Chapter 10.28 BICYCLES

From and after February 1, 1951 it is unlawful for any person to operate or use a bicycle propelled wholly or in part by muscular power upon any of the streets, alleys or public highways of the city without first obtaining a license therefor. (Ord. 105 § 1, 1950).

10.28.020 License—Issuance.

The chief of police of the city is authorized and directed to issue, upon written application, bicycle licenses which shall be effective until revoked or until ownership of the bicycle is transferred or the bicycle is permanently removed from the city. Bicycles licensed under the ordinance codified in this chapter as originally adopted shall be relicensed within thirty days after April 9, 1959. In case a license for the year 1959 has been obtained by the owner of any bicycle prior to April 9, 1959, a new license shall be obtained within thirty days after April 9, 1959, and the license fee paid for the year shall be credited on the license provided in Section 10.28.070. A license shall be obtained for all bicycles in the city which have not been theretofore licensed, within thirty days after April 9, 1959. The licenses when issued, shall entitle the licensee to operate such bicycle, for which the license has been issued, upon all the streets, alleys and public highways, exclusive of the sidewalks thereof, in the city. (Ord. 159 § 1, 1959: Ord. 105 § 2, 1950).

10.28.030 License plates and registration cards—Issuance and recordation.

The city shall provide metallic plates and seals, together with registration cards and isinglass holders therefor, said metallic license plates and registration cards having numbers stamped thereon in numerical order beginning with number “1” and the letters “PBL” stamped thereon; such metallic license plates shall be suitable for attachment upon the frames of bicycles, and it shall be the duty of the chief of police to attach on such metallic license plate to the frame of each bicycle, and to issue a corresponding registration card to the licensee upon payment of the license fee herein provided for. Such metallic license plate shall remain attached during the existence of such license. The chief of police shall also keep a record of the date of issue of such license, to whom issued, and the number thereof. (Ord. 159 § 2, 1959: Ord. 105 § 3, 1950).

10.28.040 Businesses buying or selling new or secondhand bicycles—Daily report.

All persons engaged in the business of buying secondhand bicycles are required to make a daily report to the chief of police, giving the name and address of the person from whom each bicycle is purchased, the description of each bicycle purchased, and the number of the metallic license plate found thereon, if any. All persons engaged in the business of selling new or secondhand bicycles are required to make a daily report to the chief of police, giving a list of all sales made by such dealers, which list shall include the name and address of each person to whom sold, the kind of bicycle sold, together with a description and frame number thereof, and the number of the metallic license plate attached thereto, if any. Reports need not be made on days on which no bicycle was purchased or sold by such dealers. (Ord. 105 § 4, 1950).

10.28.050 Selling or transferring ownership— Report.

It shall be the duty of every person who sells or transfers ownership of any bicycle, to report such sale or transfer by returning to the chief of police the registration card issued to such person as licensee thereof, together with the name and address of the person to whom the bicycle was sold or transferred, and such report shall be made within five days of the sale or transfer. It shall be the duty of the purchaser or transferee of such bicycle to apply for a transfer of registration therefor, within five days of the sale or transfer. (Ord. 105 § 5, 1950).

10.28.060 Altering frames, license plates or registration cards prohibited.

It is unlawful for any person to wilfully or maliciously remove, destroy, mutilate or alter the number of any bicycle frame licensed pursuant to this chapter. It is also unlawful for any person to remove, destroy, mutilate or alter any license plate, seal or registration card during the time in which the license plate, seal or registration card is operative. Provided, however, that nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the chief of police from stamping numbers on the frames of bicycles on which no serial number can be found, or on which the number is illegible or insufficient for identification purposes. (Ord. 105 § 6, 1950).

10.28.070 License fee—Deposit into general fund.

The license fee to be paid for each bicycle shall be one dollar and shall be paid upon issuance of the license. When a transfer of registration of a bicycle is applied for pursuant to Section 10.28.050, a new license shall be issued therefor having the same number as the original license and a fee of one dollar shall be paid upon issuance of the new license. All license fees collected under this chapter shall be paid into the general fund of the city. (Ord. 159 § 3, 1959: Ord. 105 § 7, 1950).

10.28.080 Penalty for violations— Impoundment.

Every person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the city jail or the county jail for a period of not more than thirty days or by both such fine and imprisonment. In addition to the penalties hereinabove set forth, the chief of police may impound and retain possession of any such bicycle, operated in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, and retain possession of the same until the license provided for herein is obtained by the owner of the bicycle.

Neither of the penalties imposed by this section is exclusive of the other and the enforcement of either of the penalties is not dependent upon the enforcement of the other. (Ord. 105 § 8, 1950).

10.28.090 Applicability of provisions.

This chapter shall not be construed as repealing any other ordinance of the city regulating the operation of bicycles. (Ord. 105 § 9, 1950).

II. Regulations

10.28.100 Bicycle defined.

A “bicycle” is a device upon which any person may ride, propelled by human power through a belt, chain or gears, and having either two or three wheels, or having four or more wheels. (Ord. 354 § 1, 1983).

10.28.110 Compliance with mechanical standards.

It is unlawful for any person to ride or operate a bicycle in the city, unless the bicycle is equipped as provided in this chapter and in the vehicle code of the state, and is in a safe, mechanical condition. (Ord. 354 § 2, 1983).

10.28.120 Sirens and whistles.

No person shall equip a bicycle with a siren or whistle or operate or use a bicycle so equipped. (Ord. 354 § 3, 1983).

10.28.130 Handlebar grips.

Every bicycle that is equipped with handlebar grips must have the grips securely glued or cemented to the handlebars. (Ord. 354 § 4, 1983).

10.28.140 Carriers.

Every bicycle equipped with a carrier must have the carrier securely attached to the bicycle. (Ord. 354 § 5, 1983).

10.28.150 Riding bicycles, roller skates and skateboards on sidewalks.

A. No person shall ride a bicycle, roller skate, or skateboard upon any sidewalk in the business district of the City of Patterson or upon the grounds of the Patterson Senior Center located in Patterson, California. “Business district” is defined as that portion of a street and the property contiguous thereto:

1. Upon one side of which street for a distance of six hundred feet, fifty percent or more of the contiguous property fronting thereon is occupied by buildings in use for business; or

2. Upon both sides of which street, collectively, for a distance of three hundred feet, fifty percent or more of the contiguous property fronting thereon is so occupied.

B. Any person riding a bicycle, roller skating, or skateboarding upon any sidewalk where such riding is permitted shall exercise due care and shall yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians. (Ord. 533, 1995: Ord. 354 § 6, 1983; Ord. 611, 2000).

10.28.151 Riding bicycles on sidewalks— Exceptions.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to any police officer employed by the city while acting in official capacity as designated by the chief of police. (Ord. 479 § 1, 1992).

10.28.160 Clinging to moving vehicles.

No person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates or toy vehicle shall attach the same or himself to any moving vehicle. (Ord. 354 § 7, 1983).

10.28.170 Passengers on bicycles.

A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent regular seat attached thereto. No person operating a bicycle upon a street in the city shall permit any person to ride on the handlebars or any other portion of the bicycle other than upon a permanent regular seat attached thereto. If the passenger is a minor weighing forty pounds of less, the seat shall have adequate provision for retaining the minor in place and for protecting the minor from the moving parts of the bicycle. (Ord. 354 § 8, 1983).

10.28.180 Towing.

No person riding or operating a bicycle in the 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. (Ord. 354 § 9, 1983).

10.28.190 Trick riding.

A person riding or propelling a bicycle in the business district of the city, as same is defined in Section 10.28.150, shall not perform or attempt to perform any acrobatic, fancy or stunt riding. Any person performing acrobatic, fancy or stunt riding in those portions of the city where it is not specifically prohibited by this chapter, shall exercise due care and shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles and pedestrians. (Ord. 354 § 10, 1983).

10.28.200 Rules of the road.

It is unlawful for any person in the city to propel, operate or maintain a bicycle in violation of the provisions of this chapter and the provisions of the vehicle code of the state pertaining to bicycles. (Ord. 354 § 11, 1983).

10.28.210 Parking and parking spaces.

A. When official signs or markings restricting parking of bicycles only, are in place in areas designated by the city council upon recommendation of the chief of police, 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 in the designated space.

B. No person shall park a bicycle against any window or on the main traveled portion of a sidewalk, nor in such manner as to constitute a hazard to pedestrians, traffic or property. Where bicycle parking spaces have been established and designated by official signs and markings, no persons shall park a bicycle in the vicinity thereof except in such designated bicycle parking spaces. (Ord. 354 § 12, 1983).

10.28.220 Penalties.

A. In addition to any other penalty provided by this chapter, any member of the police department may impound and retain possession for a period not to exceed thirty days of any bicycle operated or parked in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.

B. At the expiration of the period of possession, the bicycle shall be delivered to its owner at the police department.

C. In addition to the penalties set forth above, the chief of police is authorized to require any minor under the age of eighteen years, who operates a bicycle in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, or of the vehicle code, to attend a bicycle operator’s school to be conducted under the supervision of the chief of police. Such school shall be for the purpose of educating the violator regarding proper operation of a bicycle and the provisions of law applicable to bicycles. (Ord. 354 § 13, 1983).