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Olmsted Falls Overview
Codified Ordinances of Olmsted Falls, OH
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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)
474.09 ATTACHING BICYCLES, MOTORCYCLES TO OTHER VEHICLES
   (a)   No person riding upon any bicycle, electric bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled, skateboard, or toy vehicle shall attach the same or himself or herself to any vehicle upon a roadway.
   (b)   No operator shall knowingly permit any person riding upon any bicycle, electric bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled, skateboard, or toy vehicle to attach the same or himself or herself to any vehicle while it is moving upon a roadway.
   (c)   This section does not apply to towing a disabled vehicle.
   (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.
(ORC 4511.54; Ord. 28-72. Passed 5-23-72.)
474.10 IMPOUNDMENT.
   When a police officer has reasonable cause to believe that the operator of a bicycle is physically unable to continue to operate such bicycle in a safe manner, or when the police officer finds it necessary to legally take the operator of a bicycle into custody, or when the physical condition of the bicycle either renders continued operation unsafe or would automatically result in a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter due to improper or inadequate equipment. The police officer or other member of the Police Department may seize or impound such bicycle. The bicycle shall be transported to and kept in a safe place designated by the Safety Director. The Safety Director shall make and publish regulations governing the impounding, safekeeping and release of such bicycles. Such regulations shall provide, at a minimum, for the release of the impounded bicycle upon application by any responsible person who offers evidence that the conditions which necessitated the impoundment have ceased to exist. In no event shall an impounded bicycle be released to any person who is not at least eighteen years of age. If the bicycle operator is not at least eighteen years old the bicycle shall be released only to the parent or guardian of such individual.
(Ord. 65-73. Passed 12-11-73.)
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