(a) No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within the central downtown business district. No person, twelve or more years of age, shall ride a bicycle upon any sidewalk in any district.
(b) The restriction of riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk shall not apply to any sidewalks designated by the City as a multi-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists. Any such designation shall be made by the City Public Works Director in consultation with the Mayor. All such designated multi-use paths may be utilized by bicycle riders as an alternative to, but not as a required alternative, to traveling upon the adjacent roadway nor is this to be considered a designated bike path under Section 373.06(c) of this article.
(c) Whenever any person is permitted to ride on a sidewalk they should be subject to the following:
(1) A bicyclist may not suddenly leave a sidewalk or curb or other place of safety and move into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard;
(2) A bicyclist upon a sidewalk shall give an audible warning before overtaking and passing a pedestrian and yield the right of way to all pedestrians on the sidewalk;
(3) A bicyclist may not operate on a sidewalk in a careless manner that endangers or would be likely to endanger any person or property;
(4) A bicyclist may not operate at a speed greater than an ordinary walk when approaching or entering a crosswalk or potentially crossing motor vehicle traffic;
(5) A bicyclist may not operate an electric assisted bicycle on a sidewalk; and
(6) Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, a bicyclist on a sidewalk or in a crosswalk has the same rights and duties as a pedestrian on a sidewalk or in a crosswalk.
Further Be it Resolved by the Council of the City of Parkersburg that the City follow and comply with the AASHTO transportation guidelines relative to the creation of bike paths and bikeways. (Ord. 0-1456. Passed 7-9-13.)