[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Borough of Haddonfield 7-24-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-12[1]. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 73, Bicycles and Skateboards, which consisted of Art. I, Riding in Commercial Districts and on Private Property, adopted 1-28-1987 by Ord. No. 1520-A, as amended.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BICYCLES
Includes traditional bicycles, motorized or electronic bicycles, scooters, motorized or electronic scooter, skateboards, segways, toy vehicles and any and all rideable vehicles that are not motor vehicles for which a state-issued driver's license or permit is required or are necessary ADA permitted devices or vehicles.
Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by Chapter Four of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes and all supplements thereto except as to those provisions thereof which by their nature can have no application.
A. 
A person operating a bicycle shall not ride 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, nor shall any person ride upon a bicycle other than upon such a firmly and properly attached and regular seat.
B. 
No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.
C. 
The provisions of Subsections A and B above shall not prohibit the carrying of a child in a seat or trailer designed for carrying children and firmly and properly attached to a bicycle.
D. 
No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article that prevents the driver from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars.
A. 
No person riding upon any bicycle shall attach the same or himself to any vehicle upon a roadway.
B. 
No operator shall knowingly permit any person riding upon any bicycle to attach the same or himself to any vehicle while it is moving upon a roadway. This section does not apply to the towing of a disabled vehicle nor to the towing of a trailer designed for this purpose.
Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall ride not more than two abreast in a single lane, except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
A bicycle shall not be equipped with nor shall any person upon a bicycle use any siren or whistle.
Every bicycle shall be equipped with an adequate brake when used on a street or highway.
A. 
Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, obeying all traffic rules applicable to vehicles and exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.
B. 
This section does not require a person operating a bicycle to ride at the edge of the roadway when it is unreasonable or unsafe to do so. Conditions that may require riding away from the edge of the roadway include when necessary to avoid fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, surface hazards, or if it is otherwise unsafe or impracticable to do so, including if the lane is too narrow for the bicycle and an overtaking vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
C. 
When a bicycle is operated on the roadway, the operator shall give hand signals to other vehicle operators in the vicinity before turning or changing lanes. Such signals shall conform with the motor vehicle laws of New Jersey. The signal shall be made not less than one time but is not required to be continuous. A bicycle operator is not required to make a signal if the bicycle is in a designated turn lane, and a signal shall not be given when the operator's hands are needed for the safe operation of the bicycle.
No person shall operate a bicycle:
A. 
Without due regard for the safety and rights of pedestrians and drivers and occupants of all other vehicles, and so as to endanger the life, limb or property of any person while in the lawful use of the streets or sidewalks or any other public or private property;
B. 
Without exercising reasonable and ordinary control over such bicycle;
C. 
By trick-riding or in a weaving or zigzag course, unless such irregular course is necessary for safe operation in compliance with law.
A. 
Any person operating a bicycle shall obey the instructions of official traffic signals, signs and other control devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
B. 
Whenever authorized signs are erected that no right or left or U-turns are permitted, no person operating a bicycle shall disobey the direction of any such 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.
A. 
Except as provided in Subsection B and F below, it shall be legal to operate a bicycle upon a sidewalk when available and not congested with pedestrian traffic or in areas of outdoor dining. If the sidewalk is congested with pedestrian traffic or is an area that accommodates outdoor dining, any bicycle operator using the sidewalk shall walk the bicycle.
B. 
No person shall ride a bicycle, skateboard or other similar device or vehicle on the public sidewalks of any street or municipally owned walkways and steps in the Downtown District of the Borough of Haddonfield.
C. 
A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian. This audible signal may be given by the voice or by a bell or other warning device capable of giving an audible signal and shall be given at such a distance and in such a manner as not to startle a person or persons being overtaken and passed.
D. 
A person operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk, before overtaking and passing a blind person carrying a white cane or guided by a dog, shall dismount and overtake or pass on foot, if necessary for safety.
E. 
A person shall not operate a bicycle from a sidewalk so as to suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and move into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.
F. 
No person shall ride a bicycle or vehicle in Kings Court or Hadrosaurus Lane (formerly known as Lantern Lane) for any reason, purpose or circumstance.
The operator of a bicycle emerging from an alley, driveway or building shall, upon approaching a sidewalk or the sidewalk area extending across any alley or driveway, yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians approaching on such sidewalk area and, upon entering the street, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on said street.
A. 
No person shall park a bicycle upon a sidewalk in such a manner so as to unduly interfere with pedestrian traffic, or upon a roadway so as to unduly interfere with vehicular traffic.
B. 
Bicycles shall be parked in such a manner as not to interfere with building entrances.
Whenever any minor under the age of 18 years operates a bicycle in violation of any section of this code, the bicycle may be seized by any member of the Police Department and impounded. A bicycle so impounded shall be surrendered to the owner or, if the owner is a minor, to the parents or guardians of such minor. A full explanation of the reason for the impounding shall be made to the owner, parent or guardian. There shall be a storage charge of $25 per day for each impounded bicycle. The impounded bicycle shall not be released until said storage charge is paid. If the bicycle is not claimed within 30 days of it being impounded, the bicycle shall be considered abandoned and shall be deemed to be the property of the Borough of Haddonfield.
Each and every person or persons violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be punishable as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, § 1-14.