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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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9-52-060 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)
9-52-100 Parents or legal guardians responsibility.
   No parent or legal guardian of any child shall authorize or knowingly permit the child to violate any of the provisions of this chapter applicable to bicycles.
(Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634)
9-52-110 Use of communication devices while operating a bicycle.
   (a)   For purposes of this section only, the following definitions apply:
      "Communication device" means a device, including but not limited to a wireless telephone, personal digital assistant, or a portable or mobile computer, which is designed to transmit and receive electronic messages.
      "Electronic message" means a self-contained piece of digital communication that is designed or intended to be transmitted between communication devices. An "electronic message" includes, but is not limited to electronic mail, a text message, an instant message, a command or request to access an internet site, or talking or listening to another person on the telephone or other communication device.
      "Using" means composing, reading, sending or listening to an electronic message.
   (b)   Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, no person shall operate a bicycle while using a communication device.
   (c)   The provisions of this section shall not apply to a:
      (1)   law enforcement officer or other emergency responder, when on duty and acting in his official capacity;
      (2)   person using a communication device with a "hands free" device or in a voice-activated mode, which allows the person to talk into and listen to the other party without the use of hands;
      (3)   person using a communication device for the sole purpose of reporting an emergency situation and continued communication with emergency personnel during the emergency situation; or
      (4)   person using a communication device while maintaining a bicycle in a stationary position.
   (d)   Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not less than $20.00 nor more than $50.00 for the first offense, not less than $50.00 nor more than $75.00 for the second offense, and not less than $75.00 nor more than $100.00 for a third or any subsequent offense.
   (e)   In addition to any fine provided for in this section, if a violation of subsection (b) of this section occurs at the time of a traffic crash, the person operating the bicycle may be fined in an amount not to exceed $500.00.
(Added Coun. J. 10-5-11, p. 8815, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 6-5-13, p. 54983, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-17-21, p. 41319, Art. V, § 3)
9-52-120 Low-speed electric bicycles.
   (a)   Except as provided in Sections 9-36-020, 9-40-060, 9-52-020, and 9-52-040, the provisions of Title 9 of this Code that apply to bicycles shall also apply to low-speed electric bicycles.
   (b)   Low-speed electric bicycles operated in the City shall comply with equipment and manufacturing requirements adopted by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission under 16 C.F.R. 1512 and 625 ILCS 5/11-1517(b) and (c). No person shall knowingly tamper with or modify the speed capability or engagement threshold of a low-speed electric bicycle without replacing the label required under 625 ILCS 5/11-1517(c).
   (c)   A Class 2 low-speed electric bicycle shall operate so that the electric motor is disengaged or ceases to function when the brakes are applied. A Class 1 low-speed electric bicycle and a Class 3 low-speed electric bicycle shall operate so that the electric motor is disengaged when the rider stops pedaling.
   (d)   Only a person 16 years of age or older may operate a Class 3 low-speed electric bicycle.
(Added Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 99061, § 1)
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