SPRINGFIELD, Ill. • Texting while biking?

Apparently it happens. But it may not be legal in Illinois for much longer.

State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, has filed legislation that would prohibit bicyclists from texting while on the road. The legislation allows bicyclists to use hands-free devices while biking, and permits texting when the bike is stopped and pulled to the side of the road.

Cassidy said she sponsored this legislation after receiving complaints from her constituents about the "prevalent problem" of texting while biking. "It's stunning for me to even contemplate," Cassidy said of the process of texting while on a bike.

"We're just doing anything we can to make transportation more accessible and safer," Cassidy said.

Cassidy said she has received support from the Active Transportation Alliance, which holds the belief that "bikes are vehicles" and should be treated as such. Ed Barsotti, director of the League of Illinois Bicyclists, agrees.

"We feel that bikes should have the same rights and rules as motorists and if motorists aren't allowed to text, neither should cyclists," Barsotti said.

Cassidy's legislation isn't the only of its kind. Chicago passed an ordinance banning the use of cell phones while biking last fall. There are also several other states filing legislation expanding their texting while driving ban to bikers as well.

Missouri currently only has a limited ban on texting while driving, which applies to minors only. There is legislation filed in Missouri to expand the ban to all drivers on the road, but no talk of including bicyclists in the legislation.

Cassidy's bill is HB3849