§ 18-1. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Alley means every street or way within a block set apart for public use, vehicular travel and local convenience, except footpaths.

Authorized emergency vehicle means vehicles of the fire department, police vehicles, ambulances designated or authorized by the chief of police for physicians and doctors upon calls of necessity wherein life is imperiled.

Bicycle means every vehicle and/or device propelled solely by human power, and every motorized bicycle propelled by a combination of human power and an electric helper motor capable of propelling the vehicle and/or device at a speed of not more than twenty (20) miles per hour on level ground upon which any person may ride, and any wheeled electric and/or motorized vehicle and/or device whose top speed is not greater than twenty-five (25) miles per hour, and including any similar device though equipped with any number of wheels, except for medical devices commonly known or referred to as wheelchairs, regardless of form. No person under the age of sixteen (16) may operate or ride upon a motorized bicycle.

Block means a portion of any street located between two (2) intersections next adjacent to each other.

Business district means the territory contiguous to a highway when fifty (50) percent or more of frontage thereon for a distance of three hundred (300) feet or more is occupied by buildings in use for business.

Crosswalk means:

(1)

That portion of a roadway ordinarily included within the prolongation or connection of the lateral lines of sidewalks at intersection.

(2)

Any portion of a roadway distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface.

Driver means every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.

Intersection means the area embraced with the prolongation of the lateral curbline, or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines of two (2) or more highways which join one another at an angle whether or not one (1) such highway crosses the other.

Motor vehicle means 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.

Official time standard, whenever certain hours are named herein, they shall mean eastern standard time or daylight saving time as may be in current use in the city.

Official traffic-control devices means all signs, signals, markings and devices not inconsistent with this chapter placed or erected by authority of the governing body, or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic.

Official traffic-control signal means any device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and to proceed.

Park means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading.

Pedestrian means any person afoot.

Police officer means every officer of the police department or any officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations.

Private road or driveway means every road or driveway not open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.

Public conveyance means any vehicle, other than a taxicab or railroad train, transporting for fare.

Railroad means a carrier of persons or property upon cars, other than streetcars, operated upon stationary rails.

Railroad train means a steam engine, electric or other motor, with or without cars coupled thereto, operated upon rails.

Residence district means the territory contiguous to a highway not comprising a business district when the frontage on such highway for a distance of three hundred (300) feet or more is mainly occupied by dwellings or by dwellings and buildings in use for business.

Right-of-way means the privilege of the immediate use of the roadway.

Roadway means that portion of a street improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel.

Safety zone means the area or space officially set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians and which is protected or is so marked or indicated by adequate signs as to be plainly visible at all times while set apart as a safety zone.

Standing means any stopping of a vehicle, whether occupied or not.

Stop, when required, means complete cessation of movement.

Stop or stopping, when prohibited, means any stopping or standing of a vehicle whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the direction of a police officer or traffic-control sign or signal.

Street or highway means the entire width between property lines of every way or place of whatever nature when any part thereof is open to the use of the public, as a matter of right, for purpose of vehicular traffic.

Traffic means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles and other conveyances either singly or together while using any street for purposes of travel.

Vehicle means every device, in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks; provided, for the purpose of this chapter, a bicycle or a ridden animal shall be deemed a vehicle.

(Code 1959, § 22-1; Ord. No. O-12-21, § 1, 5-29-12)

Cross reference

Definitions and rules of construction generally, § 1-2.