nietsmas

got this in a BCLC email....

February 5, 2009

RE: Village of Barrington Hills Bicycle Ordinances


During the spring and summer months, large numbers of bicyclists ride throughout the Village of Barrington Hills. A 2008 Barrington Hills Police Department survey indicated that bicyclists were a major concern for members of the community. Large groups of bicyclists frequently occupy entire lanes on roadways and impede the normal flow of traffic. Complaints of bicyclists disobeying stop signs and other rules of the road were also raised in the survey. The Barrington Hills Police Department responds to a number of bicycle related complaints during the spring and summer.
In response to these issues and in the interest of public safety for all bicyclists and motorists, the Village of Barrington Hills recently adopted two new ordinances that pertain to bicycles and their safe operation on roadways. The first is the mandate of single file bicycle riding. This ordinance states that persons riding bicycles upon a Village maintained roadway are prohibited from riding side by side and shall only ride single file.
The second ordinance is negligent operation of bicycles which states that it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle upon any public roadway (Village/County/ State) in a manner which is negligent or creates a risk of bodily injury or damage to or loss of property.
These new ordinances aim to ensure that both bicyclists and motor vehicles can share the roadway in a safe and responsible manner. The Barrington Hills Police Department will be enforcing these ordinances especially during the spring and summer months as the weather gets warmer.
Any requests for additional information on these ordinances may be directed to Officer Sabas Parada at (847) 551-3006.

Psimet2001 

- they have no clue. They also will have a lot fo fun trying to enforce that.

I've ben waffling back and forth about whether or not I was going to be doing the Penny Rd ride or the ride we out from the shop. Guss my mind is made up.

I like this part:
groups of bicyclists frequently occupy entire lanes on roadways and impede the normal flow of traffic

.....since when did bicycles become different from traffic?

Wanderer

I guess the rich people don't want two wheelers in the way of their beemers and mercedes....... did you notice it didn't mention passing**********?

ken cummings

And does this ordinance try to replace state laws? There already are laws that can control bike behavior. As soon as some cyclists with enough cash decides to fight these rules they will be removed.

timmyquest

So much for going into work early on Tuesday mornings...

recursive

Do you commute 2-abreast or something?

CyLowe97

This is a non-starter for those of us off the back.

How about a resolution to re-pave Penny Road? Talk about a hazard to traffic.

cyclpsycho

+1

They ought to really like the Harper ride on Saturday mornings. That single file train will be miles long

Don't leave us PSI . . . We've got beer

nietsmas

id like to hope our penny road ride will stay on for 2009. i don't think we were the ones contributing to the nonsense mentioned above...

cyclpsycho

I agree. I think it's more Harper and BBC. Both much larger groups than us.

Wiswell

Tee hee hee...I do. I can't believe I wrote that, but I giggled at your response and couldn't help it.

Nietsmas - you should send this ordinance to Bob Mionske over at Velonews.com and see what he has to say about it.

mionskelaw@hotmail.com

iab

Nothing says you can't take the lane. Just ride single-file in the middle.

CastIron

So, unless you can afford to be a test case, it's essentially illegal to cycle in this little burg. Being on a public roadway is inherantly risky.

timmyquest

...smart ass

CastIron

I'll be out that way in April. Perhaps I'll mail my expense receipts to the council with a note explaining why not one nickel of the entire group's needs was spent there.

Wanderer

"or creates a risk of bodily injury or damage to or loss of property"

I think State law already determines what is safe - including taking the lane to prevent damage to one's self and property.

recursive

Guilty as charged. I still do not legitimately see how this would affect commuting though.

SlimAgainSoon

I wonder how you could ride a bicycle in a manner that results in loss of property?

That aside, the mass rides are a pain for drivers. Show some sympathy.

timmyquest

Tuesday night rides in Barrington Hills at 5

Work in McHenry = 9-5

Go into work early = leave early = making Ride in Barrington hills

recursive

Aha! Missed that bit.

More like dumb- than smart- for this -ass then.

timmyquest

We forgive you, we know things are a little slower in Wisconsin--in general.

droobieinop

Not meaning to hijack this, so I'll try not to.

In florida, the law is 3 ft clearance given to bikes and of course the usual other stuff. When I did group rides in the past there was no way to keep everyone single file. Like the OP said it would be miles long, but we would often bunch up in side roads. I don't know that any law enforement would be able to prevent a working paceline.

That being said, new and repaved/expanded roads are also supposed to be widened and or have bike lanes added. Can't say I've noticed much of that, with all the wider suvs out there pushing me off the road...

I digress, I hope that you guys get together and push for wider roads and bike lanes to go with more astringent laws. I don't know about you but, I'd ride a rail trail through the woods and away from cars, if it would take me where I wanted to go.

no motor?

That happened in Chicago when they tried to ban motorcycles from certain areas, in spite of that being strictly prohibited by state laws. The ban eventually failed when enough people got involved in fighting it, but it wasn't easy fighting city hall.

dannwilliams

PM me.

ColorChange

I figured this was coming ... booo.