(A) Skateboards, skates, and similar devices. The following provisions govern the operation of non-motorized vehicles other than bicycles, including but not limited to roller skates, in-line skates, skateboards, coasters, scooters, and toy vehicles (collectively referred to hereafter as "skating device") on any public right-of-way or on any property open to the public or used by the public for pedestrian or vehicular purpose:
(1) No person may ride a skating device upon any roadway, except while crossing a street at a crosswalk, except that a person may ride upon a roadway upon all of the following conditions:
(a) The roadway has a posted speed limit of 20 mph or less;
(b) The road is not a through street; and
(c) The rider yields to all vehicular traffic and pedestrians.
(2) No person riding a skating device may attach himself or herself or the skating device to any moving motor vehicle.
(3) A person may ride a skating device upon a sidewalk only upon the following conditions:
(a) The rider must yield to all pedestrians. Pedestrians shall at all times have the right-of-way upon a sidewalk. In the case of any doubt of safe and untouched passage by a pedestrian, a person riding a skating device shall stop or dismount such device until the pedestrian passes.
(b) Riding a skating device is prohibited on the sidewalks adjacent to King Street from Water Street to Appalachian Street.
(B) Bicycles. The following provisions govern the operation of bicycles on any public right-of-way, including roads, sidewalks, and greenways.
(1) Helmets and other equipment must be used as provided at § 71.02 herein.
(2) Bicycles may only be ridden on public sidewalks if:
(a) The bicyclist is a minor, or is an adult transporting a minor on the bicycle consistent with the requirements of § 71.02; or
(b) The sidewalk is adjacent to a road that the bicyclist reasonably considers unsafe for bicycling.
(3) Bicyclists riding upon a public sidewalk adjacent to a street with sidewalks available on both sides of the street shall ride in the same direction as the immediately adjacent lane of motor vehicle traffic where it is reasonably possible and practical to do so, taking into consideration the intended route of the bicyclist, the availability of safe alternatives, and other relevant considerations. Warnings may be issued for violations of this division, but a citation may be issued only where the bicyclist has demonstrated repeated and reckless disregard for his or her safety or the safety of others in the course of violating this provision.
(4) Bicyclists must yield to pedestrians. Pedestrians shall at all times have the right-of-way upon a sidewalk or crosswalk. In the case of any doubt of safe and untouched passage by a pedestrian, a bicyclist shall stop or dismount until the pedestrian has passed.
(5) Bicyclists riding upon a sidewalk against the direction of the motor vehicle traffic in the immediately adjacent lane of the street must yield to motor vehicles at crosswalks. Bicyclists must yield whether the motor vehicle is entering onto the adjacent street from an intersecting driveway or road, or exiting that adjacent street onto an intersecting road or driveway.
(6) Bicycling is prohibited on the sidewalks adjacent to King Street from Water Street to Appalachian Street.
(C) A bicyclist may not carry any other person upon the handlebars or any other part of the bicycle not designed for carrying passengers.
(D) The limitations stated in this section shall not apply to bicycles operated by the town's police officers who are engaged in the pursuit or apprehension of violators. This exemption shall not, however, protect the driver of any vehicle from the consequence of a reckless disregard of the safety of others.
(Ord. passed 12-16-2019; Ord. passed 1-19-2021)
(A) Preamble. This section is enacted because:
(1) The major cause of death and permanent disability in bicycle accidents is head injury;
(2) Helmets and child carrying devices which meet nationally recognized standards have been demonstrated to significantly reduce the numbers of head injuries in accidents;
(3) Many cyclists do not use the appropriate equipment; and
(4) Incentives are necessary to encourage bicyclists to wear helmets.
(B) Regulations.
(1) Every person operating a bicycle on a public right-of-way or on any property open to the public or used by the public for pedestrian or vehicular purposes shall ride on a permanent and regular attached seat.
(2) Every person under the age of 21 operating a bicycle on a public right-of-way or on any property open to the public or used by the public for pedestrian or vehicular purposes shall wear a helmet of good fit, fastened securely and:
(a) Meeting ANSI Z90.4 standards;
(b) The Snell Memorial Foundation's 1984 Standard for Protective Headgear for Use in Bicycling;
(c) ASTM bicycle helmet standards; or
(d) Subsequent amendment(s) to the bicycle helmet standards described above.
(3) No person operating a bicycle on a public right-of-way or on any property open to the public or used by the public for pedestrian or vehicular purposes shall allow anyone four years old or younger and weighing 40 pounds or less to ride as a passenger on the bicycle, other than in a seat which shall adequately retain the passenger in place and protect the passenger from the bicycle's moving parts; or else astride a regular seat of a tandem bicycle.
(4) No person operating a bicycle on a public right-of-way or on any property open to the public or used by the public for pedestrian or vehicular purposes shall allow anyone under the age of 21 to ride as a passenger unless the passenger is wearing a helmet as defined in division (B)(2) above or else in an enclosed trailer or other device which meets or exceeds current nationally recognized standards of design and manufacture for the protection of the passenger's head from impacts in an accident without the need for a helmet.
(Ord. passed 12-16-2019; Ord. passed 1-19-2021)
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