Scolded while riding the North Shore Century several weeks ago?

While riding the North Shore Century, I came up to a red light with several other riders, and there were motor vehicles stopped at the intersection. Many of us passed the vehicles on the right, to get closer to the intersection, and as I was passing a minivan, the passenger started to talk to me. He claimed to be a cyclist, and admonished me that passing vehicles as I was doing is against the law. I didn't know what to say, except that it probably wasn't the worst or most dangerous offense in the world. To be clear, no one ran a red light or stop sign, we just passed the long line of stopped cars, and then stopped at the intersection.


So I've been thinking about it since, and I have no idea what he was talking about. I read over the Illinois bicycle rules of the road, and I couldn't find anything I thought was relevant. Was he bullshitting me, or do cyclists break the law when they pass stopped cars at an intersection?



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Permalink Reply by David Holmquist on November 1, 2012 at 9:34am

Yup ... I do the same thing (when the temptation proves too great).

Will V. said:

I watch for turn signals or other indications of an impending right turn; but also, if traffic starts moving before I get to the front of the intersection, I often take the lane behind the car in front of me, until traffic is moving fast enough to safely pass me. (Edit: Usually, that is, until after we've cleared the intersection.)

David Holmquist said:

Passing in these situations can put you in a situation to be right-hooked.

But I'm not clear on the legality of the move.

Permalink Reply by David Holmquist on November 1, 2012 at 9:38am

Ah ... I get it now.  Thanks, your ... uhh, Lisa.

Lisa Curcio said:

I don't think they are contradictory.  (b) applies to 2-wheeled vehicles.  (c) applies to any vehicle.  Most cars could not safely pass with only eight feet of pavement available, at least before we got Smart cars, Minis and Fiat 500s!

The Illinois Vehicle Code does not define "2-wheeled vehicles".  It seems to sometimes refers to bicycles in the context of vehicles.

Permalink Reply by David Holmquist on November 1, 2012 at 9:42am

Agreed, unless there's a "No Right Turn on Red," in which case, I keep to the right.

David Barish said:

[snip]

 

Also, when I am the first person at the light. I do not  stop at the far right. I sit smack dab in the middle of the lane.  I make room for a right on red. The person behind me  isn't going anywhere, he/she has a red light and cannot go straight. 

[snip]

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on November 1, 2012 at 9:46am

This is a really good question.  I always do it, and am not sure how legal it is.... 

Permalink Reply by Will on November 1, 2012 at 9:50am
I think most urban cyclists do, Julie.

Heck, it's one of the most frequently-cited benefits of cycling, we generally don't *need* to sit in traffic jams like cars do. This law seems to indicate that we do need to sit in traffic, when there's less than eight feet (EIGHT FEET!) to pass on the right.
Permalink Reply by Will on November 1, 2012 at 9:53am
I'm ashamed to admit, but one of my vehicles has four wheels and runs on petrol, and it's 72.7 inches wide, according to Wikipedia, which means it doesn't even require eight feet to pass on the right.
Permalink Reply by JeffB on November 1, 2012 at 9:58am

That makes me think that "2-wheeled vehicle" actually refers to motorcycles or mopeds in this instance, but who knows if that would hold up.  Its like when people on scooters use the right side of the lane to move ahead.

Will V. said:

...This law seems to indicate that we do need to sit in traffic, when there's less than eight feet (EIGHT FEET!) to pass on the right.
Permalink Reply by Will on November 1, 2012 at 10:00am

You mean like when they use the bike lane? I've seen motorcycles use the bike lane on Halsted. Ooh, that makes me mad.

JeffB said:

Its like when people on scooters use the right side of the lane to move ahead.

Permalink Reply by Joe Schmoe on November 1, 2012 at 10:25am

It's 100% legal.  If I can't pass cars that are stopped on the left, why can they pass me when I'm in a lane on the right?  The attitude comes from several states where "passing on the right" (by cars) is always illegal. I don't think Illinois is one of them.

Having said that, if I approach an intersection w/stopped traffic, I will look to see if the car that's first in line is turning right, and then will shift over to his left.  If I'm first at an intersection, and there isn't much room on the right (ie there's a parked car there), I'll generally take the whole lane.  This allows me to shift to the left if a car approaches and is turning right.  If there is room for me (no parked car), then I'll generally stay to the right, and either shift up almost onto the curb, and wave any right-turning traffic around me, or move out far enough ahead slightly into the intersection that I know the right-turning cars can see me. 

Permalink Reply by Justin B Newman on November 1, 2012 at 10:46am

Do sharrows only exist on roads where there's room for a car + 8 feet? I've always thought the existence of sharrows and statutes like this are themselves somewhat at odds. 

-jbn


Lisa Curcio said:

 625 ILCS 5/11-704.  When overtaking on the right is permitted


   Sec. 11-704. When overtaking on the right is permitted.
              * * * * * *

(b) The driver of a 2 wheeled vehicle may not pass upon the right of
any other vehicle proceeding in the same direction unless the unobstructed
pavement to the right of the vehicle being passed is of a width of not less than
8 feet.

(c) The driver of a vehicle may overtake and
pass another vehicle upon the right only under conditions permitting such
movement in safety. Such movement shall not be made by driving off the
roadway.

Permalink Reply by Anne on November 1, 2012 at 11:57am

YES!!!!!

Duppie said:

I find it typical that he started by saying that he was a cyclist.

Whenever someone talks to me about what I do wrong when biking they preface it by saying that they too ride a bicycle.

If he really rode a bicycle he would understand that cyclists sometimes make decisions that are not entirely legal, but either safe or done for your own safety.

It's like those Christian conservatives making a point that they too have gay and lesbian friends, right before they emphatically deny them the right to marriage equality.

Permalink Reply by Gort 12-mile Pinklegneep on November 3, 2012 at 6:49am

as I was passing a minivan, the passenger started to talk to me. He claimed to be a cyclist,

I ain't seein a bicycle, 

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