If you are a bike rider in Chicago and frequently use bike lanes on the street you maybe surprised to learn that it is illegal for cars to drive, stand or park in these bike lanes. I say maybe surprised because from what I observe cars drive in the bike lanes all the time in Chicago. Anyway, the law is on the books (Chicago Municipal Code 9-40-060) and reads: “The driver of a vehicle shall not drive, unless entering or exiting a legal parking space, or stand , or park the vehicle upon any on street path or lane designated by official signs or markings for the use of bicycles, or otherwise drive or place the vehicle in such a manner as to impede bicycle traffic on such path or lane. The driver of a vehicle shall not stand or park the vehicle upon any lane designated by pavement markings for the shared use of motor vehicles and bicycles, or place the vehicle in such a manner as to impede bicycle traffic on such lane.”
If you are a bike rider and have been hit by a car while riding in a bike lane and are injured, you have a cause of action for money damages against the driver. The law firm of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. has handled many bicycle injury cases and have obtained good results for our clients.