Are you visible while riding your bike at night?

When I ride my bike at night, sometimes I'm riding for transportation, sometimes for relaxation. I do what I can to make myself more visible with lights and reflectors to minimize the risk of close calls or crashes.

A book on bike laws gives the following caution, which is worth considering. "If you are operating your bike without a light “during darkness,” you may be cited; more importantly, in the event of an accident, riding without lights will be either per se negligence or prima facie evidence of negligence, depending on your jurisdiction."  In plain English, if you're riding at night and you get hit by a car, failure to make yourself visible by using lights and/or reflectors can make it difficult to collect an insurance settlement from the driver who hit you.

Are you familiar with laws regarding visibility? I've included some below.

Illinois law: Sec. 11-1507. Lamps and other equipment on bicycles. (a) Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the Department which shall be visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.

Illinois law also requires that new bikes be sold with reflectors "visible from each side of the bicycle from a distance of 500 feet and shall be essentially colorless or red to the rear of the center of the bicycle and essentially colorless or amber to the front of the center of the bicycle provided. The requirements of this paragraph may be met by reflective materials which shall be at least 3/16 of an inch wide on each side of each tire or rim to indicate as clearly as possible the continuous circular shape and size of the tires or rims of such bicycle and which reflective materials may be of the same color on both the front and rear tire or rim."

In other words, if your tires have reflective sidewalk striping, that can meet the requirement for side reflectors. The bike shown below has both.

Reflective sidewalls and wheel reflectors

Uniform vehicle Code Section 12-702. Headlight and taillight required at night. Every bicycle in use [during darkness] shall be equipped with a headlight on the front emitting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front, and a taillight on the rear emitting a red light visible from a distance of at least 1,000 feet to the rear.

LED headlight

Tail light

Uniform vehicle Code Section 12-703. Rear reflector required at night. Every bicycle shall be equipped with a red reflector of a type approved by the department which shall be visible for 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlights on a motor vehicle.

Rear reflector and tail light

Uniform vehicle Code Section 12-704. Side reflector or light required at night. Every bicycle when in use [during darkness] shall be equipped with reflective material of sufficient size and reflectivity to be visible from both sides for 600 feet when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle, or, in lieu of such reflective material, with a lighted lamp visible from both sides from a distance of at least 500 feet.

Uniform vehicle Code Section 12-705. Additional lights or reflectors authorized. A bicycle or its rider may be equipped with lights or reflectors in addition to those required by the foregoing sections. These lights and/or reflectors may be LED or regular, steady or flashing, as long as they comply with the requirements or limitations of the department.

Helmet mounted tail light

Reflective vest

There are many inexpensive LED light options available. Some can be mounted to your helmet. I've often heard people say "I used to have lights but somebody stole them and I couldn't afford to buy new ones." It's worth looking at lights that are easily removable so you can stash them in your bag and avoid this problem.

Reflective bands that can be worn around the ankles are a great idea for visibility. When you pedal, the movement of the reflective stripes makes you easily recognizable from side or front.

Reflective band for arm or leg

I'm glad to see more runners using lights and/or reflective items at night and in low light condtions. It's safer for them and for cyclists and pedestrians who may be sharing the same space. Please, please, if you're riding at night, get lit, get reflective, and make yourself visible to reduce your risk of getting hit. I'd rather see everyone get where they're going safely without any crashes or scary near misses.

don't be a bike ninja

Do you ride your bike at night?  If you do, or you're thinking about trying it, do you have lights?  At night, bicyclists must use a front white headlight and rear red reflector or red light.

Getting familiar with laws and safe practices is a smart way to help prevent crashes and injuries.

Under Chicago law: 9-52-080 At night, bicyclists must use a front white headlight and rear red reflector or red light.

This page is a good resource for Chicago and Illinois laws regarding biking.

Here's a good perspective on visibility at night.



Wishing you safe travels.

simple gifts

5:45 p.m., 96th & Longwood: I was walking home from the train. A speeding driver approached the intersection, barely slowing down for the 4-way stop, then hitting the gas again and flying down Longwood. About a minute later, a similarly lead footed Texas driver stopped for about one second, then stepped on the gas when I was in the crosswalk, about to step in front of his car.

Are you aware that there is a 2010 Illinois state law requiring drivers to stop and yield to pedestrians who are in the crosswalk? 

First responders: unless you are working and on your way to an urgent call, this applies to you too. We respect you more when you have respect for the most vulnerable road users.

How many 19th ward residents make unnecessary car trips to walkable destinations because they are afraid that someone will run over them or their kids if they were to walk there?  Too many.  This has a significant impact on quality of life in the ward, and it needs to change.

Take a holiday season pledge: yield to pedestrians. Better yet, slow down for a little while and walk to a neighborhood business or two. Say hi to a neighbor along the way. You may find that you enjoy it and even make a habit of it. If each of us makes more more walking trip each week instead of a car trip, the ward becomes a more pleasant place to be. It's a simple gift that we can give to our neighbors and ourselves, and it costs nothing.

Women: your body and the law

The following is information I received today about a community forum happening this Sunday 10/21 at Beverly Unitarian Church, 10244 S Longwood Drive.  The event is free and happens from 3-5 p.m.

What's behind the recent attempts to defund health care programs and how can we effectively advocate for better health care?  Millions of Americans are uninsured or underinsured.  In Illinois alone, over half a million women are uninsured.  This forum will address the crisis women are facing in health care and how it impacts men and children as well.

Laura Leon, Director of Faith Initiatives for the Illinois Campaign for Better Health Care, will discuss her organization's current programs on Women's Health and the Affordable Care Act.  The programs focus on: what's in the Affordable Care Act for women and families;  what threatens the law at the frederal and state level;  and techniques to effectively advocate for the law.

Brigid Leahy, Director of Legislative Affairs for Planned Praenhood of Illinois will present information on attempts to defund women's health programs, legislation restricting abortion access, and refusal to provide health care by religiously connected organizations or medical providiers.

Join us for this free community discussion at the Beverly Unitarian Church (The Castle) and add your voice to this important and timely discussion.  Light refreshments will be provided.

words to stop for

CDOT has started installation of new "stop for pedestrians" signs at locations around the city.  Does anyone know if we'll get any here in the 19th ward?  I'd love to see one at 97th St. & Longwood by Ridge Park, along with some enforcement.

better late than never - be a good neighbor

Over the weekend, I noticed some folks who hadn't previously cleared their sidewalk out with shovels. There are still too many sidewalks that haven't been touched.

If you haven't yet cleared yours, please do so, or get someone to help you if you're not physically able to do it. Snow removal from public sidewalks is required by law. While enforcement has been spotty, it's been almost 2 weeks since the storm and we've had more than enough time to deal with the snow.

I intend to make a few 311 calls. There are a few houses that are on frequently traveled paths to and from train stations, bus stops, parks and schools where the owners are physically or financially capable and have been around, but have chosen to clear only their driveways and perhaps a path from their front door to the curb, neglecting the sidewalks that so many of us need to walk safely out of traffic.

Making a path through the wall of snow at the curb would be helpful, too, if there isn't one now. Those walls will take the longest to melt and trap water that could otherwise run out to the street and find a drain, making it easier for pedestrians to get where they're going.

Want to leave a reminder for a homeowner or business? You can find a handy flyer here.