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PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE TO FILE 15-0256
(Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee 5-19-15)
PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
Title 4 Chapter 3 Section 1 - Operation of Bicycles
BE IT ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, that Title 4 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic, Chapter 3 - Bicycles, Section 1 - Operation of Bicycles of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County Code is hereby amended as Follows:
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4-3-1: - OPERATION OF BICYCLES.
A. Bicycles shall be operated as closely to the right-hand curb or right-hand side of the path, trail or roadway as conditions will permit and not more than two (2) bicycles shall be operated abreast or side by side.
B. It shall be unlawful for the operator of any bicycle when upon the path, trail or roadway, to carry any other person upon the handlebar or frame of any such bicycle, or for any person to so ride upon any such bicycle.
B. Motorized Bicycles. Persons may not use or ride within the District any electric or electric assisted bicycle capable of exceeding a speed of 15 miles per hour. Any violation of this Section 4-3-1(B) shall be fined not less than seventy-five dollars or more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each offense. This section is not intended to prohibit any person with mobility impairment(s) from using an electronic personal assistive mobility device.
C. Bicycles shall not be operated upon any path, trail or roadway where the operation of bicycles has been prohibited or in any manner that has been prohibited by order of the Board of Commissioners or the General Superintendent and signs have been erected indicating such prohibition.
D. Helmets.
1. No person age 14 or under shall operate a bicycle nor ride upon a bicycle on Cook County Forest Preserve property, bikeway, or trail unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened protective helmet that meets the standards promulgated by either: The American National Standards Institute, the American Society for Testing, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, or the Snell Memorial Foundation, Inc., or standards subsequently established by those entities. This requirement also applies to a person who rides upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or in a trailer towed by the bicycle.
2. E A violation of Section 4-3-1(C) of this ordinance is an infraction punishable by the following: first violation will be a warning; second violation will be a fine of $10.00; and each additional violation will be a fine of $25.00. The parent or legal guardian having control or custody of an unemancipated minor age 14 or under whose conduct violates this ordinance shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor age 14 or under for the amount of the fine imposed.
3. F Fines collected for a violation of Section 4-3-1(C) of this ordinance shall be deposited in a special account of the Cook County Forest Preserve District to be used for bicycle safety education and for assisting low-income families in obtaining approved bicycle helmets for children under the age of 14 years.
4. G The Cook County Forest Preserve District shall create and implement a bicycle education safety program that at a minimum includes: outreach to schools; development and distribution of an informational brochure; placement of safety information on the District's website; appropriate signage in Forest Preserves; and four educational programs per year.
5. H The Cook County Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners has a desire to assure that all children have access to bicycle helmets regardless of their economic situations. To address this concern, the Forest Preserve District will develop a bicycle helmet rebate program in partnership with appropriate non-profit groups for qualified, low-income applicants. Proof of income, residency, and purchase must be provided. Eligibility for this program is based on Federal Poverty Guidelines.
6. To support this rebate program, the District will establish a designated account that can accept charitable donations and look for private, corporate, and organizational partners that would be willing to make financial contributions to the program. Additionally, fines collected in for violations of Section 4-3-1(C) of this ordinance can be used for the rebate program.
4-3-2: - PENALTY.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this Chapter shall be fined as provided in Section 1-4-1 of this Code.
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Effective date: This ordinance shall be in effect immediately upon adoption.
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