Although I doubt too many folks will take issue, I am thinking that many places you would have difficulty operating a motorized push trailer mounted on a bicycle legally upon public roadways.
The laws may vary by state. The laws are actually still a bit confusing and this has caused a bit of debate here, even amongst professionals who ought to know. As an example, below I've pasted in some of the relevant definitions under Illinois Law at the bottom. They are long and the points may be difficult to decipher. The key points being:
- if the combination of the trailer and the bicycle is self propelled, then it is a motor vehicle.
-It may not be a moped or a motor driven cycle if it has more than three wheels in total touching the ground. It may be a division one passenger vehicle. (As such, I don't see any way that one would be able to legally operate such a vehicle with a two wheel motorized trailer pushing a bicycle legally on any public road in Illinois under the existing laws) (The ambiguous thing being that you can separate the trailer from the bike if I understand what you are building)
- drivers license required for any moped or motor driven cycle, license class dependent upon which type of vehicle, see the definitions below for definitions. License required for driving passenger cars as well.
- title required for any moped or motor driven cycle, as well as for passenger vehicles.
- insurance required for any motor driven cycle or moped or passenger vehicle.
- registration required for any motor driven cycle or moped upon any public road.
a disclaimer:
This is general information for Illinois, and is not intended as legal advise, also the information is not guaranteed for accuracy.
These laws are specific to where I am, in the state of Illinois in the U.S.A. Your local laws may vary of course.
Rich
Some of the related laws:
(625 ILCS 5/1‑140.10)
Sec. 1‑140.10. Low‑speed electric bicycle. The term "low‑speed electric bicycle" has the same meaning ascribed to it by Section 38 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. Sec. 2085).
(Source: P.A. 96‑125, eff. 1‑1‑10.)
(625 ILCS 5/1‑140.15)
Sec. 1‑140.15. Low‑speed gas bicycle. A 2 or 3‑wheeled device with fully operable pedals and a gasoline motor of less than one horsepower, whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 miles per hour.
(Source: P.A. 96‑125, eff. 1‑1‑10.)
(625 ILCS 5/1‑145.001) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1‑148)
Sec. 1‑145.001. Motor driven cycle. Every motorcycle and every motor scooter with less than 150 cubic centimeter piston displacement including motorized pedalcycles.
(Source: P.A. 90‑89, eff. 1‑1‑98.)
(625 ILCS 5/1‑146) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1‑146)
Sec. 1‑146. Motor vehicle. Every vehicle which is self‑propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails, except for vehicles moved solely by human power, motorized wheelchairs, low‑speed electric bicycles, and low‑speed gas bicycles. For this Act, motor vehicles are divided into two divisions:
First Division: Those motor vehicles which are designed for the carrying of not more than 10 persons.
Second Division: Those motor vehicles which are designed for carrying more than 10 persons, those motor vehicles designed or used for living quarters, those motor vehicles which are designed for pulling or carrying freight, cargo or implements of husbandry, and those motor vehicles of the First Division remodelled for use and used as motor vehicles of the Second Division.
(Source: P.A. 96‑125, eff. 1‑1‑10.)
(625 ILCS 5/1‑147) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1‑147)
Sec. 1‑147. Motorcycle.
Every motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than 3 wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor.
(Source: P.A. 80‑262.)
(625 ILCS 5/1‑148.2) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1‑148.2)
Sec. 1‑148.2. Moped. A moped is a motor‑driven cycle, with or without optional power derived from manually operated pedals, whose speed attainable in one mile is at least 20 mph but not greater than 30 mph, and is equipped with a motor that produces 2 brake horsepower or less. If an internal combustion engine is used, the displacement shall not exceed 50 cubic centimeter displacement and the power drive system shall not require the operator to shift gears.
(Source: P.A. 96‑554, eff. 1‑1‑10.)
(625 ILCS 5/1‑153.1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1‑153.1)
Sec. 1‑153.1. Off‑highway motorcycle. Any motorized device designed to travel primarily off‑highway on 2 wheels, having a seat or saddle for the use of the operator, upon or by which any person, persons or property may be transported or drawn.
(Source: P.A. 85‑830.)
(625 ILCS 5/1‑161) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1‑161)
Sec. 1‑161. Pole trailer.
Every vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by another vehicle and attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach or pole, or by being boomed or otherwise secured to the towing vehicle, and ordinarily used for transporting long or irregularly shaped loads such as poles, pipes or structural members capable, generally, of sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting connections.
(Source: P.A. 76‑1586.)
(625 ILCS 5/1‑209) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1‑209)
Sec. 1‑209. Trailer.
Every vehicle without motive power in operation, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.
(Source: P. A. 76‑1798.)
(625 ILCS 5/1‑217) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1‑217)
Sec. 1‑217. Vehicle. Every device, in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway or requiring a certificate of title under Section 3‑101(d) of this Code, except devices moved by human power, devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks and snowmobiles as defined in the Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act.
For the purposes of this Code, unless otherwise prescribed, a device shall be considered to be a vehicle until such time it either comes within the definition of a junk vehicle, as defined under this Code, or a junking certificate is issued for it.
For this Code, vehicles are divided into 2 divisions:
First Division: Those motor vehicles which are designed for the carrying of not more than 10 persons.
Second Division: Those vehicles which are designed for carrying more than 10 persons, those designed or used for living quarters and those vehicles which are designed for pulling or carrying property, freight or cargo, those motor vehicles of the First Division remodelled for use and used as motor vehicles of the Second Division, and those motor vehicles of the First Division used and registered as school buses.
(Source: P.A. 92‑812, eff. 8‑21‑02.)
(625 ILCS 5/3‑101) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3‑101)
Sec. 3‑101. Certificate of title required.
(a) Except as provided in Section 3‑102, every owner of a vehicle which is in this State and for which no certificate of title has been issued by the Secretary of State shall make application to the Secretary of State for a certificate of title of the vehicle.
(b) Every owner of a motorcycle or motor driven cycle purchased new on and after January 1, 1980 shall make application to the Secretary of State for a certificate of title. However, if such cycle is not properly manufactured or equipped for general highway use pursuant to the provisions of this Act, it shall not be eligible for license registration, but shall be issued a distinctive certificate of title except as provided in Sections 3‑102 and 3‑110 of this Act.
(c) The Secretary of State shall not register or renew the registration of a vehicle unless a certificate of title has been issued by the Secretary of State to the owner or an application therefor has been delivered by the owner to the Secretary of State.
(d) Every owner of an all‑terrain vehicle or off‑highway motorcycle purchased on or after January 1, 1998 shall make application to the Secretary of State for a certificate of title.
(e) Every owner of a low‑speed vehicle shall make application to the Secretary of State for a certificate of title.
(Source: P.A. 96‑653, eff. 1‑1‑10.)
(625 ILCS 5/3‑102) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3‑102)
Sec. 3‑102. Exclusions.
No certificate of title need be obtained for:
1. A vehicle owned by the State of Illinois; or a vehicle owned by the United States unless it is registered in this State;
2. A vehicle owned by a manufacturer or dealer and held for sale, even though incidentally moved on the highway or used for purposes of testing or demonstration, provided a dealer reassignment area is still available on the manufacturer's certificate of origin or the Illinois title; or a vehicle used by a manufacturer solely for testing;
3. A vehicle owned by a non‑resident of this State and not required by law to be registered in this State;
4. A motor vehicle regularly engaged in the interstate transportation of persons or property for which a currently effective certificate of title has been issued in another State;
5. A vehicle moved solely by animal power;
6. An implement of husbandry;
7. Special mobile equipment;
8. An apportionable trailer or an apportionable semitrailer registered in the State prior to April 1, 1998.
(Source: P.A. 91‑441, eff. 1‑1‑00.)
(625 ILCS 5/6‑104) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6‑104)
Sec. 6‑104. Classification of Driver ‑ Special Restrictions.
(a) A driver's license issued under the authority of this Act shall indicate the classification for which the applicant therefor has qualified by examination or by such other means that the Secretary of State shall prescribe. Driver's license classifications shall be prescribed by rule or regulation promulgated by the Secretary of State and such may specify classifications as to operation of motor vehicles of the first division, or of those of the second division, whether operated singly or in lawful combination, and whether for‑hire or not‑for‑hire, and may specify such other classifications as the Secretary deems necessary.
No person shall operate a motor vehicle unless such person has a valid license with a proper classification to permit the operation of such vehicle, except that any person may operate a moped if such person has a valid current Illinois driver's license, regardless of classification.
(b) No person who is under the age of 21 years or has had less than 1 year of driving experience shall drive: (1) in connection with the operation of any school, day camp, summer camp, or nursery school, any public or private motor vehicle for transporting children to or from any school, day camp, summer camp, or nursery school, or (2) any motor vehicle of the second division when in use for the transportation of persons for compensation.
(c) No person who is under the age of 18 years shall be issued a license for the purpose of transporting property for hire, or for the purpose of transporting persons for compensation in a motor vehicle of the first division.
(d) No person shall drive: (1) a school bus when transporting school children unless such person possesses a valid school bus driver permit or is accompanied and supervised, for the specific purpose of training prior to routine operation of a school bus, by a person who has held a valid school bus driver permit for at least one year; or (2) any other vehicle owned or operated by or for a public or private school, or a school operated by a religious institution, where such vehicle is being used over a regularly scheduled route for the transportation of persons enrolled as a student in grade 12 or below, in connection with any activity of the entities unless such person possesses a valid school bus driver permit.
(d‑5) No person may drive a bus that does not meet the special requirements for school buses provided in Sections 12‑801, 12‑802, 12‑803, and 12‑805 of this Code that has been chartered for the sole purpose of transporting students regularly enrolled in grade 12 or below to or from interscholastic athletic or interscholastic or school sponsored activities unless the person has a valid and properly classified commercial driver's license as provided in subsection (c‑1) of Section 6‑508 of this Code in addition to any other permit or license that is required to operate that bus. This subsection (d‑5) does not apply to any bus driver employed by a public transportation provider authorized to conduct local or interurban transportation of passengers when the bus is not traveling a specific school bus route but is on a regularly scheduled route for the transporting of other fare paying passengers.
A person may operate a chartered bus described in this subsection (d‑5) if he or she is not disqualified from driving a chartered bus of that type and if he or she holds a CDL that is:
(1) issued to him or her by any other state or
jurisdiction in accordance with 49 CFR 383;
(2) not suspended, revoked, or canceled; and
(3) valid under 49 CFR 383, subpart F, for the type
of vehicle being driven.
A person may also operate a chartered bus described in this subsection (d‑5) if he or she holds a valid CDL and a valid school bus driver permit that was issued on or before December 31, 2003.
(e) No person shall drive a religious organization bus unless such person has a valid and properly classified drivers license or a valid school bus driver permit.
(f) No person shall drive a motor vehicle for the purpose of providing transportation for the elderly in connection with the activities of any public or private organization unless such person has a valid and properly classified driver's license issued by the Secretary of State.
(g) No person shall drive a bus which meets the special requirements for school buses provided in Section 12‑801, 12‑802, 12‑803 and 12‑805 of this Code for the purpose of transporting persons 18 years of age or less in connection with any youth camp licensed under the Youth Camp Act or any child care facility licensed under the Child Care Act of 1969 unless such person possesses a valid school bus driver permit or is accompanied and supervised, for the specific purpose of training prior to routine operation of a school bus, by a person who has held a valid school bus driver permit for at least one year; however, a person who has a valid and properly classified driver's license issued by the Secretary of State may operate a school bus for the purpose of transporting persons 18 years of age or less in connection with any such youth camp or child care facility if the "SCHOOL BUS" signs are covered or concealed and the stop signal arm and flashing signal systems are not operable through normal controls.
(Source: P.A. 96‑554, eff. 1‑1‑10.)
