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University Police

Bicycle Safety

  • Wear a helmet.
  • Check that brakes, lights, reflectors, horns/bells, and other devices are working before setting out.
  • Obey all traffic laws, signs, and signals.
  • Ride distration free: put mobile devices away and keep music at a volume low enough to hear cars and pedestrians. (Headphones are discouraged)
  • Keep to the right side of the road close to the curb ans stay off sidewalks as posted. Bicycles cannot be ridden on sidewalks in Uptown Normal.
  • Learn and use the hand signals for turning and stopping.
  • Give pedestrians and vehicles the right of way.
  • Wear something reflective (even simply light-colored clothing) when riding at night.
  • Do not speed, race, or weave in and out of traffic.
  • Keep both hands on the handlebars, except when you need to signal a turn or stop.
  • Slow down at intersections.
  • Dismount and walk across dangerous intersections or streets.
  • Do not try to fit into narrow places or between two vehicles.
  • Avoid busy streets or highways. Bicycles are not allowed on most expressways, toll roads, or interstates.

Bike Safety Behavior Required by Law

  • Riding on bicycles - 625 ILCS 5/11-1503
  • A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.
  • No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped, except that an adult rider may carry a child securely attached to his person in a back pack or sling.
  • Clinging to vehicles - 625 ILCS 5/11-1504
No person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled or toy vehicle shall attach the same or himself to any vehicle upon a roadway.
  • Riding bicycles upon roadway - 625 ILCS 5/11-1505.1
  • Every bicycle, when in use at nighttime, shall be equipped with a lamp on the front, which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear, of a type approved by the Department, which shall be visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.
  • A bicycle shall not be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a bicycle any siren.
  • Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will adequately control movement of and stop and hold such bicycle.
  • Carrying articles - 625 ILCS 5/11-1506
No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the use of both hands in the control and operation of the bicycle. A person operating a bicycle shall keep at least one hand on the handlebars at all times.
  • Lamps and other equipment on bicycles - 625 ILCS 5/11-1507
  • Every bicycle, when in use at nighttime, shall be equipped with a lamp on the front, which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear, of a type approved by the Department, which shall be visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.
  • A bicycle shall not be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a bicycle any siren.
  • Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will adequately control movement of and stop and hold such bicycle.
  • Inspecting bicycles - 625 ILCS 5/11-1509
A uniformed police officer may at any time upon reasonable cause to believe that a bicycle is unsafe or not equipped as required by law, or that its equipment is not in proper adjustment or repair, require the person riding the bicycle to stop and submit the bicycle to an inspection and such test with reference thereto as may be appropriate.

Protecting Your Bicycle from Theft

ISUPD encourages you to register your bike with Garage 529 (formerly known as the National Bike Registry). Having your bike registered is an easy and efficient way for the police to identify and return your bike if stolen.

How it works:

  1. Gather your bike and a smartphone or camera and visit Garage 529.
  2. Create a free account and record your bike's serial number and other identifying information. Your registration is immediate, transferrable, and valid for the life of the bike.
  3. In the event your bike is ever stolen, log into your Garage 529 account to print off an information sheet. Bring that with you when you come to our department (or Normal or Bloomington's if bike is stolen from off-campus) to report the theft. You can also notify other Garage 529 users to be on the lookout for the stolen bike.

Tamper-proof stickers noting your Garage 529 registration are available for purchase at local bike shops or for free from University Police by emailing isupolice@Illinoisstate.edu or messaging us on social media. Please note that we have a limited number of free stickers available each year.