474.02 RIDING UPON SEATS; CARRYING PACKAGES; MOTORCYCLE HANDLE BARS; HELMETS AND GLASSES.

   (a)    For purposes of this section, "snowmobile" has the same meaning as given that term in Section 476.01.

   (b)   No person operating a bicycle or electric bicycle shall ride other than upon or astride the permanent and regular seat attached thereto, or carry any other person upon such bicycle or electric bicycle other than upon a firmly attached and regular seat thereon, and no person shall ride upon a bicycle or electric bicycle other than upon such a firmly attached and regular seat.

   (c)    A person shall ride upon a motorcycle only while sitting astride the seat, facing forward, with one leg on each side of the motorcycle.

   (d)    No person operating a bicycle or electric bicycle shall carry  any package, bundle or article that prevents the driver from keeping at least one hand upon the handle bars.

   (e)    No bicycle, electric bicycle or motorcycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped, nor shall any motorcycle be operated on a highway when the handle bars or grips are more than fifteen inches higher than the seat or saddle for the operator.

   (f)    No person shall operate or be a passenger on a snowmobile or motorcycle without using safety glasses or other protective eye device. No person who is under the age of eighteen years, or who holds a motorcycle operator's endorsement or license bearing a "novice" designation that is currently in effect as provided in Ohio R. C. 4507.13, shall operate a motorcycle on a highway, or be a passenger on a motorcycle, unless wearing a protective helmet on his head, and no other person shall be a passenger on a motorcycle operated by such a person unless similarly wearing a protective helmet. The helmet, safety glasses or other protective eye device shall conform with regulations prescribed and promulgated by the Ohio Director of Public Safety. The provisions of this subsection or a violation thereof shall not be used in the trial of any civil action.

(ORC 4511.53; Adopting Ordinance )

   (g)   (1)    No person under the age of sixteen years shall operate a bicycle, or ride as a passenger on a bicycle equipped with a passenger seat, within the City unless such person is wearing a protective helmet on his or her head, with the chin strap fastened under the chin. Such helmet shall be fitted to the size of the operator and shall meet or exceed the standards set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the Snell Memorial Foundation (SNELL). This subsection shall not apply to any person riding a bicycle or who is a passenger on a bicycle on property zoned Class U-1 where such person resides.

      (2)    No parent, guardian or person acting for a parent shall permit a person under sixteen years of age to violate this subsection.

      (3)    Any person under the age of sixteen years found in violation of this subsection shall be informed by the police of the violation and of the severe injuries which may result when an accident occurs to a child not wearing a helmet. The police may take possession of the bicycle and hold it until the parent, guardian or person acting on behalf of the child claims the bicycle and is informed by the police of the violation and the severe injuries which may result.

      (4)    It shall be an affirmative defense to a violation of this section that the parent, guardian or person acting on behalf of a parent or guardian made a good faith effort to purchase a helmet for the minor but was unable to do so as the result of the unavailability of a helmet meeting the requirements in this subsection.

      (5)    Any parent, guardian or person acting on behalf of a parent or guardian of a person under the age of sixteen years, who permits such person under age of sixteen years to operate or be a passenger on a bicycle in the City, on public or private property, in violation of this subsection, shall be fined not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00). (Ord. 1990-123. Passed 12-3-90.)

474.03 ATTACHING BICYCLES, MOTORCYCLES TO OTHER VEHICLES.

   (a)   No person riding upon any motorcycle, bicycle, electric bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled, skateboard, or toy vehicle shall attach the same or himself to any vehicle upon a roadway.

   No operator shall knowingly permit any person riding upon any motorcycle, bicycle, electric bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled, skateboard,  or toy vehicle to attach the same or himself to any vehicle while it is moving upon a roadway. This section does not apply to the towing of a disabled vehicle.

   (b)   If the offender commits the offense while distracted and the distracting activity is a contributing factor to the commission of the offense, the offender is subject to the additional fine established under Section 404.991 of the Traffic Code.    (ORC 4511.54)

474.04 RIDING ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD WAY; RIDING ABREAST.

   (a)   Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable obeying all traffic rules applicable to vehicles and exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. 

   (b)   This section does not require a person operating a bicycle to ride at the edge of the roadway when it is unreasonable or unsafe to do so.  Conditions that may require riding away from the edge of the roadway include when necessary to avoid fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, surface hazards, or if it otherwise is unsafe or impracticable to do so, including if the lane is too narrow for the bicycle and an overtaking vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

   (c)    Persons riding bicycles, electric bicycles or motorcycles upon a roadway shall ride not more than two abreast in a single lane, except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, electric bicycles or motorcycles.

   (d)   If the offender commits the offense while distracted and the distracting activity is a contributing factor to the commission of the offense, the offender is subject to the additional fine established under Section 404.991 of the Traffic Code.  (ORC 4511.55)

474.05 LIGHTS, SIGNAL DEVICES, BRAKES ON BICYCLES.

   (a)   Every bicycle or electric bicycle when in use at the times specified in Section 438.02, shall be equipped with the following:

      (1)   A lamp mounted on the front of either the bicycle, or electric bicycle, or the operator that shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the front; and three hundred feet to the sides.  A generator-powered lamp that emits light only when the bicycle or electric bicycle is moving may be used to meet this requirement.

      (2)   A red reflector on the rear that shall be visible from all distances from one hundred feet to six hundred feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle.

      (3)   A lamp emitting either flashing or steady red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear shall be used in addition to the red reflector;

         If the red lamp performs as a reflector in that it is visible as specified in subsection (a)(2) of this section, the red lamp may serve as the reflector and a separate reflector is not required.

   (b)   Additional lamps and reflectors may be used in addition to those required under subsection (a) of this section, except that red lamps and red reflectors shall not be used on the front of the bicycle and white lamps and white reflectors shall not be used on the rear of the bicycle.

   (c)   Every bicycle shall be equipped with an adequate brake when used on a street or highway.   

   (d)   A bicycle or electric bicycle may be equipped with a device capable of giving an audible signal, except that a bicycle or electric bicycle shall not be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a bicycle or electric bicycle any siren or whistle.  (ORC 4511.56)

474.06 RIDING ON SIDEWALKS.

   No person under the age of eleven years, unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, shall operate a bicycle on the roadways within the City, provided sidewalks are available. Persons eleven years of age and older may operate a bicycle upon the roadways, but shall be governed by the same provisions of this Traffic Code relative to right of way as other vehicles. Every person operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk shall yield the right of way to all pedestrians and vehicles lawfully using the sidewalk. No person shall ride a bicycle on a sidewalk in a business district where restrictions have been placed by the Chief of Police due to congestion of the area, and where such restrictions are indicated by clearly visible signs. (Ord. 1974-27. Passed 4-15-74.)

474.07 PARKING; LOCKS; THEFT.

   (a)    No operator of a bicycle or motorcycle shall park the same on any public property within the City unless such vehicle is securely locked. 

   (b)    No person shall steal any bicycle or motorcycle, or purposely take, ride or operate any such vehicle without the consent of the owner thereof, or buy or conceal any such vehicle, or a part therefor, that has been stolen, knowing it to have been stolen, of a value of less than one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00). (Ord. 1974-27. Passed 4-15-74.)

474.08 PARENT'S RESPONSIBILITY.

   No parent of any child or guardian of any ward shall authorize or knowingly permit any such child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 1974-27. Passed 4-15-74.)

474.09 IMPOUNDING.

   Whenever any bicycle or motorcycle is operated by any person in violation of any of the provisions of this Traffic Code or is found on any public property not securely locked, such vehicle may be seized by any member of the Police Department and impounded in the Property Room of the Police Department or the Motor Vehicle Pound. Such impounded vehicles shall not be released except upon written order signed by the Chief of Police or some other officer designated by him. Any charges for towing or storing any impounded vehicle shall be paid by the owner of the vehicle or his agent directly to the garage acting as Motor Vehicle Pound. All parking citation charges, delinquent or otherwise, shall be paid before such vehicle is released.

   Bicycles and motorcycles impounded from persons under the age of eighteen years shall be released only to the parent or guardian of such person who shall be apprised of the reason for impounding the vehicle. (Ord. 1974-27. Passed 4-15-74. )