As used in this Article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
A device propelled solely by human power, having pedals,
two or more wheels and a seat height of more than 25 inches from the
ground when adjusted to its maximum height.
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable
to bicycles operated upon any street or public place in the City or
upon any public path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles,
subject to those exceptions stated in this Article.
Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway
shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter and other provisions
of this Code and other ordinances of the City relative to traffic
applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except as provided in this
Article, and except those provisions which by their nature can have
no application.
No person who resides within the City shall
ride or propel a bicycle on any street, in any public place or upon
any public path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles unless
such bicycle has been licensed and a license plate is attached thereto
as provided in this Article.
A.
The Treasurer, upon receiving a proper application
therefor, is authorized to issue a bicycle license, which shall be
effective until the next succeeding first day of April.
B.
The Treasurer shall not issue a license for any bicycle
when he knows or has reasonable ground to believe that the applicant
for the license is not the owner of or entitled to the possession
of such bicycle.
The Chief of Police shall inspect each bicycle
before such bicycle is licensed as provided in this Article, and the
Treasurer shall refuse a license for any such bicycle which the Chief
of Police has determined to be in unsafe mechanical condition.
A.
The Treasurer, upon issuing a bicycle license under
this Article, shall also issue a license plate bearing the license
number assigned to the bicycle, the name of the City and the calendar
year for which issued and the expiration date thereof.
B.
The Chief of Police, upon the direction or order of
the Treasurer, shall cause a license plate, issued as provided in
this Article, to be firmly attached to the rear mudguard or frame
of the bicycle for which issued in such position as to be plainly
visible from the rear.
C.
It shall be unlawful for any person to remove a license
plate, issued as provided in this Article, from a bicycle during the
period for which issued except upon a transfer of ownership or in
the event that the bicycle is dismantled and no longer operated upon
the streets or pathways in the City.
Upon the expiration of any bicycle license issued
as provided in this Article, such bicycle license may be renewed upon
application and the payment of a renewal fee as provided in this Article.
Upon the sale or other transfer of a bicycle
licensed under this Article, the licensee shall remove the license
plate and shall either surrender it to the Chief of Police or may,
upon proper application but without payment of an additional fee,
have such license plate assigned to another bicycle owned by the applicant.
The Treasurer shall keep a record of the number
of each license issued under this Article, the date such license was
issued, the name and address of the person to whom issued, the address
of the parents and the number on the frame of the bicycle for which
issued and a record of all bicycle license fees collected by him.
The Chief of Police shall be supplied with a copy of these records.
[Amended 7-12-1982]
A.
Any person operating a bicycle shall obey the instructions
of official traffic control signals, signs, markings and other traffic
control devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed
by a police officer.
B.
Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that
no right, left or U-turn is permitted, no person operating a bicycle
shall disobey the direction of any sign, except where such person
dismounts from the bicycle to make any such turn, in which event such
person shall then obey the regulations applicable to pedestrians.
C.
It shall be unlawful for anyone to ride a bicycle
of any type on the public sidewalks of the City.
A.
A person operating a bicycle shall not ride thereon
in any manner other than upon or astride the permanent and regular
seat attached thereto nor carry any other person upon such bicycle
other than upon a firmly attached and regular seat thereon. No person
shall ride upon a bicycle other than as provided in this section.
B.
No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at
one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate
a bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under
the conditions then existing.
Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway
shall ride as near to the right-hand side of the roadway as practicable,
exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding
in the same direction.
Persons operating bicycles upon a roadway shall
not ride more than two abreast, except on paths or parts of roadways
set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
No person shall ride a bicycle upon any street
without having his hands upon the handlebars.
It shall be unlawful for any person operating
a bicycle to carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the
rider from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars.
It shall be unlawful for any person to park
a bicycle upon a street, other than upon the roadway against the curb
or upon the sidewalk in a rack to support the bicycle or against a
building or at the curb in such manner as to afford the least obstruction
to pedestrian traffic.
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. A
bicycle shall not be equipped with, nor shall any person use upon
a bicycle, any siren or whistle.
Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake
which will enable the operator to make the braked wheel skid on a
dry, level, clean pavement.
A.
A rental agency shall not rent or offer any bicycle
for rent unless the bicycle is licensed and a license plate is attached
thereto as provided in this Article and unless such bicycle is equipped
with the lamps and other equipment required in this chapter.
B.
Any person violating any provision of this section
shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $500 or by imprisonment
in jail for a period of not exceeding six months, or by both such
fine and imprisonment.
No parent of any child and no guardian of any
ward shall authorize or knowingly permit any such child or ward to
violate any of the provisions of this Article.
The Chief of Police shall notify the parents
or guardians of any child convicted of violating the provisions of
this Article.
A.
Upon the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, as adopted by reference from the Code of Virginia §§ 46.2-800, 46.2-826, 46.2-932 or 46.2-1015; or upon the violation of any of the provisions of §§ 148-46 through 148-55 of this Article, the Police Department may impound the bicycle involved in such violation for a period of not more than 10 days. In the event that an operator of a bicycle shall violate any such provisions three or more times within any yearly period, the Police Department may impound the bicycle for a period of not over 30 days, provided that any person aggrieved by the enforcement of this provision shall have a right of appeal, within three days after such impounding, to a court or judge having jurisdiction to try violations of City ordinances, and such appeal shall stay the execution of the impoundment order until determined by such court or judge. Nothing herein contained shall prevent such court or judge from imposing a greater penalty; provided, however, that the impounding of bicycles shall not exceed 90 days.
[Amended 11-13-1990]
B.
Upon the violation of any other provisions of this
chapter, the bicycle of the violator may be impounded for a period
not to exceed 90 days.
Any person violating any provision of this Article
shall, where no penalty is specifically provided, be punished by a
fine of not more than $25.
