[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Catasauqua 7-1-1974 by Ord. No. 706 (Ch. III of the 1962 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parks and recreation — See Ch. 195.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 230.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 260.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BICYCLE
A device having two tandem wheels of a diameter not less than 16 inches and propelled by human power or a tricycle having three wheels of a diameter not less than 16 inches and propelled by human power.
No person who resides within this municipality shall ride a bicycle or operate it upon any street or public place within this Borough unless said bicycle has been properly registered and tagged in accordance with the following regulations:
A. 
Every owner or operator of any bicycle within the Borough of Catasauqua shall make application for the registration of said bicycle to the Chief of Police or his designate, on a form provided for that purpose.
B. 
Registrations of bicycles shall be serially numbered and kept on file by the Chief of Police on a form in his office as a public record.
C. 
The Chief of Police shall then issue an identification tag or plate serially numbered to correspond to the bicycle registration. This identification tag or plate must then be affixed to the rear mudguard or frame of the bicycle in such a position as to be plainly visible from the rear. A registration card shall be issued to the owner of each properly registered bicycle.
D. 
Bicycles registered under the provisions hereof shall be registered during the month of September 1974, and during the month of September thereafter.
E. 
Registrations shall expire biannually on the first day of October and no extension of this time shall be provided except for reason upon order by the Borough Council or the Mayor. A charge as set from time to time by resolution of Borough Council[1] shall be made for registration and tagging of each bicycle. Reregistration can be made within 30 days prior to the expiration date and on the dates announced thereafter by the Chief of Police. A charge as set from time to time by resolution of Borough Council shall be made for reregistration at other than the dates announced thereafter by the Chief of Police.[2]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. A285, Fees.
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
F. 
Any individual acquiring a new bicycle prior to the next registration date and not formerly registered in the Borough of Catasauqua, shall, within 30 days from said acquisitions register the same with the Police Department for a fee as set from time to time by resolution of Borough Council. This registration shall expire two years from the following September, and thereafter registration shall be conducted regularly in the month of September.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
G. 
The Chief of Police shall keep a record of:
(1) 
The number of each registration.
(2) 
The date of registration and the date of each inspection.
(3) 
The name, age, address, and phone number of the person to whom it is issued.
(4) 
The make, color, serial numbers and general description of each bicycle frame.
(5) 
A record of bicycle fees collected.
(6) 
The name, address and phone number of the father, mother, or guardian of children under 18 years of age.
H. 
Within 15 days after any bicycle registered hereunder shall have changed ownership or been dismantled or disposed of, such information shall be reported to the Police Department by the person in whose name the registration was made.
I. 
It shall be unlawful for any person willfully or maliciously to remove, destroys mutilate or alter the identification tag or plate, frame number of a bicycle or the registration card issued to the owner thereof.
Before issuing a bicycle registration the applicant shall be required to demonstrate personally in such a manner as the Chief of Police shall direct that he or she is capable of riding a bicycle; further, such applicant shall satisfactorily pass an examination to determine his knowledge of safe riding rules and practices as the Chief of Police shall prescribe.
[Amended 10-6-1980 by Ord. No. 811]
A bicycle shall be operated only on the roadway as near as possible to within five feet of the right-hand curb or edge of said roadway except when passing a parked or standing vehicle or making a left-hand turn at an intersection. Bicycles whose wheel diameter is 16 inches and over shall not be operated on the sidewalks unless equipped with training wheels or operator is learning under responsible supervision. The operator of a bicycle shall obey all official traffic signals and other control devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
A. 
The operator of a bicycle emerging from a driveway or building shall yield the right of way to all pedestrians on the sidewalk and to all vehicles on the roadway.
B. 
The operator of a bicycle shall not carry any other person upon the handlebar, frame or any part of the bicycle. This provision shall not be construed to prohibit the use of bicycles built to be operated by two or more persons.
C. 
The operator of a bicycle shall not indulge in any abnormal or trick riding, and shall keep at least one hand on the handlebar at all times while in use.
D. 
Operators of bicycles shall not ride in any manner other than single file except on paths or parts of roadway set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
E. 
Operators of bicycles shall not hitch onto any moving vehicle upon a roadway.
F. 
The operator of a bicycle shall park same upon the sidewalk using a kickstand; or in a rack to support a bicycle; or against a building, except windows or glass doors thereof, in such a manner as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrians.
G. 
Each owner shall be required to permit only skilled operators to ride their bicycles upon the streets of the Borough of Catasauqua.
H. 
The operator shall drive in the proper direction on one-way streets.
I. 
The operator shall use the proper hand signals for turning right or left.
J. 
Operators of bicycles shall not ride on the Catasauqua playgrounds, except on roads and the parking lot, to and from a bicycle rack.
The Chief of Police, or his designate, shall inspect each bicycle presented for registration, and shall report to the Chief of Police any bicycle found to be in an unsafe mechanical condition or lacking the equipment specified as necessary under the terms of this chapter. The Police Department shall refuse to register such bicycle until and unless it is brought into conformance with the requirements of this chapter.
Every bicycle operated upon a street or public place at any time, during the period one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, and at any other time when there is not sufficient light under normal atmospheric conditions to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the street or public places at a distance of 250 feet ahead, shall be equipped with a lighted lamp, on the front thereof, and shall also be equipped with a red reflector or lamp on the rear, exhibiting or reflecting a red light visible, under like conditions from a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of such bicycle. Said reflector or lamp on the rear shall be at least 1 1/2 inches in diameter; every bicycle shall also be equipped with brakes in good operating condition; and all mechanical parts of the bicycle shall be in working condition.
[Amended 5-7-1984 by Ord. No. 868; 4-1-2013 by Ord. No. 1288]
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof before any District Justice, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $15 nor more than $300 for each violation plus costs of prosecution and, in default of payment of such fines and costs, to imprisonment in the Lehigh County prison for a period of not more than 30 days. Any person found guilty of violating an ordinance shall be assessed court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by the Borough in the enforcement proceedings.