Scorpion Helmets

Planet Bike Blinky “3″ 3-Led Rear Bicycle Light

• Planet Bike Blinky Bicycle Light with included batteries, seatpost, and seatstay mounts
• Three super-bright red eXtreme LEDs and a built-in parabolic reflector provide visibility for up to one mile
• Flashing and steady modes with up to 200 hours of run time on two AAA batteries
• Ultra-compact case is weatherproof, lightweight, and durable
• Easy to mount: clips to seat post, rear side strut, or your clothing

Planet Bike BRT-3 Taillights includes batteries, seatpost and seatstay mounts. Features: Brighter LED’s. Over 100 hours run time. Soft-touch flash/constant/off switch. Includes batteries, seatpost and seatstay mountsThe Planet Bike Blinky “3″ 3-Led Rear Bicycle Light provides 300 percent brighter eXtreme LEDs to ensure that you will be seen by cars coming up from behind for as far as one mile away. Users rave about the exceptional brightness of this powerful little light as well as its long batt

List Price: $ 14.99

Price: $ 9.25

by Dana Beveridge

Chicago Bicycle Laws

Bicycles are becoming an increasingly important form of transportation and Chicago’s urban landscape now commonly includes bicyclists sharing the roads with cars and trucks.  Unfortunately, traffic accidents involving bicycles are a common cause of serious bodily injury and death.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2007, 44,000 people were injured and nearly 700 people died in bicycle traffic accidents; and 15% of bicyclists who died in traffic accidents were between 5 and 15 years old.  Fatalities resulting from bicycle traffic accident occurred most frequently in urban areas at non-intersection locations. Accident law firms in Chicago have noticed the rise in bicycle accident clients and try to advise residents on the laws involved.

Bicycle Safety

Bicyclists in Illinois are required to follow the same traffic safety laws as motorists.  In the City of Chicago, bicyclists over the age of 12 may not generally ride on a sidewalk and no one may ride on a sidewalk in a business district.  Bicyclists are required to travel in the same direction of traffic as other vehicles, travel on the right side of the faster moving traffic, and use hand signals when initiating turns.

Although cars and other vehicles are required to yield the right-of-way to bicyclists just as they would with any other vehicle, many of Illinois’ police departments recommend that bicyclists ride defensively and make eye contact with drivers rather than assuming that drivers see them.  Bicyclists should also ride predictably and in a straight, single-file line, whenever possible.

Bicyclists who ride at night are required by law to have a front headlamp which is visible from at least 500 feet away and a rear red reflector that is visible from at least 600 feet away; it is also recommended that they wear white or reflective clothing.  The State of Illinois recommends that bicycles be equipped with additional safety equipment including a clear front reflector, wheel-mounted side reflectors, and reflector pedals.

Helmets

According to the NHTSA, in 2006, nearly 70% of all fatal bicycle accidents involved head injuries.  The NHTSA reports that helmets are approximately 85% effective in reducing head injuries and deaths resulting from bicycle traffic accidents.  Bicycle helmets manufactured after March 10, 1999 must comply with the federal Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets, which was established in accordance with The Child Safety Protection Act of 1994.

The State of Illinois does not have a law requiring that bicyclists wear helmets, although some cities have limited helmet laws which most commonly require children to wear helmets.  However, many safety organizations, such as the NHTSA and Illinois’ police departments, strongly recommend wearing a helmet as an important safety precaution.

If you need legal representation in connection with a bicycle accident, contact an experienced and helpful Chicago accident lawyer.