Chapter 4.50
BICYCLES
Sections:
4.50.020 Retail sale information.
4.50.040 License – Application – Fee – Record.
4.50.060 License plate – Issuance – Attachment.
4.50.070 License – Bicycle inspection prerequisite.
4.50.080 License – Disposition notice – License transfer – Address change.
4.50.090 Bicycle frame, license or plate – Mutilation unlawful.
4.50.100 License or license plate loss or destruction – Destruction of bicycle.
4.50.110 Rental bicycle – License required.
4.50.120 Bicycles licensed by other city – Investigation – Impoundment – Release.
4.50.160 Emerging from alley or driveway.
4.50.180 Towing, pulling, or pushing persons or objects prohibited.
4.50.210 Obedience to traffic-control devices.
4.50.220 Violation – Penalties – Impoundment.
4.50.010 Definition.
For the purpose of this chapter, the word “bicycle” has the same meaning as that term is defined in the Vehicle Code as the same exists or may be amended hereafter. (Ord. 323, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.01; 1966 Code § 3320).
4.50.020 Retail sale information.
Each bicycle retailer shall supply to each purchaser, and the city, a record of the following information:
A. Name and address of the retailer;
B. Year, make, serial number and general description of the bicycle; and
C. Name and address of the purchaser. (Ord. 323, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.02; 1966 Code § 3221).
4.50.030 License required.
It is unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle having wheels which are at least twenty inches in diameter and with a frame size of at least fourteen inches on any street, road, highway or other public property within the city unless it has been licensed and a current license plate is attached thereto, as provided in this chapter, or unless it has been licensed by and bears a current license plate from another jurisdiction. The chief of police may issue a license and a license plate as provided in this chapter for a bicycle owned by any nonresident of the city who applies therefor, when in the opinion of the chief such action would further the objectives sought to be achieved by this chapter. (Ord. 323, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.03; 1966 Code § 3322).
4.50.040 License – Application – Fee – Record.
Except as otherwise specified herein, the chief of police is authorized to issue bicycle licenses upon application therefor and payment of the license fee fixed by resolution of the city council. The chief shall not issue a license for any bicycle when he knows, or has reasonable grounds to believe, that the applicant is not the owner of or entitled to the possession of such bicycle. The chief shall keep a record of the number of each license, the date issued, the name and address of the person to whom issued, and the serial number, make, type and model of the bicycle for which issued. (Ord. 323, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.04; 1966 Code § 3323).
4.50.050 License – Duration.
A. Each bicycle license heretofore issued shall continue in effect to and including its assigned expiration date.
B. Each bicycle license issued after the effective date of this section and prior to December 31, 1978, shall expire on December 31, 1978.
C. Commencing on January 1, 1979, each bicycle license shall be renewed, or in the case of a new bicycle a license shall be issued, for a period of three years. (Ord. 323, § 2, Amended by Ord. 329, § 1 and Ord. 350, § 5; 1976 Code § 4-10.05; 1966 Code § 3324).
4.50.060 License plate – Issuance – Attachment.
Upon issuance of a bicycle license, the chief of police shall also issue a license plate bearing the license number assigned to the bicycle and the name of the city. The chief shall cause such license plate to be firmly attached to the rear mudguard or frame of the bicycle to which issued. No person shall remove a license plate from a bicycle except on a transfer of ownership or in the event the bicycle is dismantled and no longer operated in the city. (Ord. 323, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.06; 1966 Code § 3325).
4.50.070 License – Bicycle inspection prerequisite.
The chief of police shall inspect each bicycle before licensing it and shall refuse to issue a license for any bicycle which he determines is in an unsafe mechanical condition. (Ord. 323, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.07; 1966 Code § 3326).
4.50.080 License – Disposition notice – License transfer – Address change.
A. Upon the sale or other transfer of ownership of a licensed bicycle, the licensee within ten days thereafter shall notify the chief of police of such disposition.
B. The purchaser or transferee of the bicycle within ten days of taking possession thereof shall apply for the transfer of the bicycle license to his or her name.
C. Whenever the person to whom a bicycle license has been issued changes his or her address, that person within ten days following a change of address shall notify the chief of police of both the old and new address. (Ord. 323, § 2, Amended by Ord. 350, § 6; 1976 Code § 4-10.08; 1966 Code § 3327).
4.50.090 Bicycle frame, license or plate – Mutilation unlawful.
It is unlawful for any person to wilfully or maliciously remove, destroy, mutilate or alter the number of any bicycle frame licensed pursuant to this chapter. It is also unlawful for any person to remove, destroy, mutilate or alter any license or license plate during the time in which such license or license plate is in effect. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the police department from stamping numbers on the frames of bicycles on which no serial number can be found, or on which the number is illegible or insufficient for identification purposes. (Ord. 323, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.09; 1966 Code § 3328).
4.50.100 License or license plate loss or destruction – Destruction of bicycle.
In the event of the loss, destruction or mutilation of a license or license plate, the licensee shall report this fact to the chief of police who shall thereupon cancel the license and issue a new license and license plate upon payment of the fee for this purpose fixed by resolution of the city council. If a bicycle for which a license and license plate have been issued is destroyed or damaged beyond repair, the licensee shall return the license and the license plate, if possible, to the chief of police, who shall cancel them. (Ord. 323, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.10; 1966 Code § 3329).
4.50.110 Rental bicycle – License required.
Every person engaged in the business of renting bicycles shall not rent or offer any bicycle for rent unless the bicycle is licensed and a license plate is attached thereto, and the bicycle is equipped as required in this chapter. (Ord. 323, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.11; 1966 Code § 3330).
4.50.120 Bicycles licensed by other city – Investigation – Impoundment – Release.
The police department is authorized to investigate the possession and ownership of any bicycle bearing a license issued by any other city. If there is probable cause for believing that said bicycle is a stolen bicycle, the police department may impound the same for a period of not exceeding five days. If the police department finds that it is a stolen bicycle then the department shall communicate with the appropriate enforcement officers of the city whose license the bicycle bears and advise the officers in question that the police department is holding the bicycle and will restore it to the appropriate enforcement officer of the city which has licensed it, upon the payment to the city of the reasonable costs of the impounding and storage of the bicycle. The amount of such costs shall be fixed by resolution of the city council; provided, however, that where municipalities have entered into reciprocal agreements for the storage and return of bicycles licensed by said municipalities, the fees and charges shall be those provided by such reciprocal agreement. (Ord. 323, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.12; 1966 Code § 3331).
4.50.130 Equipment.
Every bicycle operated or used in the city shall be equipped with the items of equipment specified in this section:
A. Lamps and Reflectors. Every bicycle operated or used at any time between one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, or at any other time when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible any person or vehicle on a street or highway at a distance of three hundred feet, shall be equipped with a lamp on the front of the bicycle emitting a white light visible from a distance of three hundred feet in front of the bicycle, and with a red reflector on the rear of the bicycle which shall be visible from a distance of three hundred feet to the rear when directly in front of a motor vehicle displaying the lawful upper beams of its headlights. A rear lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of three hundred feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.
B. Brakes. Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which shall enable the operator to make the braked wheel skid on a dry, level, clean pavement.
C. Stand. Every bicycle purchased must be equipped with a stand of a type approved by the chief of police. (Ord. 323, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.13; 1966 Code § 3332).
4.50.140 Riders – Seats.
The operator of a bicycle shall not carry any other person thereon, except on a seat securely fastened to the bicycle in the rear of the operator. The operator shall not ride other than upon or astride the permanent and regular seat attached to the bicycle. Each bicycle shall be operated in what in the judgment of the chief of police is a safe manner. (Ord. 323, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.14; 1966 Code § 3333).
4.50.150 Speed.
No person shall operate a bicycle on a street or highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the street or highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property. (Ord. 323, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.15; 1966 Code § 3334).
4.50.160 Emerging from alley or driveway.
The operator of a bicycle emerging from an alley, driveway, or building, upon approaching the sidewalk area extending across any alley or driveway, shall yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians approaching on the sidewalk or sidewalk area, and upon entering the roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on the roadway. (Ord. 323, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.16; 1966 Code § 3335).
4.50.170 Carrying articles.
No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle, or article in a manner which prevents the rider from keeping both hands upon the handlebars. (Ord. 323, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.17; 1966 Code § 3336).
4.50.180 Towing, pulling, or pushing persons or objects prohibited.
No person operating a bicycle shall tow or pull any person or object from the rear thereof, or push or propel any person or object in front of the bicycle. (Ord. 323, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.18; 1966 Code § 3337).
4.50.190 Group riding.
Persons operating bicycles upon a roadway shall ride in single file. (Ord. 323, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.19; 1966 Code § 3338).
4.50.200 Parking.
No person shall park, or allow to remain parked, any bicycle:
A. Upon any public street or roadway other than in such a manner that some portion of the bicycle touches the curb and so as to afford the least obstruction to vehicular traffic; or
B. Upon any public sidewalk except in a bicycle rack, or against a building, or by means of a stand to maintain the bicycle in a vertical position, or at a curb, and in such a manner as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic. (Ord. 323, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.20; 1966 Code § 3339).
4.50.210 Obedience to traffic-control devices.
Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right or left or U-turn is permitted, no person operating a bicycle shall disobey the directions of any such sign, except when such person dismounts from the bicycle to make any such turn, in which event such person shall then obey the regulations applicable to pedestrians. (Ord. 323, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.21; 1966 Code § 3340).
4.50.220 Violation – Penalties – Impoundment.
In addition to the penalties provided in Chapter 1.05 MMC, the chief of police in the event of a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, may prohibit the operation upon the streets, alleys and public places in the city for a period of not to exceed thirty days of a bicycle used in such a violation, in which event a bicycle used in such a violation shall be impounded by the chief of police and retained by him during the period of time within which its operation is prohibited. The chief shall not release any bicycle so impounded, in any event, until the license required under this chapter has been obtained. (Ord. 323, § 2 and Ord. 680, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-10.22; 1966 Code § 3341).