Chapter 10.68
BICYCLES
Sections:
10.68.010 Bicycle lanes.
10.68.100 Equipment.
10.68.110 Parking.
10.68.120 Traffic regulation applicability.
10.68.130 Rules of the road.
10.68.140 Violation by juvenile—Action.
10.68.150 Use of skateboards, roller skates, coasters and similar vehicles restricted.
10.68.160 Electric carts.
10.68.010 Bicycle lanes.
The council hereby establishes those bicycle lanes as described in Section 27 of Traffic Resolution No. 59-73, adopted by the city council on September 11, 1973, as such resolution is thereafter and from time to time hereafter amended. The city traffic engineer is authorized, empowered and directed to implement the establishment of the bicycle lanes and paths as designated in the resolution. (Ord. 79 § 1 (part), 1973: prior code § 9-1500)
10.68.100 Equipment.
Every person applying for a bicycle license must demonstrate to the chief of police that the bicycle for which the applicant desires to secure license plates meets the requirements of this chapter and the California Vehicle Code as to safe mechanical condition. No person shall equip a bicycle with a siren or whistle or operate or use a bicycle so equipped; provided, that nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit the equipping, operation or use of a bicycle with an unusual kind of bicycle horn or bell as approved by the chief of police. Every bicycle that is equipped with handlebar grips must have the grips securely glued or cemented to the handlebars. Every bicycle equipped with a carrier must have the carrier securely attached to the bicycle. It is unlawful for any person to ride or operate a bicycle in this city unless the bicycle is equipped as provided in this chapter and unless the bicycle is in safe mechanical condition. (Ord. 79 § 1 (part), 1973: prior code § 9-1502)
10.68.110 Parking.
A. The city traffic engineer is authorized to designate and establish bicycle parking spaces for use at such places and during such times as he or she may deem suitable and necessary. The city traffic engineer may also authorize the placing of bicycle parking racks in the spaces so designated.
B. When official signs or markings restricting parking to bicycles only are in place, bicycles shall be parked only in such places, and it is unlawful for any person to park or stand any vehicle other than a bicycle or other two-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicle in such space.
C. When bicycle parking spaces have been established and designated by official signs and markings pursuant to this section, the city traffic engineer may post signs indicating that such special parking regulations which are applicable to bicycles shall also apply to all two-wheeled and three-wheeled motor vehicles.
D. No person shall park a bicycle against any window or parking meter or on the main-traveled portion of the sidewalk, nor in such manner as to constitute a hazard to pedestrians, traffic or property. (Ord. 79 § 1 (part), 1973: prior code § 9-1503)
10.68.120 Traffic regulation applicability.
Every person riding a bicycle, or driving any other other two-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicle, or riding an animal upon a highway, has all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this title, except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application. (Ord. 79 § 1 (part), 1973: prior code § 9-1504)
10.68.130 Rules of the road.
It is unlawful for any person to ride or operate a bicycle in this city in violation of the following rules of the road:
A. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle upon any sidewalk unless such sidewalk is officially designated as a bicycle lane.
B. Any person riding or operating a bicycle upon any sidewalk designated as a bicycle route shall exercise due care and shall yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians.
C. Any person riding or operating a bicycle upon any street where a bicycle lane or path appropriate to his/her direction of travel is established and officially designated shall ride or operate such bicycle only in such bicycle lane or path or on the sidewalk where otherwise allowed by this code. A “street” is defined as a way or place of whatever nature, publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of travel.
D. No person shall operate a vehicle within an established and officially designated bicycle lane or path except when necessary to park where parking is allowed, for purposes of ingress or egress to and from driveways, or for purposes of travel through the intersection of two or more streets.
E. No person riding or operating a bicycle in this city shall tow any other vehicle or person, except that bicycle trailers used for the delivery of newspapers, magazines or merchandise may be towed when being used in such delivery service.
F. No person riding or operating a bicycle upon a public highway or street shall participate in any race, speed or endurance contest unless such race or endurance contest has the written permission of the city manager and is being conducted under the supervision of the chief of police.
G. No person riding or operating a bicycle shall perform or attempt to perform any acrobatic, fancy or stunt riding upon any public highway or street.
H. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle upon any playground, park or schoolground except on established paths or walkways, unless such riding or operation is expressly permitted under rules and regulations established by the superintendent of recreation, and then only in accordance with such rules and regulations. (Ord. 79 § 1 (part), 1973: prior code § 9-1505)
10.68.140 Violation by juvenile—Action.
Where any provision of this chapter or of state law with respect to bicycles has been violated by any juvenile under the age of eighteen years, then in lieu of the institution of criminal proceedings or of proceedings in the juvenile court, the chief of police may prohibit the operation upon the streets, alleys and public places in this city for a period not to exceed thirty days of a bicycle so used in such violation, and in such event the bicycle so used in such violation may be impounded by the chief of police and retained by him/her during the period of operation which is prohibited. (Ord. 79 § 1 (part), 1973: prior code § 9-1508)
10.68.150 Use of skateboards, roller skates, coasters and similar vehicles restricted.
A. It is unlawful for any person upon roller skates or in-line skates or riding on or by means of a coaster, coaster-brake wagon, skateboard, toy vehicle, or similar device to go upon:
1. Any street, alley or roadway within the city;
2. Any walkway and pathway and sidewalk within pedestrian malls and public plazas including the Leo J. Ryan Amphitheatre, William E. Walker Recreation Center, Senior Wing, community center, library, Sea Cloud Park Snack Shack, and the new government center including the city hall, the council chambers, and the police and fire departments or any other pedestrian mall or public plaza as deemed necessary by the chief of police to provide for public safety. The chief of police shall be responsible for the placement of signage of such additional locations where the riding of the above-mentioned devices is prohibited;
3. Any parking facility owned and maintained by a public agency; and
4. Any private property or school grounds where the person in charge has posted signs prohibiting their use.
B. A person upon roller skates or in-line skates or riding on or by means of skateboard, may ride upon any other public sidewalk or park pathways under the following conditions:
1. Such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian as not to endanger the safety of the pedestrian.
2. Such person shall refrain from operating the above-mentioned devices in a negligent manner. For the purpose of this section, “to operate in a negligent manner” means to operate the above-mentioned devices in a manner as to endanger or to be likely to endanger any person or property or to obstruct, hinder, or impede the lawful course of travel of any pedestrian. The police chief is authorized to erect signs on any sidewalk or roadway prohibiting the riding of the above-mentioned devices thereon by any person and when such signs are in place, no person shall disobey them.
3. No person shall ride or use a skateboard, roller skates, in-line skates, or other similar devices at a city skate park facility without wearing safety equipment which shall include a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, violation of this subsection shall be an infraction. (Ord. 514 § 1, 2004: Ord. 508 § 1, 2003: Ord. 501 § 1, 2002: Ord. 491 § 1, 2001: Ord. 198 § 1, 1980: Ord. 121 § 1, 1975: Ord. 79 § 1 (part), 1973: prior code § 9-1506)
10.68.160 Electric carts.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 10.60.030, any person who is physically disabled or who is fifty years of age or older may operate an electric cart upon the sidewalks of this city, provided such person has first obtained from the city traffic engineer a permit and an identification sticker to so operate the cart and has affixed such sticker to the cart. (Ord. 79 § 1 (part), 1973: prior code § 9-1507)