Bicycles are hereby classed as vehicles, and every person operating a bicycle in any public place and on any public way in the city shall be subject to the provisions of all state vehicle laws and all traffic ordinances, except such provisions in conflict with this chapter or which by their nature can have no application.
(A) Obedience to traffic directions. It shall be unlawful for any person operating a bicycle to fail or refuse to comply with any order, signal or direction of a police officer, or to disobey the instructions of any official traffic sign, signal or other traffic control device.
(B) Riding on bicycles.
(1) A person operating a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride the permanent and regular seat attached thereto, nor carry any other person upon such bicycle other than firmly attached regular seat thereon, nor shall any person ride upon a bicycle other than as above authorized.
(2) No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.
(C) Speed. No bicycle shall be operated at anytime faster than is reasonable, proper and prudent under the conditions then existing, and every bicycle shall be operated with reasonable regard to the safety of the rider and of other persons, property and vehicles.
(D) Riding on sidewalks.
(1) Only a duly licensed motor vehicle operator with a valid motor vehicle operators license in their possession may operate a bicycle upon the streets in the central business district between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., such district to include all streets and public ways within the area bounded by, and including, the streets of Illinois Road on the south, Wisconsin Avenue on the north, Oakwood Avenue on the west, Western Avenue on the east, and the length of Western Avenue extending from Westminster Avenue north to Woodland Road. In such business district area and during normal business hours, such business hours to be 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., bicycles operating on the sidewalk shall be walked only, in a dismounted manner by those operators of bicycles. Bicycles may be ridden on the sidewalks in the business district during those times not specified above by those operators who are not duly licensed motor vehicle operators.
(2) Bicycles may be operated on sidewalks in public parks.
(3) Due and proper care shall at all times be exercised by the bicycle operator for the pedestrian(s). Under all circumstances, bicycle operators riding or walking their bicycles, shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians using a sidewalk or path.
(E) Riding on right. Every person operating a bicycle shall keep to the right and shall operate as practical at the right-hand edge of the street, roadway, path or sidewalk.
(F) Riding in group. Persons riding bicycles or motorized pedal cycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast, except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for their exclusive use. Persons riding two abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane.
(G) Stopping or turning. The operator of a bicycle on the roadway, when making a right turn shall follow the right-hand edge of the roadway, and the operator of the bicycle when making a left turn shall approach the point of turning in the traffic lane nearest the center of the roadway. No operator of a bicycle shall start, slow down, stop or attempt to turn without first indicating such movement as provided by state laws for the operation of motor vehicles.
(H) Coming out of alleys, driveways, sidewalks, paths or buildings. The operator of a bicycle coming out of an alley, driveway, sidewalk, path or building shall stop before riding on or across a sidewalk or into a street or roadway if the view is obscured. Such operator shall in all cases yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians approaching on said street or roadway.
(I) Clinging to vehicles. No person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled or toy vehicle shall attach the same or himself or herself to any vehicle upon a roadway.
(J) Carrying articles. No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the rider from keeping both hands upon the bicycle handlebars.
(K) Trick riding. It shall be unlawful for any person operating a bicycle on the public streets, sidewalks, roadways or bike paths, or on any public way to engage in any kind of trick or unsafe riding.
(L) Prohibited areas for bicycle. Bicycles are prohibited to be operated in any area where appropriate signs are posted.
(Prior Code, § 40-1-1508) (Ord. 91-55, passed 8-5-1991; Ord. 2016-11, passed 2-16-2016) Penalty, see § 75.99
Cross-reference:
Bicycle operation not on certain streets, but on sidewalks, see Ch. 77, Sch. I