(A) Manner and number riding. No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped, except:
(1) On a baby seat attached to the bicycle, provided that the baby seat is equipped with a harness to hold the child securely in the seat and that protection is provided against the child’s feet hitting the spokes of the wheel; or
(2) In a seat attached to the bicycle operator.
(B) 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 handle bars or from properly operating the brakes of the bicycle.
(C) Bicycle equipment.
(1) No person shall operate a bicycle at nighttime unless the bicycle or its operator is equipped with a lamp which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and with a red reflector of a type approved by the Department of Public Safety which is visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. No person may operate a bicycle at any time when there is not sufficient light to render persons and vehicles on the trail clearly discernible at a distance of 500 feet ahead unless the bicycle or its operator is equipped with reflective surfaces that shall be visible during the hours of darkness from 600 feet when viewed in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. The reflective surfaces shall include reflective materials on each side of each pedal to indicate their presence from the front or the rear and with a minimum of 20 square inches of reflective material on each side of the bicycle or its operator. Any bicycle equipped with side reflectors as required by regulations for new bicycles prescribed by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission shall be considered to meet the requirements for side reflectorization contained in this division (C). A bicycle may be equipped with a rear lamp that emits a red flashing signal.
(2) No person shall operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
(3) No person shall operate upon a trail any bicycle equipped with handlebars so raised that the operator must elevate the hands above the level of the shoulders in order to grasp the normal steering grip area.
(4) No person shall operate upon a trail any bicycle which is of such a size as to prevent the operator from stopping the bicycle, supporting it with at least one foot on the trail surface, and restarting in a safe manner.
(5) Electric foot scooters are allowed on the same trails as bicycles, and operators have the same rights and responsibilities as the operator of a bicycle, according to state law. The following Minnesota laws are specific to motorized foot scooters:
(a) An electric foot scooter may not carry any additional passengers besides the operator.
(b) No one under age 12 may operate a motorized foot scooter.
(c) People under 18 who are using an electric foot scooter must wear a helmet.
(d) Foot scooters with gasoline or other liquid fuel-propelled motors are prohibited.
(D) Turning, lane change. An arm signal to turn right or left shall be given continuously during the last 100 feet traveled by the bicycle before turning, unless the arm is needed to control the bicycle, and shall be given while the bicycle is stopped waiting to turn.
(E) Bicycle parking. A bicycle parked on a trail shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of pedestrian or other traffic.
(F) Peace officer operating bicycle. The provisions of this section governing operation of bicycles do not apply to bicycles operated by peace officers while performing their duties.
(Ord. passed 10-8-2024)
Penalty, see § 70.99