(A) No person 11 years of age or older shall operate a bicycle or an electric bicycle on the sidewalks located within the geographical boundary limits of Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government (“Louisville Metro”). Provided, however, no person, regardless of age, shall operate a bicycle or an electric bicycle on the sidewalks of Louisville Metro within the Downtown Form District, as defined in the Land Development Code for all of Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky, as amended.
(B) No operator of any bicycle or electric bicycle shall carry another person on such bicycle or electric bicycle, except as provided herein.
(1) A bicycle or an electric bicycle shall not be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped. Riders of “tandem bicycles” all must be able to comfortably reach the pedals of the bicycle or electric bicycle.
(2) A passenger shall ride only upon a permanent and regular seat attached to the bicycle or the electric bicycle, or to a trailer towed by the bicycle or the electric bicycle.
(3) An adult may carry a child as a passenger, provided that the child meets all of the following conditions:
(a) Is over the age of one;
(b) Weighs less than 40 pounds or is less than 40 inches in height;
(c) Is properly seated in a permanent and attached child seat or in a trailer attached to the bicycle or the electric bicycle, provided that the seat/trailer is equipped with a harness to hold the child securely to the seat, and protection is provided against the child's feet or hands hitting the spokes of the wheels;
(d) Is able to maintain an erect, seated position on the bicycle or the electric bicycle;
(e) Is wearing an appropriately-sized helmet that is secured to the head by straps while the bicycle or the electric bicycle is being operated, or is in an enclosed bicycle trailer that protects the passenger's head from impact in an accident; and
(f) Does not remain in the child seat or trailer when the bicycle operator is not in immediate control of the bicycle or the electric bicycle.
(C) So long as they are acting within the scope of their official duties, subsection (A) shall not apply to officers with Louisville Metro Police Department, nor to employees of Louisville Metro Emergency Medical Services, Louisville Fire and Rescue, the suburban fire protection districts, Louisville and Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency, nor to Downtown Management District Clean and Safety Team personnel, nor to private security personnel employed by hospitals located within the Downtown Form District.
(1999 Lou. Code, § 74.01) (Lou. Ord. No. 85-1961, approved 4-27-1961; Lou. Am. Ord. No. 79-1992, approved 5-12-1992; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 176-2004, approved 11-24-2004; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 76-2006, approved 5-4-2006; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 157-2021, approved 11-11-2021) Penalty, see § 74.99