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Any person operating a bicycle shall:
(a) Obey the instructions of official traffic control devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer;
(b) Before changing course, turning or stopping upon a roadway, exercise due care that the movement can be made with reasonable safety and give the hand and arm signals required by Section 432.14;
(c) Yield the right of way to pedestrian and vehicular traffic upon the roadway as lawfully required;
(d) Yield the right of way to a pedestrian upon a sidewalk;
(e) Give timely and audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian upon a roadway or sidewalk.
(Ord. 1972-189. Passed 4-4-73.)
No person shall operate a bicycle:
(a) 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;
(b) Without exercising reasonable and ordinary control over such bicycle;
(c) In a weaving or zigzag course unless such irregular course is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law;
(d) Without both hands upon the handle grips except when necessary to give the required hand and arm signals;
(e) At a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing.
(f) Fail to audibly signal when overtaking and pedestrian or other slower moving device.
(Ord. 1972-189. Passed 4-4-73; Ord. 96-233. Passed 12-3-96; Ord. 01-41. Passed 3-20-01.)
No person shall park a 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.
(Ord. 96-234. Passed 12-3-96; Ord. 01-41. Passed 3-20-01.)
(a) No person shall operate a bicycle upon a sidewalk where signs are erected prohibiting such operation.
(b) During lawful operation of a bicycle on any sidewalk or multi-purpose trail, operators shall give a clearly audible signal when overtaking any pedestrian or other slower moving device.
(Ord. 96-235. Passed 12-3-96; Ord. 01-41. Passed 3-20-01.)
Any police officer may impound the bicycle of any rider under eighteen years of age for any violation of any of the provisions of this Traffic Code. The bicycle shall not be released except to a parent, guardian or other person having the custody and control of such minor, and upon order of the Police Chief or any person designated by the Chief.
(Ord. 96-236. Passed 12-3-96; Ord. 01-41. Passed 3-20-01.)
(a) No person shall operate a motorized bicycle upon a 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, as defined in Ohio R.C. 4507.01, issued after the person has passed the test provided by the Ohio Director of Public Safety pursuant to 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 such test, 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 this section.
(2) The motorized bicycle is equipped in accordance with the rules adopted and promulgated by the Ohio Director of Public Safety pursuant to Ohio R.C. 4511.521(B) 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.
(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) Every motorized bicycle license expires on the birthday of the applicant in the fourth or eighth year after the date it is issued, based on the period of renewal requested by the applicant. No motorized bicycle license shall be issued for a period longer than eight years. A person who is 65 years of age or older may only apply for a motorized bicycle license that expires on the birthday of the applicant in the fourth year after the date it is issued.
(d) Whoever violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor and shall be subject to the penalty provided in Section 408.01.
(ORC 4511.521)
(a) (1) On and after January 1, 2020, manufacturers and distributors of electric bicycles shall permanently affix a label, in a prominent location, to each electric bicycle. The label shall specify whether the electric bicycle is a class 1, class 2, or class 3 electric bicycle, the top assisted speed that the electric bicycle is capable of reaching, and the motor wattage of the electric bicycle.
(2) No person shall modify an electric bicycle in a manner that changes the top assisted speed that the electric bicycle is capable of reaching unless the person also modifies the label required under division (a)(1) of this section to reflect the modification.
(b) (1) The manufacturer of an electric bicycle shall ensure that the electric bicycle complies with the equipment and manufacturing requirements for bicycles established by the consumer product safety commission under 16 C.F.R. §§ 1512 et seq.
(2) The manufacturer shall manufacture all class 1 electric bicycles and class 3 electric bicycles so that when the rider ceases pedaling the electric motor ceases to provide assistance. The manufacturer shall manufacture all class 2 electric bicycles so that when the rider applies the brakes or releases or activates a switch or similar mechanism the electric motor ceases to provide assistance.
(3) All class 3 electric bicycles shall be equipped with a speedometer that displays the speed of the electric bicycle in miles per hour.
(c) (1) The operation of a class 1 electric bicycle and a class 2 electric bicycle is permitted on a path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles or on a shared-use path, unless the county, township, municipal corporation, other local authority, or state agency as defined in R.C. § 1.60 with control over the path by resolution, ordinance, or rule prohibits the use of a class 1 electric bicycle or class 2 electric bicycle on such a path.
(2) No person shall operate a class 3 electric bicycle on a path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles or a shared-use path unless that path is within or adjacent to a highway or the county, township, municipal corporation, or local authority, or state agency as defined in R.C. § 1.60 with control over the path by resolution, ordinance, or rule authorizes the use of a class 3 electric bicycle on such a path.
(3) No person shall operate a class 1 electric bicycle, a class 2 electric bicycle, or a class 3 electric bicycle on a path that is intended to be used primarily for mountain biking, hiking, equestrian use, or other similar uses, or any other single track or natural surface trail that has historically been reserved for non-motorized use, unless the county, township, municipal corporation, other local authority, or state agency as defined in R.C. § 1.60 with control over the path by resolution, ordinance, or rule authorizes the use of a class 1 electric bicycle, a class 2 electric bicycle, or a class 3 electric bicycle on such a path.
(4) Divisions (c)(2) and (c)(3) of this section do not apply to a law enforcement officer, or other person sworn to enforce the criminal and traffic laws of the state, using an electric bicycle while in the performance of the officer’s duties.
(d) (1) No person under 16 years of age shall operate a class 3 electric bicycle; however, a person under 16 years of age may ride as a passenger on a class 3 electric bicycle that is designed to accommodate passengers.
(2) No person shall operate or be a passenger on a class 3 electric bicycle unless the person is wearing a protective helmet that meets the standards established by the Consumer Product Safety Commission or the American Society for Testing and Materials.
(e) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever operates an electric bicycle in a manner that is prohibited under division (c) of this section and whoever violates division (d) of 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.
(2) The offenses established under division (e)(1) of this section are strict liability offenses and strict liability is a culpable mental state for purposes of R.C. § 2901.20. The designation of these offenses as strict liability offenses shall not be construed to imply that any other offense, for which there is no specified degree of culpability, is not a strict liability offense.
(R.C. § 4511.522)