§ 18-102. Driving on sidewalks, streets, and parking.

(a)

No person shall drive a bicycle upon a sidewalk within the downtown business district or any other business district and/or any other sidewalk marked for pedestrians only. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any authorized police bicycle when operated in an official capacity.

(b)

When signs are erected on any sidewalk or street which prohibit the driving of bicycles thereon by any person, no person shall disobey such signs either intentionally or negligently.

(c)

However when any person is permitted to drive and/or operate a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any and all pedestrians and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrians.

(d)

Bicycles shall not be operated side-by-side on sidewalks.

(e)

Any person driving and/or operating a bicycle upon any street, alley, sidewalk, walking path, public trail, bicycle path and/or any publicly designated area within the City shall comply with any and all state and local laws applicable to drivers of any motor vehicle except as provided in this article and except as to any provisions of state law which, by their nature, can have no application to bicycles.

(f)

It shall be unlawful for any person driving and/or operating a bicycle, when upon a street, alley, sidewalk, walking path, public trail, bicycle path and/or any other publicly designated area within the City, to carry any other person(s) upon the handlebar(s), frame and/or tank of any and all such vehicles. This provision shall not apply to an adult driver carrying a child which is securely attached to his person in a backpack or approved seats and/or trailers.

(g)

It shall be unlawful for any person driving and/or operating a bicycle, when upon a street, alley, sidewalk, walking path, public trail, bicycle path and/or any other publicly designated area within the City to attach the same to any vehicle moving upon a roadway. This section does not prohibit the attachment of a bicycle to a vehicle if the bicycle is not being driven and/or operated by any person and the vehicle has been designated for such attachment solely for the purpose of carrying cargo or carrying the bicycle as cargo.

(h)

Every bicycle, while being driven and/or operated, shall be equipped with the following equipment and/or devices:

(1)

A brake or brakes, which are attached and affixed to the bicycle and/or frame, enabling any person driving and/or operating a bicycle to stop the bicycle;

(2)

A reflective device and/or mechanism, which is attached and affixed to the bicycle and/or frame, enabling any person driving and/or operating a motor vehicle to visually identify the bicycle during nighttime hours;

(3)

For bicycles being driven and/or operated during nighttime hours, a lamp and/or light, which is attached and affixed to the frame, exhibiting a white light visible for a distance of at least five hundred (500) feet to the front; and a lamp and/or light and/or reflective device on the rear of the bicycle, which is attached and affixed to the frame, exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of six hundred (600) feet to the rear; and

(4)

A bell or any other audible device, which is attached and affixed to the bicycle and/or frame, enabling any person driving and/or operating the bicycle to warn and/or alert pedestrian traffic of its location or general proximity as related to such pedestrian traffic.

(i)

Any person driving and/or operating a bicycle upon a street, highway and/or roadway, at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing, shall drive and/or operate the bicycle as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except under the following situations:

(1)

When overtaking and/or passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction;

(2)

When preparing for a left turn at an intersection and/or into a private road and/or driveway; or

(3)

When reasonably necessary to avoid any condition including, but not to be limited to, a fixed or moving object, a parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, animal, surface hazard, or a substandard-width lane. For purposes of this section, a "substandard-width lane" means a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to safely travel side-by-side within the lane.

(j)

No person shall stand, park or secure a bicycle within the City that in anyway obstructs roadways, sidewalks and/or alleyways.

(k)

No person shall secure a bicycle to any tree located on property dedicated to and/or used by the public.

(l)

No person other than the driver and/or operator of a bicycle shall move and/or interfere with any bicycle that is properly parked.

(m)

No person shall interfere or in any manner prevent and/or hinder any person from properly parking a bicycle.

(n)

Members of both the fire department and police department may move, prevent and/or delay the parking of a bicycle when necessary to safeguard persons and/or property.

(Code 1959, § 22-95; Ord. No. O-12-21, § 3, 5-29-12)