seely

While my relatives were visiting for Thanksgiving, my uncle told me that a law is being/has been passed in Chicago that all cyclists must have a valid drivers license. I find this absolutely unbelievable to the point where I told him he must have misunderstood the law. I mean, what about all the DUIcycles, homeless people, messengers, etc? Are we trying to completely immobilize poor people and penalize cyclists? Do you guys need proof of insurance and a valid IL registration on your bike at all times too? Sorry if this was brought up before, but it came as news to me.

Nubie

I have not heard of this law, but that certainly doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. When you register your bike with the City, though, I don't believe that it requires a driver's license number. It doesn't seem possible - what about all the kids with bikes? Can they not be registered just because they're too young to drive? Doesn't make sense.

chipcom 

So whaddya gonna do, have to take your 5yr old to get a learner's permit?

slvoid

No deal. Your 5 year old can not bike until the age of 16 at which time he or she can apply for a permit.

Bekologist

Sorry. Kid's got to reach the age of consent, there's no biking under 18 because kids can't get sued!

Bikepacker67

I smell urban myth.

Google news has NOTHING on this.

I-Like-To-Bike

I heard from a witch doctor that a DL is only required if the cyclist has too many blinkies.

DynamicD74

Maybe it's the same in every state, and I've just never known about it, but when we moved to North Carolina, there was a guy in front of me in line at the DMV, and he wanted to get a motorcycle license. He was moving from another state where he already had a motorcycle license, so he was going to apply for one by endorsement. He was informed that he has to have a car driver's license before he can get a motorcycle driver's license. He told them he doesn't own a car, nor does he drive one or have an automobile license, so he was told that he would have to take the written test (NC requires all drivers do this, even if you already have a DL from another state.) and do the driving skills test to get his automobile license, so he could take the written test for the motorcycle license! He wasn't happy. Anyway, I wonder if this is what it's coming to in Chicago?

chipcom 

Ohio is the same, you have to get a motorcycle endorsment on your regular drivers license, but I can't for the life of me imagine any state doing this for bicycles - even politicians can't be that stupid.

chipcom 

Witch doctor was that?

N_C

Could it be that under the law a person has to have some sort of state issued photo ID on them, even while riding bike? Motor vehicle or not?

seely

My Uncle upon arriving home claimed it was in the newspaper as having passed. I'm not making this up, and I don't know why he would. It sounds bizarre to me, but I have no reason not to believe him?

Chris L

Most likely the newspaper was just making it up. Wouldn't be the first time.

HereNT

In Denver, you need one to ride the bus:

https://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3253063

Welcome to ******* the 'Free.' I'm pretty sure it applies to just walking, as well...

Link from https://cycledog.blogspot.com/

Trekke

...you can't be serious! Oh yea of little faith... politicians can and have indeed been that stupiid

The Seldom Kill

Which newspaper did the article come from?

Daily Commute

Many towns have requirements that bicycles display local licenses/registrations. The rules are never enforced until some cyclist annoys a cop.

I-Like-To-Bike

Bicycle license plates are NOT driver/operator licenses; Unless you think you read/heard "somewhere" that someone might think they are the same.

I-Like-To-Bike

I do not doubt you are repeating what your uncle said to you.
I just do not place as much credence in uncle's reading ability and/or the BS detection ability of those who repeat or get worked up over tabloids headlines heard or read, "somewhere".

chipcom 

Both Chicago and Illinois bike laws can be found here:
https://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/w...eEnumValue=127
I see nothing that mentions anything about a drivers license, or even registration for that matter. A Google search finds nothing as well.

SamHouston

Your uncle is confused, though many places in the States require you walk/ride about with some verifiable form of identification i.e. state-issued.

Those laws usually apply to everyone wherever they are outside of their home, even poor people. Messengers in the States almost all carry ID, often multiple forms(DL & company ID or local messenger license), in order to access any local, state or federal courthouses or other secured facility they need to complete a task for a client. God Itself doesn't get past the Federal Marshalls at a courthouse without valid state-issued ID since OKcity

Dchiefransom

If it just passed, it might not be listed until it takes affect.

I-Like-To-Bike

If UFO's just landed in Chicago, it might not be posted yet. I've seen headlines about UFOs before. Yea, moonmen; maybe it's true, could be, prove it's not! Yes that's the ticket!

supcom

If there was a proposal to require some sort of "license" to ride a bike in Chicago (or anywhere else) there would have been a great uproar about it long before it would have been passed.

Some minor details that nobody seems to know:

Who is required to have sucha a license?
Are non-residents required to have one?
What are the requirments to get one?
How much does it cost?
How long does it last?
What is the penalty for not having one?
If you have a license to drive a motor vehicle, do you also need a cycling license?
Where do you get one?
Is there a 'road test' required? A written test?
Do people who only ride on trails need one?
Does the City of Chicago have the authority to establish a license requirement for operating any vehicles on the public roadways? This may be a state responsibility.

All of these issues would have needed to be discussed and debated long before any ordinance requiring a license to ride a bike could be implemented. The fact that there has been zero discussion here from the Chicago cycling organizations is a pretty good indication that there has been no such ordinance passed.

chipcom 

Nothing in the Chicago Tribune either - you'd think they would have had the story within 24 hours of passage.