to it which informs the bicycle's owner that the bicycle appears to be abandoned. The commissioner of transportation or his designee is authorized to affix such notices upon bicycles. This notice shall indicate:
      (1)   a telephone number for the owner to call to inform the department of transportation that the bicycle is not abandoned; and
      (2)   the date after which the bicycle may be removed if it is not claimed by its owner.
   A bicycle shall not be deemed to be abandoned if the owner of the bicycle, within seven days of the affixing of a notice of abandonment, notifies the department of transportation that the bicycle is not abandoned.
   (c)   If a bicycle is not relocated or claimed by its owner within seven days of the affixing of a notice of abandonment, that bicycle may be removed and disposed of by the commissioner of transportation or his designee.
(Added Coun. J. 7-21-04, p. 28659, § 1)
9-52-080 Headlamps, reflectors and brakes.
   (a)   Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a head lamp which shall emit a white light visible from a minimum distance of 500 feet from the front and with a rear red reflector capable of reflecting the head lamp beams of an approaching motor vehicle back to the operator of such vehicle at distances up to 200 feet or a rear lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of at least 200 feet from the rear.
   (b)   Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake that will enable the operator to make the braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
(Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634)
9-52-090 Riding regulations.
   (a)   A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.
   (b)   No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.
(Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634)
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