(a) Definition: Motorized Bicycle: means a bicycle with two (2) or three (3) wheels, a seat or saddle, fully operative pedals for human propulsion, and an electric or gas powered motor that does not require manual clutching or shifting and which can propel the bike with or without pedal- assistance.
(b) No person shall operate a gas powered motorized bicycle within or upon a street, roadway or the public rights of way of the City of Parkersburg.
(c) No person shall operate an electric powered motorized bicycle within or upon a street, roadway or the public rights of way of the City of Parkersburg except and unless such electric powered motorized bicycle was built by an original manufacturer and which manufacturer is clearly identified on such bicycle.
(d) No person shall operate a motorized bicycle upon any public sidewalk within the City. Electric motorized bicycles shall be permitted on any designated multi-use path for pedestrians and bicycles as well as upon any bicycle path or trail within the City.
(e) A person operating a motorized bicycle shall obey all speed limits and shall yield the right of way to pedestrians and human-powered devices at all times.
(f) Any person operating a motorized bicycle shall obey all traffic control devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
(g) No motorized bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.
(h) Any person operating a motorized bicycle upon a street or roadway shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by the laws of the State and by the traffic ordinances of the City applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except for any special regulations in this section and except for those provisions of such laws and ordinances which by their nature can have no application.
(i) Every motorized bicycle shall be equipped with at least one (1) and not more than two (2) head lamps and which emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred (500) feet to the front and a lamp on the rear emitting a red light visible from a distance of at least five hundred (500) feet to the rear. Every motorized bicycle shall display lighted head lamp(s) at all times on the street or highway.
(j) No person shall operate a motorized bicycle unless they are wearing a fluorescent vest, shirt or jacket.
(k) No person shall operate or be a passenger on any motorized bicycle unless he is wearing securely fastened on his head by either a neck or chin strap a protective helmet designed to deflect blows, resist penetration and spread impact forces.
"Protective helmet" means a piece of headgear which meets or exceeds the impact standards for protective bicycle helmets set by the American national standards institute (ANSI) or the Snell memorial foundation's standards for protective headgear or American society for testing and materials (ASTM) for use in bicycling.
(Ord. 0-1653. Passed 8-25-20.)