(a) Bicycles and Electric Bicycles.
(1) Bicycles and electric bicycles, if the motor is not engaged, may be driven upon any sidewalk and sidewalk area, except as otherwise posted. Bicycles and electric bicycles may only be parked upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area in a manner that does not interfere with pedestrian traffic.
(2) A law enforcement officer, or other person sworn to enforce this Traffic Code, may use an electric bicycle with the motor engaged on any sidewalk or sidewalk area while in the performance of the officer's duties.
(ORC 4511.711)
(b) Motorcycles, Motor-Driven Cycles or Scooters, Motorized Bicycles or Mopeds. No motorcycle, motor-driven cycle or scooter, motorized bicycle, or moped may be driven upon any sidewalk or sidewalk area, except upon a permanent or duly-authorized temporary driveway, and no motorcycle, motor-driven cycle or scooter, or motorized bicycle or moped may be parked upon any sidewalk or sidewalk area at any time.
(ORC 4511.711)
(c) Low-Speed Micromobility Devices. Low-speed micromobility devices may be driven upon any sidewalk and sidewalk area, except as otherwise posted. Low-speed micromobility devices may only be parked upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area in a manner that does not interfere with pedestrian traffic.
(ORC 4511.514)
(d) Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Devices. Electric personal assistive mobility devices may be driven upon any sidewalk and sidewalk area, except as otherwise posted. Electric personal assistive mobility devices may only be parked upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area in a manner that does not interfere with pedestrian traffic.
(ORC 4511.512)
(e) Motorized Wheelchairs. Motorized wheelchairs may be driven upon any sidewalk or sidewalk area. Every person operating a motorized wheelchair upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area shall have all of the rights and duties applicable to pedestrians under the Traffic Code, except those provisions which by their nature can have no application.
(ORC 4511.491)
(f) Personal Delivery Devices. An eligible entity may operate a personal delivery device on sidewalks and crosswalks so long as all of the following requirements are met:
(1) The personal delivery device is operated in accordance with all regulations, if any, established by the City;
(2) A personal delivery device operator is actively controlling or monitoring the navigation and operation of the personal delivery device;
(3) The eligible entity maintains an insurance policy that includes general liability coverage of not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for damages arising from the operation of the personal delivery device by the eligible entity and any agent of the eligible entity; and
(4) The device is equipped with all of the following:
A. A marker that clearly identifies the name and contact information of the eligible entity operating the personal delivery device and a unique identification number;
B. A braking system that enables the personal delivery device to come to a controlled stop; and
C. If the personal delivery device is being operated between sunset and sunrise, a light on both the front and rear of the personal delivery device that is visible in clear weather from a distance of at least five hundred feet (500') to the front and rear of the personal delivery device when directly in front of low beams of headlights on a motor vehicle.
(ORC 4511.513)
(g) Authority of Public Safety Director. The City's Public Safety Director is hereby authorized to make and issue, by administrative directive, rules and regulations regarding the use of City sidewalks, and parking thereon, by bicycles, electric bicycles, low-speed mobility devices, electric personal assistive mobility devices, motorized wheelchairs, and personal delivery devices and shall assure appropriate signage is posted regarding such rules and regulations.
(Ord. 2022-14. Adopted 05/26/22)
(h) Penalties.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division (h)(1), whoever violates division (a), of this section, or any rule or regulation of the Public Safety Director promulgated pursuant to division (g) of this section, is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one (1) year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pled guilty to one (1) predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates division (a) of this section or any rule or regulation of the Public Safety Director promulgated pursuant to division (g) of this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one (1) year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pled guilty to two (2) or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates division (a) of this section or any rule or regulation of the Public Safety Director promulgated pursuant to division (g) of this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. 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 444.99(b) of this Traffic Code.
(ORC 4511.711)
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this division (h)(2), whoever violates division (b) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one (1) year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pled guilty to one (1) predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates division (b) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one (1) year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pled guilty to two (2) or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates division (b) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(Ord. 2022-14. Adopted 05/26/22)
(3) Whoever violates division (c) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. Unless a mens rea is otherwise specified in this section, an offense established under this section is a strict liability offense and ORC 2901.20 does not apply. The designation of that offense as a strict liability offense 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.
(ORC 4511.514)
(4) Whoever violates division (d) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor and shall be punished as follows:
A. The offender shall be fined ten dollars ($10.00);
B. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pled guilty to a violation of division (d) of this section, or any substantially equivalent State law or municipal ordinance, the court, in addition to imposing the fine required under division (e)(1)A. of this section, shall do one of the following:
(i) Order the impoundment for not less than one (1) day but no more than thirty (30) days of the electric personal assistive mobility device that was involved in the current violation of that division. The court shall order the device to be impounded at a safe indoor location designated by the court and may assess storage fees of not more than five dollars ($5.00) per day; provided the total storage, processing, and release fees assessed against the offender or the device in connection with the device's impoundment or subsequent release shall not exceed fifty dollars ($50.00).
(ii) If the court does not issue an impoundment order pursuant to division (e)(1)B.(i) of this section, issue an order prohibiting the offender from operating any electric personal assistive mobility device on the public streets, roadways, sidewalks, bike lanes, bike paths, and shared use paths for not less than one (1) day but not more than thirty (30) days.
(ORC 4511.512)
(5) Except as otherwise provided in this division (h)(5), whoever violates division (f) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one (1) year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pled guilty to one (1) predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates division (f) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one (1) year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pled guilty to two (2) or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates division (f) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(ORC 4511.99)