Skip to code content (skip section selection)
Compare to:
Olmsted Falls Overview
Codified Ordinances of Olmsted Falls, OH
Loading...
474.03 BICYCLE REGISTRATION; FEE.
   (a)    If the owner of any bicycle is a resident of the City he or she may register his or her bicycle with the City.
   (b)   Application for registration shall be made to the Police Department upon forms provided by the Department, which application shall state the make, color, serial number and other identifying characteristics of the bicycle; the name, address and telephone number of the applicant; and any other information the Department deems pertinent. In addition to the original application there shall be two carbon copies. The original and one of the carbon copies shall be retained by the Department to be arranged by numerical order of registrations and by alphabetical order of applicants, respectively; and one of the copies shall be returned to the applicant.
   (c)   Each application shall be accompanied by a fee of fifty cents (50¢).
   (d)   Upon receipt of the application and required fee, the Department shall furnish the applicant a numbered decal, of a form and design approved by the Safety Committee of Council, which shall be permanently attached to the bicycle in a conspicuous place. Each registrant shall also be issued a copy of or an abstract of the appropriate regulations set forth in this chapter.
   (e)   No decal, once issued, shall be transferable to or used on any other bicycle.
   (f)   No person shall purposely or knowingly remove, destroy, mutilate, alter or deface the serial number of any bicycle or such decal issued by the City for use on any bicycle.
   (g)   Any person who sells or transfers the ownership of a bicycle registered with the City is requested to report such sale or transfer at the earliest possible time.
   (h)   The Department shall act upon all applications and may require documents of ownership and compliance with all safety equipment provisions of this chapter.
   (i)   The Department shall maintain files of all registrations, as provided for in this section, in as diligent and efficient a manner as is possible, to expedite the recovery of stolen bicycles, and may remove from such files any registration more than ten years old.
(Ord. 87-84. Passed 9-10-84.)
474.04 MINIMUM AGE OF BICYCLE OPERATOR.
   No person who has not yet attained the age of eleven years shall operate a bicycle upon the roadway portion of any street of the Municipality if a sidewalk is available parallel thereto except as otherwise provided or required in Section 474.06. A police officer having reason to believe that the operator of a bicycle is under the age of eleven years, whether because of the appearance of the operator or other information known to the officer, shall have the authority to stop such operator and request proper identification and proof of age. In the event that the operator is unable to provide such proof to the reasonable satisfaction of the police officer, the officer shall treat the case by applying one or more of the following alternatives:
   (a)   The officer may transport such operator and his or her bicycle to his or her place of residence if it is within the Municipality, or such other place within the Municipality as the operator may request for the purpose of establishing such identification, provided that if the child is proven to be eleven years of age or older the police officer shall return the operator and bicycle to the original location or to such other reasonable convenient location as the operator may request;
   (b)   The officer may release the operator forthwith;
   (c)   The officer mav require the operator to comply with the terms of this section unless and until the Police Department is furnished with proof of such identification and age, to its reasonable satisfaction. Upon the furnishing of such proof, the Police Department shall provide to the individual, without charge, a convenient certification form which may thereafter be carried by the person and which shall thereafter be deemed to be conclusive;
   (d)   The officer may contact the parent or parents, guardian or other person in charge of such person for the purpose of establishing identification or age; or
   (e)   The officer may issue a citation if, after confronting the operator, from all the circumstances known to him or her, he or she has reasonable cause to believe that the person has violated this section.
      (Ord. 65-73. Passed 12-11-73.)
474.05 LIGHTS, SIGNAL DEVICES, BRAKES ON BICYCLES.
   (a)   Every bicycle or electric bicycle when in use at the times specified in Section 438.02, 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)   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.
   (d)   Every bicycle and electric bicycle shall be equipped with an adequate brake when used on a street or highway.
(ORC 4511.56)
474.06 SAFE RIDING REGULATIONS.
   (a)   No person operating a bicycle shall fail to obey the instructions of official traffic control signals, signs or other devices applicable to vehicles unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
   (b)   No person shall operate a bicycle upon any street, sidewalk or bicycle path without due regard for the safety of persons or property on or adjacent thereto.
   (c)   No person shall operate a bicycle on a sidewalk in such fashion as to overtake and pass a pedestrian or vehicle lawfully operated on a sidewalk without first giving an audible signal reasonably calculated to warn such person or vehicle operator of the presence of the approaching vehicle without startling such person or operator. No person operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk shall overtake and pass a blind person carrying a white cane except by dismounting and overtaking and passing such person on foot.
   (d)   No person operating a bicycle shall enter a roadway, sidewalk or crosswalk or emerge from an alley, driveway or building without first observing, and yielding the right of way to, the vehicular and pedestrian traffic moving upon such roadway, sidewalk or crosswalk.
   (e)   Bicycles shall be operated on the right side of roadways as near the curb, berm or shoulder as possible.
   (f)   Persons riding bicycles upon roadways shall ride in single file only and not abreast, except on paths or parts of streets set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
   (g)   No person operating a bicycle on any roadway shall carry any package, bundle or article in a manner which necessitates taking either hand from the handle bars.
   (h)   Wherever a designated, usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a street, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the street.
   (i)   No person shall operate a bicycle in such manner as to accomplish a turn, change lanes or stop without first giving a signal by hand and arm with his or her left hand extended to the left side of the bicycle as follows:
      (1)   For a left turn or lane change, the hand and arm shall be extended horizontally;
      (2)   For a right turn or lane change, the upper arm shall be extended horizontally with the forearm and hand extended upward:
      (3)   To stop or decrease speed, the hand and arm shall be extended diagonally downward The operator of a bicycle shall not be required to give such signals in an emergency maneuver which could not reasonably have been foreseen.
   (j)   No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable and proper under the conditions then existing.
   (k)   No person shall engage in trick riding or operate a bicycle on any roadway without both hands upon the handle bars, except when necessary to give the hand signals required in subsection (i) hereof.
(Ord. 65-73. Passed 12-11-73.)
474.065 RIDING ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROADWAY; RIDING ABREAST.
   (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)   Persons riding bicycles, electric bicycles, or motorcycles upon a roadway shall ride not more than two abreast in a single lane, except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles or motorcycles.
   (d)   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 § 404.991.
(R.C. § 4511.55)
474.066 RIDING BICYCLES UPON SIDEWALKS.
   A person operating a bicycle shall ride upon the sidewalk rather than the roadway when sidewalks are available, except that no person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk upon or along which signs have been erected by authority of Council or other duly designated local authority prohibiting such bicycle riding, or within a business district. At no time shall a person under the age of 11 years operate a bicycle on a street.
474.07 PARKING BICYCLES.
   (a)   No person shall park a bicycle upon a sidewalk in such a manner as to interfere with pedestrian traffic or damage the property of another.
   (b)   No person shall park a bicycle upon a roadway in such a manner as to interfere with vehicular traffic.
(Ord. 65-73. Passed 12-11-73.)
474.08 RIDING UPON SEATS; CARRYING PACKAGES; MOTORCYCLE HANDLE BARS; HELMETS AND GLASSES.
   (a)   For purposes of this section "snowmobile" has the same meaning as given that term in Ohio R.C 4519.01.
   (b)   No person operating a bicycle or electric bicycle shall ride other than upon or astride the permanent and regular seat attached thereto, or carry any other person upon such bicycle or electric bicycle other than upon a firmly attached and regular seat thereon, and no person shall ride upon a bicycle or electric bicycle other than upon such a firmly attached and regular seat.
   (c)   No person operating a motorcycle shall ride other than upon or astride the permanent and regular seat or saddle attached thereto, or carry any other person upon such motorcycle other than upon a firmly attached and regular seat or saddle thereon, and no person shall ride upon a motorcycle other than upon such a firmly attached and regular seat or saddle.
   (d)   No person shall ride upon a motorcycle that is equipped with a saddle other than while sitting astride the saddle, facing forward, with one leg on each side of the motorcycle.
   (e)   No person shall ride upon a motorcycle that is equipped with a seat other than while sitting upon the seat.
   (f)   No person operating a bicycle or electric bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article that prevents the driver from keeping at least one hand upon the handle bars.
   (g)   No bicycle or electric bicycle or motorcycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped, nor shall any motorcycle be operated on a highway when the handle bars or grips are more than fifteen inches higher than the seat or saddle for the operator.
   (h)   (1)   Except as provided in subsection (h)(2) of this section, no person shall operate or be a passenger on a snowmobile or motorcycle without using safety glasses or other protective eye device. Except as provided in subsection (i)(3) of this section, no person who is under the age of eighteen years, or who holds a motorcycle operator's endorsement or license bearing "novice" designation that is currently in effect as provided in Ohio R.C. 4507.13, shall operate a motorcycle on a highway, or be a passenger on a motorcycle, unless wearing a United States Department of Transportation- approved protective helmet on the person’s head, and no other person shall
be a passenger on a motorcycle operated by such a person unless similarly wearing a protective helmet. The helmet, safety glasses or other protective eye device shall conform with rules adopted by the Ohio Director of Public Safety. The provisions of this subsection or a violation thereof shall not be used in the trial of any civil action.
      (2)   Subsection (h)(1) of this section does not apply to a person operating an autocycle or cab-enclosed motorcycle when the occupant compartment top is in place enclosing the occupants.
   (i)   (1)   No person shall operate a motorcycle with a valid temporary permit and temporary instruction permit identification card issued by the Ohio Registrar of Motor Vehicles pursuant to Ohio R.C. 4507.05 unless the person, at the time of such operation, is wearing on the person’s head a protective helmet that has been approved by the United States Department of Transportation that conforms with rules adopted by the Director.
      (2)   No person shall operate a motorcycle with a valid temporary instruction permit and temporary instruction permit identification card issued by the Registrar pursuant to Ohio R.C. 4507.05 in any of the following circumstances:
         A.   At any time when lighted lights are required by Section 438.02(a)(1);
         B.   While carrying a passenger;
         C.   On any limited access highway or heavily congested roadway.
   (j)   Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the carrying of a child in a seat or trailer that is designed for carrying children and is firmly attached to the bicycle or electric bicycle.
   (k)   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 4511.53)
Loading...