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373.05 SIGNAL DEVICE ON BICYCLE.
   (a)   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.
   (b)   Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(ORC 4511.56)
373.06 LIGHTS AND REFLECTOR ON BICYCLE; BRAKES.
   (a)   Every bicycle or electric bicycle when in use at the times specified in Section 337.02, 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 or electric bicycle and white lamps and white reflectors shall not be used on the rear of the bicycle or electric bicycle.
   (c)   Every bicycle or electric bicycle shall be equipped with an adequate brake when used on a street or highway.
   (d)   Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(ORC 4511.56)
373.07 RIDING BICYCLE ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROADWAY; OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC RULE; PASSING.
   (a)   Every person operating a bicycle or electric 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 or electric 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 or electric bicycle and an overtaking vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
   (c)   Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section 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. (ORC 4511.55(A))
373.08 RECKLESS OPERATION; CONTROL, COURSE AND SPEED.
   (a)   No person shall operate a bicycle or electric bicycle:
      (1)   Without due regard for the safety and rights of pedestrians and drivers and occupants of all other vehicles, and so as to endanger the life, limb or property of any person while in the lawful use of the streets or sidewalks or any other public or private property;
      (2)   Without exercising reasonable and ordinary control over such bicycle or electric bicycle;
      (3)   In a weaving or zigzag course unless such irregular course is necessary for safe operation in compliance with law;
      (4)   Without both hands upon the handle grips except when necessary to give the required hand and arm signals, or as provided in Section 373.02(d);
      (5)   At a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing.
   (b)   Whoever violates 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.
373.09 PARKING OF BICYCLE.
   (a)   No person shall park a bicycle or electric bicycle upon a sidewalk in such a manner so as to unduly interfere with pedestrian traffic or upon a roadway so as to unduly interfere with vehicular traffic.
   (b)   Whoever violates 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.
373.10 MOTORIZED BICYCLE OPERATION, EQUIPMENT AND LICENSE.
   (a)   No person shall operate a motorized bicycle upon any street or highway or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking, unless all of the following conditions are met:
      (1)   The person is fourteen or fifteen years of age and holds a valid probationary motorized bicycle license issued after the person has passed the test provided for in Ohio R.C. 4511.521, or the person is sixteen years of age or older and holds either a valid commercial driver’s license issued under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4506, or a driver’s license issued under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4507, or a valid motorized bicycle license issued after the person has passed the test provided for in Ohio R.C. 4511.521, except that if a person is sixteen years of age, has a valid probationary motorized bicycle license and desires a motorized bicycle license, the person is not required to comply with the testing requirements provided for in Ohio R.C. 4511.521;
      (2)   The motorized bicycle is equipped in accordance with rules adopted by the Ohio Director of Public Safety and is in proper working order;
      (3)   The person, if under eighteen years of age, is wearing a protective helmet on the person’s head with the chin strap properly fastened, and the motorized bicycle is equipped with a rear-view mirror; and
      (4)   The person operates the motorized bicycle when practicable within three feet of the right edge of the roadway obeying all traffic rules applicable to vehicles.
   (b)   No person operating a motorized bicycle shall carry another person upon the motorized bicycle.
   (c)   The protective helmet and rearview mirror required by subsection (a)(3) of this section shall, on and after January 1, 1985, conform with rules adopted by the Ohio Director of Public Safety.
   (d)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. (ORC 4511.521)
373.11 LICENSE REQUIRED; APPLICATION; FEE.
   (a)   License Required. No person shall operate a bicycle upon any street, sidewalk or other public place in the City without having secured a license therefor.
   (b)   License Application.
      (1)   An application for bicycle license shall be made by the owner in writing, in duplicate, upon blank forms furnished by the Chief of Police.
      (2)   Such application shall be signed by the owner and if the owner is a person under eighteen years of age, the signature shall be witnessed by a parent of the owner, or if no parent is living, then by the legal guardian of the owner. The application shall state the full name and address of the owner of the bicycle, the name of the manufacturer, the serial number of the frame thereof, the approximate date when the owner obtained title thereto, and if not new, when obtained, the name and address of the person from whom it was obtained.
 
   (c)   Inspection of Bicycle Prior to License Issuance. The bicycle to be licensed shall be brought to the police station at the time of presenting the application for the purpose of examination and the Chief of Police shall examine the bicycle, and if he finds the mechanical condition thereof such that it can be safely operated, and further finds that the statements made in the license application are true, he shall issue the applicant a license card and a metal plate containing the license number for the bicycle.
 
   (d)   License Fee. The Chief of Police shall not issue a bicycle license to any person unless that person pays a fee of one dollar ($1.00) to the City.
 
   (e)   License Term. The license required by this article shall be valid as long as the licensee owns the bicycle; provided, however, that such license shall in any event expire three years after its issuance.
 
   (f)   Loss of License Plate. A bicycle licensee shall report immediately to the Chief of Police the loss or destruction of his license plate, and the circumstances surrounding the loss or destruction thereof. The Chief of Police shall issue a duplicate license plate upon payment of a fee of one dollar ($1.00).
 
   (g)   Surrender of License Upon Loss or Sale of Bicycle. When any bicycle which has been registered and licensed, as herein provided, is sold, or is otherwise disposed of, or destroyed, the licensee shall immediately surrender to the Chief of Police the license card and plate issued therefor, with the name and address of the new owner, if any, written on the face of the license. The Chief of Police shall immediately make proper endorsements thereof on his records and issue a new license card and plate to the new owner for a fee of one dollar ($1.00). The number of any license surrendered as provided in this section shall not be reissued.
 
   (h)   Inspection. Any member of the Police Department is hereby authorized to inspect any bicycle, at any reasonable time, for the purpose of making a checkup of the license plate and license number, serial number and for the purpose of determining its mechanical condition.
 
   (i)   Removal or Destruction of License Plate. No person shall remove from the bicycle, destroy, mutilate or alter any bicycle license plate issued pursuant to the provisions of this section.
 
   (j)   Removal or Destruction of Serial Number. No person, willfully or maliciously, shall remove, destroy, mutilate or alter the serial number of any bicycle licensed pursuant to the provisions of this section.
 
   (k)   Reports to Chief of Absence of Serial Number. No person residing in the City, or any dealer in bicycles operating in the City, shall purchase, receive in trade or otherwise acquire any bicycle from which the serial number on the frame has been removed, destroyed, mutilated or altered, without first reporting the same to the Chief of Police.
 
   (l)   Chief Authorized to Affix Serial Number. The Chief of Police is hereby authorized to stamp numbers on the frame of a bicycle in a legible manner for identification purposes, upon which no serial number can be found, or upon which the serial number is illegible or insufficient for identification purposes.
 
   (m)   Violations. After a hearing affording due process, the Chief of Police may revoke or suspend for a period of thirty days any bicycle license for any violation of any provisions of this section or any applicable provision of the statutes relating to bicycles; in addition, the Chief of Police may impound the bicycle of any such violator for a period not exceeding thirty days.
(1977 Code Secs. 4-1 to 4-13.)
 
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