331.37 DRIVING UPON SIDEWALKS, STREET LAWNS OR BIKEPATHS.
   (a)   (1)   No person shall drive any vehicle, other than a bicycle or an electric bicycle if the motor is not engaged, upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area except upon a permanent or duly authorized temporary driveway.
      (2)    This prohibition does not apply to a law enforcement officer, other person sworn to enforce the criminal and traffic laws of the state, or a City employee, using an electric bicycle with the motor engaged while in the performance of the officer’s duties.
      (3)    Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting local authorities from regulating the operation of bicycles or electric bicycles, except that no local authority may require that bicycles or electric bicycles be operated on sidewalks. (ORC 4511.711(A); Ord. 2022-06. Passed 4-14-22.)
   (b)   No person shall drive or propel a vehicle, other than a bicycle, upon a designated bikepath area.
   (c)   Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting local authorities from regulating the operation of bicycles.
   (d)   Whoever violates any provision of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense; on a second offense within one year after the first offense, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree; on each subsequent offense within one year after the first offense, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
   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 303.991 of the Traffic Code.
(Ord. 2019-1. Passed 5-9-19.)