CHAPTER 10.58
BICYCLES
Section
10.58.010 Definitions of words and phrases
10.58.020 Bicycle registration coordinator
10.58.030 Bicycle safety officer
10.58.040 Coordination of activities
10.58.060 Bicycle registration certificate - bicycle license - insurance
10.58.070 Sale or transfer of bicycle
10.58.080 Lost or stolen license receipt - bicycle plate - report - replacement
10.58.100 Tampering with registration certificate - bicycle license - serial number prohibited
10.58.110 Bicycle dealers - weekly bicycle sales reports required
10.58.130 Police authorized to number bicycle frames
10.58.150 Report of bicycle accident
10.58.160 Operation upon sidewalks
10.58.170 Restrictions on the use of skateboards
10.58.180 Bicycles on pedestrian bridge
Statutory reference:
Authority to impose fines as infractions punishable by citation, see Cal. Government Code § 36900
Provisions regarding the registration and licensing of bicycles, see Cal. Vehicle Code §§ 39000 et seq.
10.58.010 DEFINITIONS OF WORDS AND PHRASES.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning. Whenever any words or phrases are defined in the Cal. Vehicle Code and amendments thereto, the definitions shall prevail.
BICYCLE BIKE. Any device upon which a person may ride, which is propelled by human power through a system of belts, chains, or gears having either two (2) or three (3) wheels (one (1) of which is at least twenty (20) inches in diameter) or having a frame size of at least fourteen (14) inches, or having four (4) or more wheels.
BICYCLE DEALER. Any person, firm, partnership, or corporation which is engaged wholly or partly in the business of selling bicycles, or buying or taking in trade bicycles for the purposes of resale, selling or offering for sale, or otherwise dealing with bicycles, whether or not the bicycles are owned by the person or entity. The term also includes agents or employees of the person or entity.
BICYCLE LANE. Any lane within the roadway designated by signs and markings for the operation of bicycles.
BICYCLE LICENSE. A license tag or decal designated by the State of California in accordance with Cal. Vehicle Code § 39001, to be permanently affixed to the bicycle in a visible location and which bears a unique number permanently assigned to that bicycle by the state.
BICYCLE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE (REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE). The ownership card issued by the licensing agency or agent of the Fort Bragg Police Department upon receipt of the designated license fee.
BICYCLE ROUTE. Any route recommended for bicycle travel which may include bicycle paths and public streets for accommodating bicycle riders.
CYCLIST. Any bicycle operator.
LICENSING AGENCY. The party or parties designated by the Chief of Police as official licensing agencies for bicycles in the City.
PEDESTRIAN. Any person afoot or any cyclist having dismounted a bicycle and then proceeding to move the bicycle afoot.
SCHOOL DAYS. Those weekdays as may be currently and officially established as regular school attendance days within this City.
SKATEBOARD. Any natural or synthetic board, equipped with wheels, upon which a person may ride or skate.
SKATEBOARD OPERATOR. Any person riding a skateboard.
(Ord. 530, §§ 1, and 2(D)(1), passed -- 1980; Am. Ord. 870, § 19, passed 8-25-2008)
10.58.020 BICYCLE REGISTRATION COORDINATOR.
The Chief of Police shall appoint one (1) of the officers of the Police Department as the bicycle registration coordinator. This officer shall be in charge of bicycle registration, shall keep records and statistics pertaining to the registration and shall report quarterly to the Chief of Police regarding the bicycle registration program.
(Ord. 530, § 2(A), passed -- 1980)
10.58.030 BICYCLE SAFETY OFFICER.
The Chief of Police shall appoint one (1) of the officers of the Police Department as the bicycle safety officer. This officer shall be responsible for establishing and maintaining a public education program of bicycle safety within the City. The bicycle safety officer shall report to the Chief of Police quarterly regarding the establishment and maintenance of a bicycle safety program.
(Ord. 530, § 2(B), passed -- 1980)
10.58.040 COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES.
The bicycle registration coordinator and the bicycle safety officer shall coordinate their activities as fully as possible. The same officer may be designated as bicycle registration coordinator and safety officer.
(Ord. 530, § 2(C), passed -- 1980)
10.58.050 BICYCLE LICENSING.
A. Bicycle registration is permissive, not mandatory. Any person who is a resident of the City or who operates a bicycle within the City limits may voluntarily register his or her bicycle pursuant to this chapter.
B. For purposes of this chapter, the Chief of Police and his or her representative shall be designated as the official licensing agent. The Chief of Police is hereby authorized to appoint the responsible persons as the Chief of Police deems desirable to assist in the capacity of bicycle licensing agencies. Each licensing agency shall license bicycles for persons desiring to operate bicycles within the City limits as defined by this chapter. Licensing agencies shall submit annual reports to the Chief of Police indicating a summary of all licensing activities and fees collected.
(Ord. 530, § 2(D)(2), passed -- 1980)
10.58.060 BICYCLE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE - BICYCLE LICENSE - INSURANCE.
At the time that any person licenses a bicycle and pays the established license fee in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the licensing agency shall provide him or her with a registration certificate bearing the date, owner’s name, address, telephone number, bicycle license number, the bicycle manufacturer, type and frame number and any other descriptive material concerning the bicycle deemed necessary by the licensing agency. In addition, at the time of licensing, the bicycle owner shall be issued his or her permanent bicycle license bearing the unique number reflecting the proper indicia procedure from the Director of Motor Vehicles pursuant to Cal. Vehicle Code § 39001. Bicycle licenses shall be renewed on January 1 of the third year following the year of initial registration.
(Ord. 530, § 2(D)(3), passed -- 1980)
10.58.070 SALE OR TRANSFER OF BICYCLE.
Whenever any person sells, trades, disposes of, or transfers any bicycle licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, he or she may endorse upon the registration certificate previously issued for such a bicycle a written transfer of same, setting forth the name, address, and telephone number of the transferee, the date of transfer, the signature of the transferor, and may deliver the registration certificate, so endorsed, to the licensing agency at the time of transfer. The transferee may, within ten (10) days after such transfer, apply to the licensing agency for a transfer of the registration certificate. A fee in an amount as established from time to time by resolution of the City Council shall be charged for such transfer of ownership.
(Ord. 871, § 18, passed 8-25-2008)
10.58.080 LOST OR STOLEN LICENSE RECEIPT - BICYCLE PLATE - REPORT - REPLACEMENT.
A. In the event that any registration certificate issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter is lost or stolen, the licensee of the bicycle may immediately notify the licensing agency, and within ten (10) days after the notification can apply to the licensing agency for a duplicate registration certificate; whereupon, the licensing agency shall issue to the licensee a duplicate registration certificate, upon payment to the licensing agency of a fee in an amount as established from time to time by resolution of the City Council.
B. In the event that any bicycle license issued pursuant to the provision of this chapter is lost or stolen, the licensee may immediately notify the licensing agency of the loss, and may within ten (10) days apply to the licensing agency for a new bicycle license; whereupon, the licensing agency shall issue to the licensee a new bicycle license upon payment to the licensing agency of a fee in an amount as established from time to time by resolution of the City Council.
(Ord. 871, § 19, passed 8-25-2008)
10.58.090 FEES.
The fees required to be paid pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be in the amounts as established from time to time by resolution of the City Council.
(Ord. 871, § 20, passed 8-25-2008)
10.58.100 TAMPERING WITH REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE - BICYCLE LICENSE - SERIAL NUMBER PROHIBITED.
A. It is unlawful and an infraction for any person to tamper with, destroy, mutilate, or alter any registration certificate issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
B. It is unlawful and an infraction for any person to remove, destroy, mutilate, or in any way alter or tamper with any bicycle license issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
C. It is unlawful and an infraction for any person to remove, alter, or mutilate the serial number of any bicycle frame licensed under the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 530, § 2(D)(7), passed -- 1980)
10.58.110 BICYCLE DEALERS - ANNUAL BICYCLE SALES REPORTS REQUESTED.
Any person engaged in the business of buying, selling, or trading new or used bicycles within the City is hereby requested to make an annual report to the licensing agency giving the name, address, and telephone number of all persons either buying, selling, or trading new or used bicycles and the bicycle manufacturer, type, frame number, and bicycle license number, if any.
(Ord. 530, § 2(D)(8), passed -- 1980)
10.58.120 BICYCLE FUND.
All amounts collected in excess of the cost of conducting and administering the bicycle licensing program, including reasonable cost reimbursement to licensing agencies, shall be placed in a special bicycle fund. The bicycle fund shall be used to improve bicycle safety programs and to establish and maintain bicycle facilities, including, but not limited to, bicycle paths and lanes.
(Ord. 530, § 2(D)(9), passed -- 1980)
10.58.130 POLICE AUTHORIZED TO NUMBER BICYCLE FRAMES.
All bicycles sold as of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter may have, as a means of identification, serial numbers stamped on the frame of the bicycle in a manner determined by the Director of Motor Vehicles. The Police Department may stamp numbers on the left rear fork ends or such other portion of the frame or gear casing if the left fork ends cannot be adequately stamped, upon the bicycles not bearing manufacturers’ serial numbers.
(Ord. 530, § 2(D)(10), passed -- 1980)
10.58.150 REPORT OF BICYCLE ACCIDENT.
A. The operator of a bicycle involved in any accident at whatever location within this City, which accident results in injury to any person or in property damage in excess of $100, shall within 24 hours after the accident make a written report of the accident to the Police Department of this City.
B. Every report shall state the date and time when and the place where the accident took place, the names and addresses of the person owning and of the person operating the bicycle, the registration number of every such bicycle, if any, and shall briefly describe the circumstances of the accident.
C. The operator of any bicycle involved in an accident shall not be subject to the requirements or penalties of this section if and during the time he or she is physically incapable of making a report, but in the event he or she shall make a report as required herein within 24 hours after regaining ability to make the report.
(Ord. 530, § 3, passed -- 1980)
10.58.160 OPERATION UPON SIDEWALKS.
No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within the Central Business District, as described by this chapter, nor shall any person ride upon any such sidewalk within this City which has been posted with signs prohibiting the riding. Violation of this section is an infraction.
(Ord. 530, § 4(A), passed -- 1980)
10.58.170 RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF SKATEBOARDS.
A. Generally. It is unlawful for any person to skate, or use, or ride any skateboard or other similar device on or over any public streets, bridge, underpass sidewalk, sidewalk space, park (excepting the Skate Park, as defined in Chapter 9.69), public pedestrian walkway, or publicly owned facility within the City limits, in violation of the following restrictions.
1. The use shall not occur after sunset of one (1) day and before sunrise of the following day.
2. Persons riding skateboards on streets shall ride as near to the right side of the street as practicable.
3. No person riding a skateboard shall attach the same or himself or herself to any other vehicle.
4. Persons riding skateboards shall yield the right-of-way to all motor vehicles and pedestrians.
5. No person shall ride a skateboard when approaching or upon the crest of a grade or a curve in the street, where the view of the person is obstructed within the distance as to create a hazard from an approaching motor vehicle.
6. Place or use on all public streets, sidewalks, alleys, parks, or any and all publicly owned facilities within the City limits, skateboard jumping devices, or ramps.
7. Except as hereinabove provided, any person riding a skateboard shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to a rider of a bicycle, as provided by Cal. Vehicle Code § 21200, which section is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part hereof.
B. Prohibitions on the use of skateboards. It is unlawful for any person to skate, or use, or ride any skateboard or other similar device on or over any public streets, bridge, underpass sidewalk, sidewalk space, park, public pedestrian walkway, or publicly owned facility in the central business district, as the area is defined in § 1.04.010.
C. Penalty for violation. Violation of this ordinance is deemed to be an infraction.
(Ord. 530, § 4(B), passed -- 1980; Am. Ord. 679, §§ 2, 3, 4, passed -- 1987; Am. Ord. 888, §§ 3, 4, 5, passed 8-23-2010)
10.58.180 BICYCLES ON PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE.
No person shall ride a bicycle upon any pedestrian bridge within this City which has been posted with signs prohibiting the riding.
(Ord. 530, § 4(C), passed -- 1980)