Chapter 10.20 BICYCLES*

“Bicycle” means and indicates a light vehicle without a motor, having two wheels, handlebars and a seat or seats, and propelled by the operator. (Prior code § 7.1)

10.20.020 License—Required.

It is unlawful for any person to operate or use a bicycle in the city which has not been registered and licensed and equipped with one or more license plates as provided in Sections 10.20.020 through 10.20.160. (Prior code § 7.20)

10.20.030 License—Application requirements.

Every person desiring a bicycle license in the city shall make application to the chief of police upon blanks furnished by him. The application must be filed in duplicate and shall contain such information as may be required by the chief of police as to the applicant and the description of the bicycle licensed. No license shall be issued unless the bicycle to be licensed complies with the requirements of this chapter as to its safe mechanical condition. (Prior code § 7.21)

10.20.040 License—Examination of applicant.

Upon making an application for his first license, registration card and license plates, the applicant shall be required to be examined by an examining officer designated by the chief of police. The chief of police shall further designate the manner of examination. Upon completion of the examination, the chief of police may refuse to issue a license to the applicant if the examination discloses to the chief of police that the applicant does not have a reasonable knowledge of the provisions of this chapter and Sections 5.44.010 and 5.44.060 through 5.44.140, the provisions of Section 21050 of the Vehicle Code of the state, or that the applicant is unable to exercise reasonable control in operating a bicycle. (Prior code § 7.22)

10.20.050 License—Application for renewal—Time and manner of making.

Application for renewal of a bicycle license expiring on the date mentioned in Section 10.20.100 shall be made by the owner, between January 1st and March 1st succeeding the expiration date and shall be made by presentation of the license plate and the registration card last issued for the bicycle and by payment of the full fee for two years for the bicycle as provided in Section 10.20.080. (Prior code § 7.23)

10.20.060 License—Penalty for failure to comply with Section 10.20.050—Exceptions.

A penalty of seventy-five cents shall be imposed upon the bicycle owner who fails to comply with Section 10.20.050; provided, however, that this penalty shall not be imposed upon the bicycle owner who purchases a bicycle after the renewal period and prior to the expiration of seven days of the date of purchase; or on a bicycle for which an owner can provide adequate proof that he was unable to operate his bicycle during the renewal period due to mechanical failure; or to a new resident of the city. (Prior code § 7.24)

10.20.070 License—Safe mechanical condition required prior to issuance.

Every person desiring a bicycle license must demonstrate to the chief of police that the bicycle for which the applicant desires to secure license plates meets the following requirements as to safe mechanical condition:

A. Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake adequate to skid the front or rear tire of such bicycle upon application of such brake.

B. Every bicycle shall be equipped with a horn or bell in good working order, capable of emitting sound audible for a distance of not less than one hundred feet under normal conditions.

C. It is unlawful to equip a bicycle with a siren or whistle.

D. Every bicycle that is equipped with handlebar grips must have such grips securely glued or cemented to the handlebars.

E. Every bicycle equipped with a carrier must have such carrier securely attached to such bicycle, and such carrier must be of a type approved by the chief of police.

F. Every bicycle purchased after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter and in Chapter 5.44, if equipped with a stand, such stand must be of a type approved by the chief of police.

G. Every bicycle operated at any time from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise and at any other time when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible any person or vehicle on the streets or sidewalks, shall be equipped with a lamp affixed to the front of such bicycle, which lamp shall exhibit a white light visible for a distance of three hundred feet from the front of such bicycle, and such bicycle shall be equipped with a red lamp affixed to the rear fender which lamp shall exhibit a red light visible for a distance of three hundred feet from the rear of such bicycle; provided, however, that a red reflector of a type approved by the chief of police may be used in lieu of such rear lamp. (Prior code § 7.25)

10.20.080 License—Fee requirements.

Every person operating or using a bicycle within the city shall pay a license fee of one dollar for each two-year license period. Such license fee shall be payable in advance at the time application for license or renewal of a license is made. (Prior code § 7.26)

10.20.090 License—Issuance—Duration.

Upon approval of the application for a bicycle license and payment of the license fee, the chief of police shall issue a bicycle license plate and registration card which shall be effective for the years or portion thereof in which it is issued. (Prior code § 7.27)

10.20.100 License—Expiration.

The bicycle license shall expire on the thirty-first day of December of even-numbered years. (Prior code § 7.28)

10.20.110 License—License plate and registration card regulations.

The size, form and character of the license plate and registration card for a bicycle issued under Section 10.20.090 shall be designated by the chief of police. The license plate shall be affixed to the bicycle in the manner designated by the chief of police. The registration card shall be carried by the licensed person. (Prior code § 7.29)

10.20.120 Procedure upon loss of license plate.

Upon loss of a license plate for a bicycle issued under Section 10.20.090, the licensee shall be required to report its loss or theft within seven days. Upon receipt of such report, the chief of police shall cancel that license and issue a new license plate to the licensee upon receipt of a fee of twenty-five cents. (Prior code § 7.30)

10.20.130 Procedure upon loss of registration card.

Upon loss of a registration card for a bicycle issued under Section 10.20.090, the licensee shall make application for a duplicate card which shall be issued to him free of cost. (Prior code § 7.31)

10.20.140 Plates and registration cards—For rental agencies.

All persons engaged in operating a bicycle rental agency for the purpose of renting or lending bicycles to patrons shall first obtain a license plate and registration card for each bicycle so used by paying therefor the regular license fee. License plates thus obtained by rental agencies shall not be transferred from one bicycle to another. (Prior code § 7.32)

10.20.150 Plates and registration cards—Removing, destroying, mutilating or altering prohibited.

No person shall remove, destroy, mutilate or alter any license plate or registration card during the period in which such license plate or registration card is operative. (Prior code § 7.33)

10.20.160 Procedure when bicycle sold or junked—Transferring license plates prohibited.

A. Every person other than the operator of a bicycle establishment as defined in Section 5.44.010 who sells or transfers ownership of any bicycle shall report such sale or transfer of ownership to the chief of police, and shall return the registration card issued to such person to the chief of police, together with the name and address of the person to whom such bicycle was sold or transferred within five days from the date of sale or transfer; provided, however, that if the sale or transfer is made to the operator of a bicycle establishment, then such registration card shall be given to the owner of such bicycle establishment who shall then forward the registration card to the chief of police.

B. License plates shall not be transferable from one bicycle to another or from one owner to another. A license plate shall be cancelled when the bicycle is sold, exchanged, junked, or is disposed of in any other manner by the person to whom the license was originally issued.

C. It shall be the duty of the purchaser or transferee of such bicycle to deliver such license plate to the chief of police and make application for a new license and registration card within seven days of such purchase or transfer.

D. Upon dismantling and disposing of bicycles as junk, the licensee shall turn in his registration card and license plate to the chief of police. (Prior code § 7.34)

10.20.170 Safe mechanical condition required for operation.

It is unlawful for any person to ride or operate a bicycle in the city unless such bicycle is equipped and in safe mechanical condition as provided in Section 10.20.070. (Prior code § 7.2)

10.20.180 Riding on sidewalks—Generally.

No person shall ride or operate a bicycle on any sidewalk in the city except as specifically permitted in this chapter. (Prior code § 7.3)

10.20.190 Riding on sidewalks—By juveniles.

Juveniles under the age of eighteen years, exercising due care, may ride and operate their bicycles upon the sidewalk, except such sidewalks as are in front of stores or other buildings used for business purposes. (Prior code § 7.4)

10.20.200 Group riding.

Persons riding or operating bicycles in the city shall not ride more than two abreast, except on paths or parts of a roadway set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles; provided further, that persons riding bicycles on the sidewalk shall do so in single file. (Prior code § 7.5)

10.20.210 Passengers.

No person riding or operating a bicycle in the city shall carry another person on such bicycle unless such person or passenger is seated upon an individual seat or carrier separate from that used by the operator. (Prior code § 7.6)

10.20.220 Towing other vehicles.

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. (Prior code § 7.7)

10.20.230 Carrying bundles.

No person riding or operating a bicycle in the city shall carry any package, bundle or article which prohibits the rider from having full control of the bicycle at all times. (Prior code § 7.8)

10.20.240 Races and endurance contests.

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 council, and under the supervision of the chief of police. (Prior code § 7.9)

10.20.250 Trick riding.

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 in the city. (Prior code § 7.10)

10.20.260 Parking.

A. No person shall park any bicycle against windows or on the main-traveled portion of the sidewalk, nor in such manner as to constitute a hazard to pedestrians, traffic or property.

B. If there is no bicycle rack or other facilities intended to be used for the parking of bicycles in the vicinity, bicycles may be parked on the sidewalk in an upright position parallel to and within twenty-four inches of the curb.

C. Any merchant or person desiring to construct and erect bicycle racks may do so after obtaining the approval of the chief of police as to the type of rack and the place where such person or merchant intends to erect such bicycle racks. (Prior code § 7.11)

10.20.270 Speed and operation generally.

No person shall ride or operate a bicycle faster than is reasonable and proper, and every bicycle shall be operated with reasonable regard to the safety of the operator and other persons upon the streets, sidewalks and public highways of the city. (Prior code § 7.12)

10.20.280 Riding in parks, playgrounds or school ground.

No person shall ride or operate a bicycle upon any playground, park or school ground, where children are playing, without permission of the person having supervision thereof. (Prior code § 7.13)

10.20.290 Passing and meeting vehicles.

Every person operating a bicycle shall pass to the left when passing vehicles going in the same direction, and shall pass to the right when meeting vehicles going in the opposite direction. (Prior code § 7.14)

10.20.300 Police department serial number generally.

If the serial number of any bicycle is obliterated or defaced, and the possessor has satisfactory proof of ownership, the chief of police is authorized to place a police department serial number thereon. (Prior code § 7.15)

10.20.310 Regulations pertaining to serial numbers.

No person shall wilfully remove, destroy, mutilate or alter the manufacturer’s serial number or the police serial number, if any, on any bicycle frame. (Prior code § 7.16)

10.20.320 Transferring possession or disposing of bicycles when identification mark removed.

No person shall buy, sell, receive, dispose of or conceal any bicycle or bicycle equipment, from which the manufacturer’s nameplate, serial number or any other distinguishing mark has been removed, defaced, covered, altered or destroyed. (Prior code § 7.17)

10.20.330 Abandoned and unidentified bicycles.

The police department shall comply with Welfare and Institutions Code Section 217 relating to all abandoned bicycles, unidentified bicycles and toys remaining in the hands of the chief of police which have been unclaimed for a period of at least sixty days. Such bicycles or toys, or both, may, instead of being sold at public auction to the highest bidder pursuant to the provisions of Section 2080.5 of the Civil Code, be turned over to the county welfare department or to any charitable or nonprofit organization which is authorized under its articles of incorporation to participate in a program or activity designed to prevent juvenile delinquency and which is exempt from income taxation under federal or state law, or both, for use in any program or activity designed to prevent juvenile delinquency. (Ord. 98-005 § 1, 1998: Ord. 501 § 1, 1965: prior code § 7.18)

10.20.340 Violation—Penalty.

Where this chapter has been violated by juveniles under the age of eighteen years, in lieu of such penalty as provided in Section 1.08.020, and in lieu of filing charges in the juvenile court, the chief of police may prohibit the operation upon the streets, alleys and public places in the city for a period not to exceed thirty days of a bicycle so used in such violation, in which even the bicycle so used in such violation shall be impounded by the chief of police and retained by him during the period of the operation which is prohibited and the owner’s registration card shall be held for a like period. (Ord. 677 § 1 (part), 1975; prior code § 7.19)