BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter/fspielman@suntimes.com September 13, 2011 10:24PM
Chicago’s burgeoning band of bicyclists would have to abide by the same rules of the road as motorists — no talking on hand-held cell phones or texting while riding — under a crackdown proposed by an influential alderman.
Ald. Marge Laurino (39th), chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety, called it a “common-sense ordinance” that’s needed to protect pedestrians and level the playing field between motorists and bike riders.
“It really is about distracted drivers — no matter what you’re driving. I’m looking to make the streets safer for everyone: motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians,” Laurino said.