Borough of Shrewsbury, NJ Chapter 72 Bicycles

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Shrewsbury 9-27-1973 by Ord. No. 346 as Ch. 19 of 1973 Code; amended in its entirety at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 90.

Parks and recreation facilities — See Ch. 170.

§ 72-1 Findings.

Within the Borough there are a substantial number of bicycle owners and it is in the interest of the Borough that persons operating bicycles do so with safety, and registration would aid the Police Department in identifying owners, reducing the number of thefts of bicycles and assisting in the recovery of lost or stolen bicycles.

§ 72-2 Registration available.

Any bicycle owned by a resident of the Borough may be registered at the Police Department in accordance with the terms of this chapter.

§ 72-3 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

BICYCLE

Any device, propelled by human power, upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels, either of which is more than 14 inches in diameter. (This definition does not apply to toy bicycles or velocipedes.)

§ 72-4 Inspections.

The Chief of Police or his designated representatives, who shall in all cases be members of the Police Department, shall inspect each bicycle offered for registration. If any bicycle offered for registration is found by the Police Department not to be in rideable condition or not to be properly equipped as provided for in this chapter, registration of such bicycle may not be issued until it shall be determined to be in such rideable condition and to be properly equipped.

§ 72-5 Issuance of registration.

The Police Department is hereby authorized and directed, upon written application to it, to issue to the residents of the Borough registration certificates for bicycles, which certificates shall run to June 30 of each calendar year. All such registration certificates shall be dated the date of issue.

§ 72-6 Registration decals and cards.

The Police Department shall provide each year a registration decal, together with registration certificate cards, that shall have numerical numbers stamped thereon in numerical order beginning with number one and shall indicate the years for which they were issued and letter indicating that they were issued by the Borough of Shrewsbury. The registration decal shall be suitable for attachment to the frame of the bicycle at the headsetting or at any location where it will always be plainly visible, and it shall also be the duty of the owner to attach the decal in a secure manner as to make difficult its removal. The Police Department shall also provide and issue a registration card with numbers corresponding to the numbers on the license decal.

§ 72-7 Altering registrations.

It shall be unlawful for any person, corporation or other entity to willfully destroy, mutilate or alter the number of any registration decal issued pursuant to this chapter. It shall be unlawful for any person, corporation or other entity to willfully destroy, mutilate or alter the number of any bicycle frame registered pursuant to this chapter from removing the same registration decal. The Police Department may also stamp on the frame of any registered bicycle a number which shall be the secret number of the Police Department, if so required in the administration of this chapter to prevent bicycle larceny and to recover stolen bicycles.

§ 72-8 Fees.

No fee is required. There shall be no fee charged by the Police Department or by any other department or agency of the Borough in connection with the administration of this chapter.

§ 72-9 Operation of bicycles.

The following rules and regulations shall be observed in the operation of a bicycle in the roadways, streets and public places in the Borough. These rules and regulations are intended to supplement the laws of the State of New Jersey and do not alter them. The laws of the State of New Jersey are incorporated herein as if set forth in detail.

A. Every person operating a bicycle shall at all times operate the bicycle with due regard for the safety of other persons and vehicles lawfully upon the streets, highways, and public places, as well as for his safety, and shall at all times and under all conditions yield the right-of-way to pedestrians on the streets, highways and public places and on the crosswalks.

B. Every person operating a bicycle shall comply with all vehicle traffic laws which apply to bicycles and all vehicle traffic signs and signals erected for the regulation of traffic.

C. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle upon the streets, highways and public places of the Borough during the period from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise unless such bicycle is equipped with a front light which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and with a lamp on the rear which shall emit a red light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the rear. In addition to the red lamp, a red reflector may be mounted on the rear, of a type approved by the police, which shall be visible from all distances from 50 feet to 300 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle.

D. It shall be unlawful to operate upon the streets, highways and public places of the Borough a bicycle that is not equipped with adequate brakes which will enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.

E. Before turning or changing the direction of any bicycle upon any street, highway, parkway or public place, it shall be the duty of the bicycle rider to give a signal by the extension of the hand to indicate the direction it is the intention to proceed.

F. It shall be unlawful for any person operating a bicycle upon any street, highway or public place to attach himself or attach the bicycle to any other moving vehicle.

G. It shall be unlawful for any person operating a bicycle which is equipped to carry only the operator to carry another person on the front or rear frame or handlebars or on any part not intended to carry a passenger.

H. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle without maintaining full control of such bicycle, keeping both hands on the handlebar, except when necessary to signal.

I. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with a bell or other device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least 100 feet, except that a bicycle shall not be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a bicycle any siren or whistle.

J. Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall ride in single file.

§ 72-10 Violations and penalties.

A. Any person under the age of 18 years who is accused by a member of the Police Department of violating any of the provisions of this chapter relating to the vehicle traffic laws or the bicycle safe riding rules and regulations shall be issued a summons by the Police Department returnable in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court of Monmouth County.

B. Any person over the age of 18 years accused of violating the terms of this chapter shall be summoned by the Police Department to a hearing in the Municipal Court of the Borough. Upon conviction in said Court of a violation of the terms of this chapter, such person shall be fined not more than $25 for the first offense and not more than $50 for each subsequent offense.

§ 72-11 Registration not required.

Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as requiring the issuance of registration certificates or decals to the owners or operators of bicycles owned or operated within the Borough of Shrewsbury.