CHAPTER 8.44
BICYCLES

SECTION:

8.44.010    Supplementary Provisions

8.44.020    License Required

8.44.030    Application For License; Fee

8.44.040    Issuance Of License; Records

8.44.050    License Plates

8.44.060    Inspection Of Bicycles

8.44.070    Transfer Of Ownership

8.44.080    Renewal Of License

8.44.090    Equipment

8.44.100    Obedience To Traffic Laws

8.44.110    Riding Bicycles

8.44.010 SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS:

The provisions of this chapter are supplementary to the provisions of California Vehicle Code division 16.7 (commencing with section 39000) and any amendments thereto hereinafter enacted. (1972 Code § 10.52.010)

8.44.020 LICENSE REQUIRED:

A.    Compliance With Statute: No resident of the city shall operate a bicycle on any street, road, highway, or other public property in the city unless such bicycle is licensed in accordance with the provisions of California Vehicle Code division 16.7 (commencing with section 39000), and any amendments thereto hereinafter enacted, relating to the licensing of new bicycles.

B.    Application Of Provisions: The requirements of this section shall apply to all bicycles operated by residents in the city, whether first sold as new or not, after the effective date of this section. (1972 Code § 10.52.020)

8.44.030 APPLICATION FOR LICENSE; FEE:

A.    Application Required: Application for a bicycle license shall be made on a form presented by the city and shall be made to the chief of police.

B.    Fee: Each application shall be accompanied by the payment of a registration fee in an amount fixed by resolution of the city council. (1972 Code § 10.52.030)

8.44.040 ISSUANCE OF LICENSE; RECORDS:

A.    License Plates; Registration Certificates: The city shall provide metallic or other license plates and seals, together with registration certificates therefor.

B.    Denial Of License: A license shall not be issued for any bicycle when there is reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant is not the owner of, or entitled to the possession of, such bicycle.

C.    Record Of Registered Bicycles: The chief of police shall compile and maintain a record of each bicycle registered. The record shall indicate the number of each license, the date issued, the serial number of the bicycle for which issued, the make, type and model of the bicycle, the name and address of the licensee, and all license fees collected. (1972 Code § 10.52.040)

8.44.050 LICENSE PLATES:

A.    Issuance; Attachment:

1.    Upon the issuance of a bicycle license, a bicycle license plate bearing the number assigned to the bicycle shall also be issued.

2.    The license plate shall be firmly attached to the frame of the bicycle for which issued. (1972 Code § 10.52.050)

B.    Removal Or Destruction; Duplicate Plate:

1.    No person shall remove a license plate from a bicycle.

2.    No person shall wilfully or maliciously destroy, mutilate, or alter the number of any bicycle frame license issued pursuant to this chapter. No person shall remove, destroy, mutilate, or alter any license plate, seal, or registration certificate; provided however, that nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the chief of police from stamping numbers on the frames of bicycles.

3.    In the event any bicycle license plate is lost, stolen, or destroyed, a duplicate thereof may be obtained from the chief of police upon application therefor, including proof of loss, and the payment of a fee in an amount fixed by resolution of the city council. (1972 Code § 10.52.060)

8.44.060 INSPECTION OF BICYCLES:

The chief of police shall inspect each bicycle before licensing the same, and shall refuse a license for any bicycle which is in an unsafe mechanical condition. (1972 Code § 10.52.070)

8.44.070 TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP:

A.    Notice To Police Chief: It shall be the duty of every owner of a bicycle who sells or otherwise disposes of a bicycle to notify the chief of police within ten (10) days of such disposition.

B.    Transfer Of License:

1.    It shall be the duty of any person who purchases or otherwise acquires possession of a secondhand bicycle to apply to the chief of police for the transfer of the license to his name within ten (10) days of taking possession.

2.    Such person shall present with his application the original certificate issued to the former owner, or, if none, the name and address of such former owner.

3.    Nothing in this section shall apply to secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers, or to merchants for purchases of bicycles from dealers, jobbers, or manufacturers in the regular course of business. (1972 Code § 10.52.080; amd. 2003 Code)

8.44.080 RENEWAL OF LICENSE:

All bicycle licenses issued shall be renewed at the same time as bicycle licenses are required to be renewed pursuant to California Vehicle Code section 39001. (1972 Code § 10.52.090)

8.44.090 EQUIPMENT:

No person shall operate any bicycle on any street, road, highway, or other public property in the city unless such bicycle is properly equipped as required by the provisions of the California Vehicle Code. (1972 Code § 10.52.100)

8.44.100 OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC LAWS:

A.    Obey Traffic Regulations: Every person riding a bicycle upon the city streets shall be required to obey all traffic signs and regulations applicable to the driver of a vehicle.

B.    Rights Of Vehicle Drivers: Every person riding a bicycle upon the city streets shall be granted all the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle. (1972 Code § 10.52.110)

8.44.110 RIDING BICYCLES:

A.    Operating On Roadway:

1.    Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right hand side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.

2.    Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall ride in single file fashion. (1972 Code § 10.52.120)

B.    Operation On Sidewalks Prohibited: No person shall operate a bicycle upon a sidewalk within the city. (1972 Code § 10.52.130)

C.    Speed: No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing. (1972 Code § 10.52.140)

D.    Emerging From Driveway: The operator of a bicycle emerging from a driveway shall, upon approaching a sidewalk, yield the right of way to all pedestrians approaching on such sidewalks, and upon entering the roadway shall yield the right of way to all vehicles approaching on such roadway. (1972 Code § 10.52.150)

E.    Clinging To Vehicles: No person riding upon any bicycle shall attach the same or himself to any moving vehicle upon a roadway. (1972 Code § 10.52.160)

F.    Rider Restrictions: A person operating a bicycle shall not ride other than upon a permanent, regular seat attached thereto, nor carry any other person upon such bicycle other than upon a firmly attached seat to the rear of the operator, nor shall any other person ride upon a bicycle other than as authorized above. (1972 Code § 10.52.170)

G.    Carrying Articles: No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle, or article which prevents the rider from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars. (1972 Code § 10.52.180)