[2-2-2010; 2016 Code]
The purpose of this chapter is to establish rules and regulations
that provide for the safe and enjoyable use of bicycles, and to establish
designated bicycle routes within the city, consistent with public
rights and interest.
[2-2-2010; 2016 Code]
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, the
provisions in chapters 340 to 348 of the Wisconsin statutes describing
and defining regulations with respect to bicycles, exclusive of any
provisions relating to penalties to be imposed and exclusive of any
regulations for which the statutory penalty is a fine or term of imprisonment,
are hereby adopted and by reference made a part of this chapter.
[2-2-2010; 2016 Code]
(A)
Rules for operation.
(1)
Mode of operation. No bicycle shall be allowed to proceed upon
any street or alley in the city by inertia or momentum with the feet
of the rider removed from the bicycle pedals. No rider of a bicycle
shall remove both hands from the handlebars or practice any trick
or fancy riding in any street or alley in the city.
(2)
Trick riding. No person shall operate a bicycle upon any street
or alley of the city without having manual control of the handlebars
or operate a bicycle in any other manner which necessitates the element
of unusual extraordinary skill and involves unnecessary risk.
(3)
Multiple riders. It shall be unlawful for two or more persons
to ride on a bicycle at one time on a street or alley, unless the
bicycle is designed for and equipped with a seat for each such person.
(4)
Emerging from alley or driveway. The operator of a bicycle emerging
from an alley, driveway or building shall upon approaching a sidewalk,
or the point in an alley or driveway corresponding to the projected
edge of the sidewalk on either side of such alley or driveway that
is furthest from the street, yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians
and upon entering the street shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles
approaching on such street.
(5)
Bicycles not to be pulled by moving vehicles. No person riding
upon a bicycle shall cling or attach himself or herself or his or
her bicycle to any other moving vehicle upon a street or alley.
(6)
Bicycles not to tow or draw other objects. No person riding
upon a bicycle shall tow or draw any coaster wagon, sled, person on
roller skates, toy vehicles or any other similar vehicle on such street
or alley, except a trailer that is designed for transporting a child
or children or property if such trailer is designed to be used for
such purpose and is securely attached to the bicycle by mechanical
means.
(7)
Speed. No person shall operate a bicycle on a street or alley
at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under then- existing
conditions or in the excess of any posted speed limit.
(8)
Bicycles to stop for emergency vehicles. The operator of a bicycle
shall pull as close to the curb as possible or if there is no curb
upon the shoulder of any street and stop when any authorized emergency
vehicle approaches with siren or emergency lights engaged.
(B)
Rules for turning.
(1)
Right turn. The operator of a bicycle upon a street intending
to turn to the right at an intersection shall approach the point of
turning in the traffic lane nearest the right-hand edge or curb of
the street, and in turning, shall keep as closely as practicable to
the right-hand edge or curb of the street.
(2)
Left turn. The operator of a bicycle upon a street intending
to turn to the left at an intersection or into a private driveway
shall first signal such turn by hand gesture or an appropriate mechanical
or electronic signal device, and shall make such turn from the traffic
lane immediately to the right of the center of the street and shall
pass immediately to the left of the center of the intersection.
(3)
Controlled Intersections. At any intersection with a street
where traffic is controlled by an official traffic sign, traffic control
signal or traffic officer, it shall be unlawful for the operator of
a bicycle upon a street to disobey such official traffic sign or signal
or the instructions of such traffic officer.
(4)
Use of crosswalks. Crosswalks shall be used when walking a bicycle
through an intersection.
(C)
Riding on sidewalk.
(1)
It shall be unlawful to operate a bicycle on any sidewalk located
within the area which is bounded by 9th street on the north, 13th
street on the south, 15th avenue on the west and 18th avenue on the
east. Bicycles may be operated upon any other public sidewalks of
the city.
(2)
In locations where riding a bicycle is permitted on the sidewalk,
every person operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way
to any pedestrian and shall exercise due care and give an audible
signal when passing a bicycle rider or pedestrian proceeding in the
same direction.
(D)
Parking. No person shall leave a bicycle at such a place or in such
a way as to create a hazard to pedestrians, automobile operators or
to anyone else. Bicycles shall be parked either upon a street against
the curb, in bicycle racks or, if on the sidewalk, in such a manner
as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic, and not
in such a manner as to obstruct the ingress and egress to buildings
used by the public. If there is no bicycle rack or other facility
intended to be used for the parking of bicycles in the vicinity, the
operator may park a bicycle on the sidewalk in an upright position
parallel to and within 24 inches of the curb of a street.
[2-2-2010; 2016 Code]
(A)
Registration required. No person shall operate a bicycle upon any
street, alley, bicycle lane, sidewalk, public property or bicycle
pathway within the city unless such bicycle shall first have been
properly registered and a bicycle identification tag attached as required
by this section.
(B)
Form of registration.
(1)
Identification. Every owner of a bicycle shall list and register
his or her bicycle with the police department on a form as provided
by the department.
(2)
Period of registration. All bicycle registrations shall remain
in effect for as long as the bicycle is owned by the original registrant.
(3)
Owner to register. The police department shall not register
any bicycle which it knows or has reasonable grounds to believe is
not owned by or lawfully in the possession of the applicant.
(4)
Issuance of multiple bicycle identification tags. The police
department may issue several sequentially numbered bicycle identification
tags to bicycle sales stores in the city. Those stores shall affix
bicycle identification tags to bicycles as they are sold.
(C)
Registration fee. The fee for issuance of a bicycle identification
tag shall be set by resolution of the council.
(D)
Records and transmittal of fees.
(1)
The police department shall keep at its office a suitable record
of applications and registrations.
(2)
A complete report shall be made to the city treasurer by the
chief of police, or his or her designee, of funds received for bicycle
registration fees, and all such fees shall be paid to the city treasurer
for deposit as city revenues.
(E)
Bicycles to be kept in safe condition. All bicycles shall be kept
in safe mechanical condition. The chief of police, or his or her designee,
shall have authority to suspend the registration of and remove the
bicycle identification tag from any bicycle or to impound any bicycle
which is in unsafe mechanical condition or is operated contrary to
any state or city law. Such suspension and removal, or impounding
shall continue for a period not to exceed 10 days, but the registration
shall not be reinstated or such bicycle identification tag replaced
if such bicycle is in unsafe condition. Such suspension and removal
shall be in addition to other penalties provided by this chapter.
(F)
Change of ownership. Within 10 days after any bicycle registered
hereunder shall have changed ownership or been dismantled and taken
out of operation such information shall be reported to the police
department by the person in whose name the bicycle has been registered.
No new bicycle identification tag shall be issued and no registration
fee shall be charged when ownership of a bicycle is transferred to
a member of the registrant's immediate family.
(G)
Registration to be displayed. The bicycle identification tag issued
under this section shall be affixed to the registered bicycle so as
to be plainly seen and read and shall remain so affixed until ordered
removed by the police department for cause. The bicycle identification
tag shall be installed on the frame of the bicycle which supports
the bicycle seat, facing toward the front of the bicycle.
(H)
Exemption from registration. Any nonresident may operate a bicycle
in the city which is registered in any other municipality without
obtaining local registration if a valid bicycle identification tag
issued by such other municipality is attached thereto.
[2-2-2010; 2016 Code]
(A)
Buyers. Every person engaged in the business of buying secondhand
bicycles shall make a monthly report to the police department listing
the name and address of the person from whom each bicycle is purchased,
the name, color, type, size and serial number of each bicycle purchased
and the number of the bicycle identification tag, if any, found thereon.
(B)
Sellers. Every person engaged in the business of selling new or secondhand
bicycles shall make a monthly report to the police department listing
the name and address of each person to whom each bicycle is sold,
the name, color, type, size and serial number of each bicycle sold
and the number of the bicycle identification tag, if any, attached
thereto.
(C)
Rental agencies. No person shall rent or offer to rent any bicycle
within the city if such bicycle is not registered, a bicycle identification
tag has not been attached, as provided in this chapter, or such bicycle
is not equipped as required by the laws of the state of Wisconsin
and this chapter.
[2-2-2010; 2016 Code]
Any of the following vehicles may be operated on a bicycle route:
[2-2-2010; 2016 Code]
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall
upon conviction be subject to a Class 5 forfeiture.
