Many suburbs require cyclists to ride single file. Although Illinois Law allows that cyclists may ride two abreast, municipalities can pass their own restrictions regarding the operation of bicycles within their city limits. Accordingly, in Chicago, and many suburbs cyclists are required to ride single file.
The list below is not meant to be all-inclusive (there are, in fact, many other suburbs that require riders to ride single file), rather the codes excerpted below are meant to illustrate that we must be cognizant of restrictions on riding two abreast in Chicago and suburbs.
Barrington:
6-6-4: OPERATION OF BICYCLES:
D. Riding Single File: Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride other than single file except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. (1973 Code § 14-280)
Barrington Hills:
9-8-3: MANDATE OF SINGLE FILE BICYCLE RIDING:
(A) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway within the village shall only ride single file. Persons riding bicycles on a roadway are hereby prohibited from riding side by side.
Clarendon Hills:
42.4: RIDING RESTRICTIONS:
A. Abreast; Single File: When two (2) or more persons in a group are operating bicycles on a public roadway, they shall not ride abreast, but shall ride in single file.
Deerfield:
Sec. 22-122. Operation Of Bicycles:
(f) Riding In A Group: When more than two (2) persons in a group are operating bicycles on a street or roadway, they shall ride single file and it shall be unlawful for them to ride abreast of each other.
Hinsdale:
6-13-4: OPERATION OF BICYCLES:
F. Riding in a Group: Persons operating bicycles shall ride in single file. (1965 Code, sec. 14-1.08)
Hoffman Estates:
HE-11-201 Bicycles:
A. Single file riding. All persons operating a bicycle shall ride single file, in a straight line, when riding upon sidewalks and streets. When riding upon any street, such single file riding shall be as near as possible to the right hand curb, except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
Lisle:
10-6-2: RULES FOR RIDING AND OPERATING:
(A) Riding Abreast: When more than two (2) persons in a group are operating bicycles upon a roadway, they shall ride single file.