The Law Offices of James M. Freeman, P.C.

Apparently Barrington Hills, Illinois, has made a clear effort to crack down on cyclists. They recently passed two ordinances aimed at keeping cyclists in check. The first new ordinance requires cyclists within Barrington Hills to ride single file. Cyclists riding two abreast (or more) in Barrington Hills risk being cited with a violation of the statute, and cyclists involved in accidents while riding two abreast can expect their violation of this statute to be used against them in any civil action arising out of that accident.

The second ordinance states that it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle upon any public roadway in a manner which is negligent or creates a risk of bodily injury or damage to or loss of property. If you find yourself asking, "What does this mean?" you may rest assured you are not alone. The language of this statute is vague, and I find it hard to interpret what actions would be considered negligent. I anticipate that this statute will mostly come into play when police are looking to hand out some tickets or lay blame after an accident.