[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Mount
Holly 7-7-1980 as Sec. 3-13 of Ch. III of the Revised General Ordinances.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Includes vehicles with two wheels, one in front of the other, having
a saddle-like seat for the rider, steered by a handlebar and driven by pedals.
Also included in this definition are three-wheeled vehicles steered by a handle,
driven by pedals, having a seat higher than 24 inches.
A bicycle having a seat height of less than 24 inches when the seat
is in the lowest adjustable position.
Any three-wheeled vehicle steered by a handle, driven by pedals and
having a seat height of less than 24 inches.
A.
All bicycles must be maintained in a safe mechanical
condition.
B.
All bicycle operators must be knowledgeable of the vehicular
and traffic laws of the State of New Jersey applicable to bicycle signs and
signals, as well as such rules and regulations established by the Township
Council concerning the operation, equipment and maintenance of bicycles; provided,
however, that said rules and regulations do not conflict with any existing
statutes of the State of New Jersey.
C.
All bicycle operators must operate a bicycle in a safe
manner that is in accordance with the requirements of the Code of the Township
of Mount Holly.
[Amended 6-22-1992 by Ord.
No. 1992-5]
Except as otherwise provided in N.J.S.A. 39:4-10 et seq., the following
rules and regulations are hereby established for the maintenance and operation
of bicycles.
A.
Every bicycle being operated one hour after sunset or
one hour before sunrise shall be equipped with a light on the front which
shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the
front and with a red reflector on the rear of the minimum size of two inches
in diameter which shall emit a red light visible from a distance of at least
500 feet to the rear.
B.
A person propelling or riding on a bicycle shall not
ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.
No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number
for which it is designed.
C.
No person riding upon any vehicle shall attach the same
or himself to any vehicle upon a roadway, and no operator of any vehicle shall
knowingly allow any person riding upon any bicycle to attach the same or himself
to the vehicle.
D.
Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will
enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
E.
Every person riding or operating a bicycle shall obey
all traffic signals.
F.
Every person riding or operating a bicycle shall be required
immediately before entering a street or sidewalk from any alley or driveway
to make an observation in order to ensure that the said street or sidewalk
is clear of pedestrians or vehicles and shall yield the right-of-way to these
pedestrians or vehicles.
G.
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.
H.
Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall ride in
single file except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive
use of bicycles.
I.
Regulations applicable to bicycles shall apply whenever
a bicycle is operated upon any highway or upon any path set aside for the
exclusive use of bicycles subject to those exceptions stated herein.
J.
Bicycles operated on the sidewalks of the Township shall
yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.
Sidewalk bicycles and tricycles shall comply with the following rules
and regulations:
A.
Every sidewalk bicycle and tricycle shall be operated
only on sidewalks and not on public streets.
B.
Operators of sidewalk bicycles and tricycles shall yield
the right-of-way to pedestrian traffic on public sidewalks.
C.
Operators of sidewalk bicycles and tricycles shall stop
at all intersections and walk their vehicles across the intersecting street.
A.
Any adult who violates any provision of this chapter
relating to the vehicle traffic laws or the bicycle safe-riding rules and
regulations shall be cited to municipal court and, upon conviction, shall
be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for a term not
exceeding 90 days, or both.
[Amended 6-22-1992 by Ord.
No. 1992-5]
B.
Any minor who violates any of the provisions of this
chapter or official police instructions for the safe operation of a bicycle
shall be, for the first offense, reprimanded, in writing, by the Township
Police Department, addressed to the parents or guardian of the offender, stating
the nature of the violations and a warning that a repetition of the violation
or any other violation within six months may cause the bicycle to be impounded
for a period of time of not less than seven days nor more than 30 days, and
during that period of impoundment, the offender cannot ride a bicycle on the
streets. On the second offense, the minor offender will be summoned to appear
at police headquarters with his or her bicycle, accompanied by a parent or
guardian, and, after a hearing on the violation, if in the discretion of the
Chief of Police or his designated representative it is decided to penalize
the offender for the violation, the offender's bicycle and registration may
be impounded for a period of time not less than seven days nor more than 30
days.
C.
On the third offense within six months or when a violation
of this chapter occurs that threatens the personal safety of the operator
or the public safety of the community or if the operator of a bicycle indicates
his inability to safely operate a bicycle or his unwillingness to do so, a
police officer may impound the bicycle immediately. Within three working days
of this impoundment, the Chief of Police shall cause a notice of a hearing
to be served upon the parents or guardians of the minor, said hearing to be
held within five days of the service of the notice. At the hearing, the Chief
of Police or his designated representative shall determine the duration of
the impoundment of the minor's bicycle, however, no impoundment may exceed
90 days.
