Share the Road

Share the Road

(The following information was taken from a posting on the City of Warrenvilles’s Website)

The Warrenville Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) developed and received unanimous City Council approval for a Bikeway Implementation Plan in December 2007. The Plan is intended to provide guidance to the City Council in creating new bicycle facilities and improving existing facilities. In 2009, the Council approved an engineering study to further define the goals of the Plan. Another important goal identified by BPAC designation as a "Bicycle Friendly Community" through the acceptance of an application submitted in 2009 to the League of Illinois Bicyclists. All of these efforts continue to be refined in 2010.

While Warrenville is doing what it can to make the community bicycle-friendly and welcome cyclists to visit the City, recent public comments have demonstrated that some residents are frustrated with groups of cyclists. They have indicated that these groups take up entire lanes of traffic, block streets and keep stoplights from activating. The City has indicated a desire for  a balance between bicycle friendly and courtesy to motorists. Towards that end, letters were sent to local area bicycle clubs and retailers who host rides, asking them to remind their groups of the law and basic bicyclist etiquette.

Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) 5/11-1505.1 requires that cyclists ride no more than two abreast, and that they do not impede the normal movement of vehicular traffic. In addition, IL Law SB 80/P.A. 95-0234 provides that vehicles passing a bicyclist or pedestrians must stay at least three feet away from the bicyclist or pedestrian. Local police have the ability to enforce these laws via issuing citations which would either require a court appearance or payment of a fine. However, the Warrenville Police cannot be all places at all times. As a motorist, cyclist or pedestrian if you see anyone violating these laws, call 911 immediately. Enforcement is a cooperative effort - for the police to enforce the law, they must be made aware of a violation at the time it is committed.