§ 14-498. Riding restrictions.

(a)

Abreast; single file. When two or more persons in a group are operating bicycles, they shall not ride abreast, but shall ride in single file.

(b)

Clinging to vehicles. It is unlawful for any person operating a bicycle within the village to cling or attach himself or his bicycle to any other moving vehicle.

(c)

Emerging from alley, driveway or building. The operator of a bicycle emerging from an alley, driveway or building shall, upon approaching a sidewalk or the sidewalk area extending across any alleyway, yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians approaching on said sidewalk or sidewalk area, and upon entering the roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on said roadway.

(d)

Extra passengers. It is unlawful for any person operating a bicycle within the village to carry another person on the same bicycle. This restriction does not apply to tandem bicycles.

(e)

Carrying articles. No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article in any manner which interferes with or prevents the safe operation of the bicycle.

(f)

Under influence of liquor or drugs. It is unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle within the village while under the influence of liquor or drugs.

(g)

Lights. No bicycle shall be operated within the village between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise, without a clear, white, properly lighted headlight, visible under normal atmospheric conditions from the front thereof for not less than 500 feet and firmly attached to the bicycle, or without a red reflector firmly attached to the bicycle, which is clearly visible in the headlight beam of an automobile for a distance of 500 feet to the rear of the bicycle.

(h)

Place of operation. Bicycles may be operated on sidewalks provided that due care is at all times exercised by the rider. Under all circumstances the rider shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians using the sidewalks. The Chief of Police and the Traffic Engineer are authorized to erect on certain streets signs prohibiting bicycles riding on those streets. Upon the erection of such signs it shall be unlawful to operate a bicycle on said streets.

(i)

Parking bicycles. Bicycles, when parked in the business district, shall be parked in zones officially designated for that purpose. Bicycles shall not, at any time, in any place, be indiscriminately parked by anyone along buildings, in such a manner as to interfere with pedestrians, or along roadways where they may interfere with traffic, or with persons getting into or out of automobiles. No person shall move, or in any manner interfere with any bicycle which is properly parked, nor shall any person interfere with, or, in any manner, hinder any person from properly parking a bicycle, except that members of the Police Department or Fire Department may move or, in proper cases prevent the parking of a bicycle, when, in the judgment of the police officer or firefighter, the action is necessary, in order properly to safeguard persons or property.

(j)

Keeping to right. All bicycles shall be operated as nearly as practicable at the right-hand edge of the roadway or sidewalk.

(k)

Signaling device. It is unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle within the village, which is not equipped with a signaling device, in good working order and audible at a distance of 100 feet when sounded.

(l)

Speed. No bicycle shall be operated faster than is reasonable and proper, and every bicycle shall be operated with reasonable regard for the safety of the rider and of other persons and property.

(m)

Observation of traffic regulations. Every person operating a bicycle within the village shall observe all traffic rules and regulations applicable to motor vehicles under this chapter, except those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application and except as otherwise provided by this section.

(n)

Trick riding. It is unlawful for any person operating a bicycle within the village to guide the bicycle in any manner except through the use of both hands upon the handlebars thereof, or otherwise to indulge in any kind of trick or unsafe riding.

(o)

Turns. The operator of a bicycle on a roadway, when making a right turn, shall follow the right-hand lane next to the right-hand edge of the roadway. No operator of a bicycle shall suddenly start, slow down, stop or attempt to turn without first giving the standard signal required by state law for motor vehicles under the same circumstances. The operator of a bicycle on a roadway intending to turn left shall follow a course described in this subsection (o):

(1)

The operator of a bicycle intending to turn left at any intersection shall approach the intersection in the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in the direction of travel of such bicycle, and after entering the intersection, the left turn shall be made so as to leave the intersection in a lane lawfully available to traffic moving in such direction upon the roadway being entered. Whenever practicable the left turn shall be made in that portion of the intersection to the left of the center of the intersection; or

(2)

The operator of a bicycle intending to turn left shall approach the turn as close as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway. After proceeding across the intersecting roadway, the turn shall be made as close as practicable to the curb or edge of the roadway on the far side of the intersection. After turning, the operator of the bicycle shall comply with any official traffic-control device or police officer regulating traffic on the highway along which he intends to proceed.

(Code 1993, § 13-9.11; Ord. No. 76-0-42, 9-7-1976; Ord. No. 77-0-37, 9-20-1977; Ord. No. 77-0-37, 9-24-1977; Ord. No. 82-0-15, 4-6-1982)