Melrose Park Bicycle Accident Lawyers

The Bike Crash Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. represent the injured, and family members of the deceased, in personal injury and wrongful death matters extending from accidents that occurred while bicycling in Melrose Park and other Cook County communities. Melrose Park is a quaint village, known for the diversity of its residents, and noted as a shining example of the ideal of the ‘American Melting Pot.’ In addition to its well-manicured home, tree-lines streets, family-like environment, and secure neighborhoods, bicycling is one of the many recreational opportunities offered to residents and visitors of Melrose Park.

In 2013, the village, in conjunction with the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) announced that Melrose Park was awarded grants through the Community Planning Program. According to a 2014 press release:

The RTA Board of Directors has approved funding to begin the Melrose Park Broadway Avenue Corridor Plan aimed at making it easier for the Melrose Park residents to access to public transportation. The study will provide recommendations to improve the Village’s primary transit corridor with the goal of creating a transit-friendly environment that includes improved transit infrastructure (shelters and sidewalks) as well as safety and beautification elements that will be incorporated into the Village’s Comprehensive Plan update. The corridor runs south on Broadway Avenue from North Avenue to St. Charles Road.

Given Melrose Park’s close proximity to downtown Chicago, as well as the existing and planned bike infrastructure in surrounding communities, the bicycle injury attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. look forward to seeing what improvements the village will make to enhance safety for vulnerable road users, whether bicyclist or pedestrian. As development efforts are ongoing, motorists are reminded to share our roadways, and cyclists are reminded to ride responsibly, in accordance with the law.

While future planning may eventually involve revisions to local bicycling regulations in Melrose Park, as of 2014, the following riding restrictions apply, as set forth in section 10.60.030 of Melrose Park Municipal Code:

• Abreast, Single File. When two or more persons in a group are operating bicycles, they shall not ride abreast, but shall ride in single file.
• Clinging to Vehicles. It is unlawful for any person operating a bicycle in the village to cling or attach himself or herself or his or her bicycle to any other moving vehicle.
• Emerging from Alleys, Driveways or Garages. The operator of a bicycle emerging from an alley, driveway or garage, shall stop the bicycle immediately prior to driving onto or across a sidewalk line, projected across an alley, and shall exercise extreme care in these cases.
• Extra Passengers. It is unlawful for a person operating a bicycle within the village to carry another person on the same bicycle. This restriction does not apply to tandem bicycles.
• Carrying Articles. No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article in any manner which interferes with or prevents the safe operation of the bicycle.
• Under Influence of Liquor or Drugs. It is unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle within the village while under the influence of liquor or drugs.
• Lights. No bicycle shall be operated within the village between thirty (30) minutes after sunset and thirty (30) minutes before sunrise, without a clear, white, properly lighted headlighted, visible under normal atmospheric conditions from the front thereof, for not less than five hundred (500) feet, and firmly attached to the bicycle, or without a red reflector firmly attached to the bicycle, which is clearly visible in the headlight beam of an automobile, for a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the rear of the bicycle.
• Place of Operation. Bicycles may be operated on sidewalks; provided that due care is, at all times, exercised by the rider. Under all circumstances, the rider shall yield to the right-of-way to pedestrians using the sidewalks.
• Parking Bicycles. Bicycles, when parked in the business district, shall be parked in zones officially designated for that purpose. Bicycles shall not, at any time, in any place, be indiscriminately parked by anyone along buildings, in such a manner as to interfere with pedestrians, or along roadways where they may interfere with traffic, or with persons getting into or out of automobiles. No person shall move, or in any manner interfere with any bicycle which is properly parked, nor shall any person interfere with, or, in any manner, hinder any person from properly parking a bicycle, except that members of the police department or fire department may move, or, in proper cases prevent the parking of a bicycle, when, in the judgment of the police officer or fire fighter, his or her action is necessary, in order to properly safeguard persons or property.
• Keeping to Right. All bicycles, when operated on roadways, shall be kept to the right and shall be operated as nearly as practicable at the right-hand edge of the roadway.
• Signalling Device. It is unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle within the village, which is not equipped with a signalling device, in good working order and audible at a distance of one hundred (100) feet when sounded.
• Speed. No bicycle shall be operated faster than is reasonable and proper, and every bicycle shall be operated with reasonable regard for the safety of the rider and of other persons and property.
• Observation of Traffic Regulations. Every person operating a bicycle within the village shall observe all traffic rules and regulations applicable to motor vehicles under this chapter, except those provisions of this chapter which by their nature have no application and except as otherwise provided by this chapter.
• Trick Riding. It is unlawful for any person operating a bicycle within the village to guide the bicycle in any manner except through the use of both hands upon the handlebars thereof, or otherwise to indulge in any kind of trick or unsafe riding.
• Turns. The operator of a bicycle on a roadway, when making a right turn, shall not suddenly start, slow down, stop or attempt to turn without first giving the standard signal required by state law for motor vehicles under the same circumstances.

In addition to riding restrictions, section 10.60.020 of Melrose Park’s Municipal Code also requires bicycle rental agencies to comply with code provisions, by maintaining lights and other safety equipment, as well as keeping bikes in good and safe working order. Rental agencies shall be responsible for the condition of the bicycles they rent. If an accident were to occur, due to an unsafe bicycle that was rented to a bicyclist in Melrose Park, that agency could be held liable for their negligent actions or omission, in addition to the issuance of fines/penalties associated with code violations.

If you or a loved one were involved in a bicycling accident, caused by the negligent, reckless, or unlawful actions of a motorist, bike-rental agency, or another person or entity, the Melrose Park Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. encourage you to take the measures necessary to ensure the protection of your legal rights. Contact us today, either by using the online form provided in the upper-left corner of this page, or by calling 773-516-4100, and allow our experienced injury team to review your matter during a FREE comprehensive consultation.