(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) Every person operating a bicycle in the City shall:
(1) Obey the instructions of official traffic control devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer;
(2) Before changing course, turning or stopping upon a roadway, exercise due care that the movement can be made without reasonable safety and give the hand and arm signals required by Ohio R.C. 4511.40;
(3) Yield the right of way to pedestrian and vehicular traffic upon the roadway as lawfully required;
(4) Yield the right of way to a pedestrian upon a sidewalk;
(5) Give timely and audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian upon a roadway or sidewalk.
(Ord. 12-77. Passed 7-25-77.)
(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.
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 4511.441)