ARTICLE VIII
OPERATION OF BICYCLES AND CERTAIN VEHICULAR OPERATIONS PERTAINING TO BICYCLES
12-8-2 Traffic Regulations Apply
12-8-5 Position on the Roadway
12-8-8 Obedience to Traffic-Control Devices
12-8-11 Emerging from Alley, Driveway, Private Road or Building
12-8-13 Repealed
12-8-15 Operation in Bicycle Lane
12-8-16 Direction of Travel in Bicycle Lane
12-8-17 Duty of Motorist to Bicyclist
12-8-18 Opening and Closing Parked Vehicle Doors in Bicycle Traffic
12-8-19 Motorist Turning across Bicycle Lane or Path
12-8-20 Driving Vehicle on or across Bicycle Lane or Path
12-8-21 Turning and Hand Signals
12-8-1 EFFECT OF REGULATIONS.
A. The parent of any child and the guardian of any ward shall not authorize or permit any such child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this ordinance.
B. These regulations applicable to bicycles shall apply whenever a bicycle is operated upon any street or upon any path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles subject to those exceptions stated herein. (66-3-701 NMSA 1978)
(Ord. 12-09)
12-8-2 TRAFFIC REGULATIONS APPLY.
A. Operators of bicycles have the same rights as operators of automobiles in the use of streets, highways and roadways within the city, except as otherwise specifically provided herein.
B. Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be subject to all the duties applicable to the drivers of motor vehicles, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Traffic Code and except as to those provisions of laws and ordinances which by their nature can have no applications; and each such person shall be subject to the same provisions and sections of this Traffic Code to which a motorist is subject. (*)
(Ord. 03-015; Am. Ord. 05-19; Am. Ord. 12-09)
12-8-3 SEATED PASSENGER.
A. No bicyclist shall carry a passenger on the bicycle unless the passenger is seated upon an individual seat or other carrier designed for carrying a passenger.
B. No person shall ride upon a bicycle as a passenger unless seated upon an individual seat or other carrier designed for carrying a passenger separate from that intended to be used by the operator. (*)
(Ord. 12-09)
12-8-4 CLINGING TO VEHICLES.
No person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled or toy vehicle shall attach the same or himself to any vehicle upon a street. (66-3-704 NMSA 1978)
(Ord. 12-09)
12-8-5 POSITION ON THE ROADWAY.
A. If the right hand vehicle lane available for traffic is fourteen feet wide exclusive of the gutter and no bike lane is present, a bicycle shall be ridden far enough to the right in said lane to facilitate such overtaking movements unless other conditions make it unsafe to do so.
B. Exceptions to driving bicycles on the right:
1. When and where road hazards exist.
2. To overtake vehicles making right-hand turns at intersections.
3. Bicycle may move out of their lane to overtake and pass another vehicle/bicycle.
4. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection, when making a U-turn or turning into a private road or driveway.
5. Upon a one-way road with two or more marked traffic lanes the bicyclist may ride in the center of the most left hand lane for a reasonable distance to complete a left hand turn.
6. If the right-hand vehicle lane available for traffic is not wide enough to be safely shared with overtaking vehicles or if passing is otherwise unsafe, a bicycle may be ridden far enough to the left to temporarily control the lane. Bicyclist must move to the right to allow vehicles to overtake at the earliest and safest location. At no point is a bicyclist required to ride within less than three feet of any objects or curb on the right. (*)
(Ord. 03-015; Am. Ord. 05-19; Am. Ord. 12-09)
12-8-6 CARRYING ARTICLES.
No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle, or article which prevents the driver from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebar. (66-3-706 NMSA 1978)
(Ord. 12-09)
12-8-7 BICYCLE EQUIPMENT.
A. Lamp. No person shall operate a bicycle after sunset or prior to sunrise or in low light conditions unless equipped with a lamp on the front which emits a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet from the front.
B. Reflector. No person shall operate a bicycle at nighttime unless it is equipped on the rear with a red reflector of a type which shall be visible from at least 300 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle or a lamp which emits a red light.
C. Brake. No person shall operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with a brake which will enable the operator, when traveling at a speed of 15 mph, to stop within 30 feet on a dry, level, clean pavement after the brake is applied. (*)
(Ord. 12-09)
12-8-8 OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES.
A. Any person operating a bicycle shall obey the instructions of official traffic-control devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
B. Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right or left or U-turn is permitted, no person operating a bicycle shall disobey the direction of any such sign, except where such person dismounts from the bicycle to make any such turn, in which event the person shall then obey the regulations applicable to pedestrians. (*)
(Ord. 12-09)
12-8-9 PARKING OF BICYCLE.
A bicycle may be parked on a sidewalk and other places if the parking does not impede normal and reasonable movement of pedestrian or other traffic. (*)
(Ord. 12-09)
12-8-10 BICYCLE SPEED.
No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed either greater than the lawful speed limit or than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing, whichever is the lesser. (*)
(Ord. 12-09)
12-8-11 EMERGING FROM ALLEY, DRIVEWAY, PRIVATE ROAD OR BUILDING.
A. The operator of a bicycle emerging from an alley, private road, driveway or building shall yield the right of way to all pedestrians on the sidewalk or sidewalk area.
B. Upon entering the street, the driver of a bicycle shall yield the right of way to all vehicles approaching on the street. (*)
(Ord. 12-09)
12-8-12 RIDING ON SIDEWALKS.
A. No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business district.
B. No person shall ride a bicycle on any sidewalk or street when signs are posted prohibiting bicycles on the sidewalk or street.
C. When signs are posted requiring bicycles to use sidewalks or paths adjacent to a street, no person shall ride a bicycle on the street adjacent to the sidewalks or paths.
D. Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, the person shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian. (*)
(Ord. 12-09)
12-8-13 PENALTIES.
Repealed by Ord. 10-23.
(Ord. 03-015; Am. Ord. 05-19)
12-8-14 BICYCLE SERIAL NUMBER.
A. No person shall alter, obliterate or change the serial number imprinted on the frame of any bicycle.
B. No person shall sell or rent a bicycle on which the serial number imprinted on the frame has been altered, obliterated or changed.
C. This section shall not prohibit the restoration by an owner of an original serial number or mark. (*)
(Ord. 12-09)
12-8-15 OPERATION IN BICYCLE LANE.
Where the bicycle lane provides a minimum of four feet of ride-able space or once a bicyclist has entered a bicycle lane, bicyclist shall endeavor to maintain the lane except:
A. At intersections;
B. To pass a slower bicyclist, or to avoid parked cars or obstacles;
C. A bicyclist may leave the bicycle lane between intersections in order to make a U-turn, or left hand turn where such a turn is permissible for vehicular traffic, or to turn into driveways;
D. When leaving a bicycle lane, the bicyclist shall use caution and yield the right-of-way to vehicles. (*)
(Ord. 12-09)
12-8-16 DIRECTION OF TRAVEL IN BICYCLE LANE.
No person shall ride or operate a bicycle within a bicycle lane or on the roadway in any direction except that permitted of vehicular traffic traveling on the same side of the roadway. (*)
(Ord. 12-09)
12-8-17 DUTY OF MOTORIST TO BICYCLIST.
A. In approaching or passing a person on a bicycle, every person operating a motor vehicle shall proceed with caution and shall pass such bicyclist at a reasonable speed and keep a safe distance from him; provided however, in no event shall a distance of less than five feet be considered a safe distance within the meaning of this division.
B. No person operating a motor vehicle shall harass or endanger a bicyclist. (*)
(Ord. 12-09)
12-8-18 OPENING AND CLOSING PARKED VEHICLE DOORS IN BICYCLE TRAFFIC.
No person shall open any door on a parked motor vehicle unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so and can be done without interfering with the movement of on-coming or approaching bicycle traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open on a side of a parked vehicle adjacent to on-coming or approaching bicycle traffic for a period of time longer than is necessary to load or unload passengers. (*)
(Ord. 12-09)
12-8-19 MOTORIST TURNING ACROSS BICYCLE LANE OR PATH.
Whenever a motorist is turning across a bicycle lane or path, such motorist shall maintain a proper lookout for bicyclists and shall yield the right-of-way to any bicyclist traveling in a bicycle lane or path before the start of the turning movement. (*)
(Ord. 12-09)
12-8-20 DRIVING VEHICLE ON OR ACROSS BICYCLE LANE OR PATH.
No person shall drive or operate a motor vehicle upon or across a bicycle lane or path except to cross such path or lane when turning as permitted in § 12-8-19. No person shall drive a vehicle across a bicycle lane or path as permitted by this section except after giving the right-of-way to all bicycles within the lane or path. (*)
(Ord. 12-09)
12-8-21 TURNING AND HAND SIGNALS.
Before turning and altering the course of a bicycle, the bicyclist shall make sure that movement can be made safely and shall give a signal by hand in the same manner as hand signals are given by motorists to indicate the direction in which he/she intends to proceed. (*)
(Ord. 12-09)