Chapter 9.64
BICYCLE EVENTS
Sections:
9.64.010 Legislative Declaration.
9.64.030 Bicycle Race Permit Required.
9.64.040 Permit Application Fee.
9.64.060 Bicycle Event Permit Conditions.
9.64.070 Bicycle Event Requirements.
9.64.080 Exception to Permit Requirement.
9.64.090 Approval Required by Other Involved Jurisdictions and Private Property Owners.
9.64.110 Availability of Permit at Event Site.
9.64.120 Waiver or Release of Damages.
9.64.130 Emergency Use of Event Course or Route Requires Permit Cancellation.
9.64.150 News Release Required.
9.64.160 Law Enforcement and Traffic Control for Bicycle Event.
9.64.170 Penalty for Violation of this Chapter.
9.64.010 Legislative Declaration.
The board of county commissioners declares it to be the public interest and for the protection of the health, welfare and property of the residents of Yakima County, to provide for the safe and lawful conduct of bicycle events on Yakima County roads by assuring that proper safety measures, public notice, and traffic control are provided for. This invocation of the police powers is prompted by and based upon a finding of the board of county commissioners that there is danger to spectators, bicycle event participants, and other road users if proper safety, notice, traffic control and law enforcement measures are not adequately provided for.
(Ord. 10-2017 (part), 2017: Ord. 9-1998 § 1 (part), 1998).
9.64.020 Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1) Bicycles are defined in RCW 47.04.071.
(2) “Bicycle race” means any contest of speed or competition where bicycles are used and includes timed events of more than thirty participants. Bicycle racing permits riding more than two abreast on a roadway. This chapter also pertains to events in which bicycle racing is one leg of a multi-leg event and to organized group rides or excursions where no competition is involved.
(3) “Neutralize the race” means a temporary suspension of the race, usually accomplished by slowing the racers and confining the race to a small portion of the road. This is often done to allow safe passage of other vehicles using the road.
(4) “Permit” is the sanction issued by the county engineer for an approved bicycle race or event.
(5) “Permittee” means a person or organization conducting or organizing any form of bicycle event on county roads.
(6) “Provisional permit” is an interim permit for a bicycle event promotion issued by the permittee for purposes of securing either road permits or a certificate of insurance. The regular event permit is issued after all local and sanctioning organization permittee requirements are met.
(Ord. 10-2017 (part), 2017: Ord. 9-1998 § 1 (part), 1998).
9.64.030 Bicycle Race Permit Required.
Any permittee conducting or organizing any form of bicycle event on a Yakima County road outside the incorporated limits of any city or town shall apply at least sixty days before the bicycle race event to the county engineer for a bicycle event permit. It is within the county engineer’s discretion under special circumstances to shorten the permit application period where it appears that all permit conditions required herein can be met within the shorter period. Said shortening of the permit application period shall be requested and granted in writing. No bicycle event may be held on a Yakima County road without an approved permit unless the event is limited to fewer than thirty participants and, in the case of a timed race, the start intervals are at least one minute apart.
(Ord. 10-2017 (part), 2017: Ord. 9-1998 § 1 (part), 1998).
9.64.040 Permit Application Fee.
The permit application may be obtained from and returned to the county public works department. A fee of $250.00 shall accompany each bicycle event permit application that requires rolling closures or closed courses. A fee of $100.00 shall accompany each bicycle event permit application for events requiring no road closure and requiring participants to follow the rules of the road.
(Ord. 10-2017 (part), 2017: Ord. 9-1998 § 1 (part), 1998).
9.64.050 Notice Required.
Yakima County shall be notified at least one week in advance of all bicycle events that will be conducted on any public road in Yakima County that is within the jurisdiction of the Yakima County sheriff for law enforcement and emergency services purposes, but which do not require a permit under this chapter. Example: An event on a U.S. Forest Service road requires a Forest Service permit but not a Yakima County permit because the roads are not owned by Yakima County, but Yakima County personnel must respond in the event of an emergency which requires advance planning for personnel and vehicle assignments.
(Ord. 10-2017 (part), 2017: Ord. 9-1998 § 1 (part), 1998).
9.64.060 Bicycle Event Permit Conditions.
Bicycle event permits shall be issued only under the following conditions to ensure reasonable safety for all participants, spectators and other road users. “Reasonable safety” means that event participants, spectators, and other road users have been accommodated in planning the event so as to minimize the possibility of placing one type of road user in conflict with another.
(1) Permit applications must include the following:
(a) Event description stating all pertinent information required to understand the bicycle event and how it will be controlled;
(b) Date of event;
(c) Map showing the roadway on which the race will be held;
(d) The plan for traffic control, pedestrian control, and spectator control;
(e) Starting and anticipated finish time;
(f) Maximum number of participants and how the number will be controlled;
(g) Number and training of course marshals;
(h) Planned position of lead cars, support, medical and law enforcement vehicles at the start of the event and during the event;
(i) Provisions for parking, spectator viewing space and rest room facilities;
(j) Types of road signing to be used and placement thereof;
(k) Communications equipment to be used during the event;
(l) Evidence that notice of the event has been provided to the public via mass media and to affected property owners; and
(m) Proof of insurance coverage required in this chapter.
(2) The permittee shall indemnify, defend and save Yakima County harmless from any claim, suit, action for injuries, death or any other cause of personal injury or property damage arising from the issuance of a bicycle event permit, including claims of event participants, pedestrians, property owners along the course, and other roadway users.
(3) The permittee shall obtain liability insurance in an amount no less than one million dollars to cover Yakima County for any and all liabilities, including all costs, attorney fees, judgments or other expenses arising out of the use of Yakima County roads for the bicycle race event. Yakima County shall be named as an additional insured on all insurance policies.
(Ord. 10-2017 (part), 2017: Ord. 9-1998 § 1 (part), 1998).
9.64.070 Bicycle Event Requirements.
Permittees and bicycle event participants shall comply with current Washington State Bicycle Racing Guidelines, a copy of which may be obtained from the Washington State Department of Transportation, Transportation Building, 310 Maple Park Avenue, S.E., P.O. Box 47300, Olympia, WA 98504-7300 or from the Yakima County Public Works Department, Yakima County Courthouse, Room 408, 128 North Second Street, Yakima, Washington 98901.
(Ord. 10-2017 (part), 2017: Ord. 9-1998 § 1 (part), 1998).
9.64.080 Exception to Permit Requirement.
If the bicycle event course only crosses a Yakima County road, the county engineer may waive the requirement for a bicycle event permit provided the permittee can show that reasonable traffic control and safety are planned for the point of crossing the county road and that the permittee provide the indemnification and liability insurance prescribed by this chapter.
(Ord. 10-2017 (part), 2017: Ord. 9-1998 § 1 (part), 1998).
9.64.090 Approval Required by Other Involved Jurisdictions and Private Property Owners.
Issuance of a bicycle event permit is conditioned upon approval by other jurisdictions and/or owners of private property which is part of the intended bicycle event course. Issuance of a permit by Yakima County for an event upon Yakima County roads does not grant or imply approval by or on behalf of other involved jurisdictions or private property owners, nor does it grant permission to bicycle event participants to trespass upon property not owned by Yakima County.
(Ord. 10-2017 (part), 2017: Ord. 9-1998 § 1 (part), 1998).
9.64.100 Provisional Permit.
When it appears to the county engineer that all conditions required for issuance of a bicycle event permit have been planned for or met, a provisional permit may be issued to enable the permittee to obtain liability insurance, contract for personnel necessary to conduct the race, and obtain other permits as required. The bicycle event shall not be held until a bicycle event permit has been issued and a provisional permit shall not be construed to be such a permit.
(Ord. 10-2017 (part), 2017: Ord. 9-1998 § 1 (part), 1998).
9.64.110 Availability of Permit at Event Site.
The original or certified copy of the bicycle event permit must be available for viewing at the bicycle event start or finish for the duration of the bicycle event.
(Ord. 10-2017 (part), 2017: Ord. 9-1998 § 1 (part), 1998).
9.64.120 Waiver or Release of Damages.
Participant registration forms for permitted bicycle events shall include a statement of waiver or release of damages against Yakima County for signature by bicycle event participants or parents or guardians of participating minors. Said statement language shall be approved by legal counsel for Yakima County before the participant registration forms are printed by the permittee or made available to participants.
(Ord. 10-2017 (part), 2017: Ord. 9-1998 § 1 (part), 1998).
9.64.130 Emergency Use of Event Course or Route Requires Permit Cancellation.
In the event a weather or disaster-related emergency requires use of the event route or course as a detour or evacuation route, Yakima County officials reserve the right to cancel a permit and stop the event. Yakima County officials shall notify the permittee as soon as possible when such a condition arises.
(Ord. 10-2017 (part), 2017: Ord. 9-1998 § 1 (part), 1998).
9.64.140 Road Closure.
The decision to close a county road for a recreational or competitive event lies with the board of county commissioners who will consider information provided to them by the county engineer, event planners and law enforcement agencies. Factors to be considered when deciding whether or not to close a road for a permitted event include, but are not limited to, the anticipated speed of participants, prevailing speed of road traffic, time of race in relation to high traffic volume times, difficulty of turns, width of roads and other conditions.
(Ord. 10-2017 (part), 2017: Ord. 9-1998 § 1 (part), 1998).
9.64.150 News Release Required.
The permittee shall distribute a news release to news media of general circulation in that part of the county in which the event is to be held announcing the event and warning affected residents of potential travel delays in accordance with RCW 47.48.020. The permittee shall provide the county engineer with a copy of the news release which shall include the dates, times, roads affected, and estimated length of traffic delays. The permittee shall pay any cost of publication.
(Ord. 10-2017 (part), 2017: Ord. 9-1998 § 1 (part), 1998).
9.64.160 Law Enforcement and Traffic Control for Bicycle Event.
Yakima County may require but is not responsible for providing law enforcement and traffic control officers for the event. The permittee may contract directly with the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction where the bicycle event will occur, off-duty law enforcement officers, licensed private security agencies, or other properly trained traffic control personnel.
(Ord. 10-2017 (part), 2017: Ord. 9-1998 § 1 (part), 1998).
9.64.170 Penalty for Violation of this Chapter.
Bicycle events held on county roads in violation of this chapter may be terminated by Yakima County law enforcement authorities without notice to the organizers or participants.
Yakima County shall not be responsible for any costs or refunds resulting from termination of an event for violation of this chapter.
(Ord. 10-2017 (part), 2017: Ord. 9-1998 § 1 (part), 1998).