No person shall operate a bicycle upon a highway unless equipped
as required in § 347.489, Wis. Stats.
The provisions of Chs. 346 and 347, Wis. Stats., and applicable
City ordinances shall govern the operation of bicycles where appropriate.
Every person driving a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all
the rights and shall be subject to all the duties applicable to the
driver of a vehicle by the laws of the state declaring rules of the
road applicable to vehicles or by the traffic ordinances of the City
applicable to the driver of the vehicle, except as to those provisions
of laws and ordinances which by their nature can have no application.
B.
Street operation.[1]
(1)
Unless preparing to make a left turn, every person operating a bicycle
upon a roadway carrying two-way traffic shall ride as near as possible
to the right edge of the unobstructed traveled roadway. On one-way
roadways, the operator of the bicycle shall ride as near as possible
to the right edge or left edge of the unobstructed traveled roadway.
Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall exercise due
care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same
direction, allowing a minimum of three feet between his bicycle and
the vehicle.
(2)
Every person when operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride such
bicycle in single file.
(3)
No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the
number for which it is designed and equipped. Infant seats are permitted
if securely attached to the frame at the top mount and to the axle
and frame at the rear bottom mount and if provided with handholds,
footrests, foot guards and safety belt. The use of a backpack for
carrying an infant is permitted. Persons are not permitted to be located
on a bicycle in front of the operator of the bicycle.
(4)
No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or
article which prevents the safe operation of the bicycle with at least
one hand on the handlebars at all times.
(5)
No rider of a bicycle shall remove both hands from the handlebars
or feet from the pedals or practice any acrobatic or fancy riding
on any street.
(6)
Whenever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to
a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the
roadway.
(7)
No person may operate a bicycle or moped upon a roadway where a sign
is erected indicting that bicycle riding is prohibited.
C.
Bicycle parking. No bicycle shall be parked in front of or adjacent
to any commercial establishment unless the bicycle is parked on the
sidewalk parallel to the street and as close as possible to the curb.
No person shall leave a bicycle at such a place or in such a way as
to create a hazard to pedestrians, automobile operators or to anyone
else.[2]
E.
Bicycles not to be pulled by moving vehicles. No person riding upon
a bicycle shall cling or attach himself or his bicycle to any other
moving vehicle upon a street or highway, nor shall the operator of
any such bicycle tow or draw any coaster wagon, sled, person on roller
skates, toy vehicle or any other similar vehicle on such highway.
F.
Speed. No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than
is reasonable and prudent under existing conditions or in excess of
any posted speed limit.
G.
Operation on sidewalks.
(1)
No person over the age of 12 shall ride or propel any bicycle upon
any public sidewalk or thoroughfare of the City set apart for pedestrians,
except bicycles having wheels sized 20 inches or under. This exception
shall not apply to twenty-inch or under bicycles designed or modified
to BMX specifications.
(2)
Children under the age of 12 may ride and operate a bicycle on the
sidewalks of the City, provided that any pedestrian shall have the
right-of-way on any sidewalk, with the exception that no bicycles
shall be ridden on sidewalks on the following streets:
(a)
Between South Main Street and southeast First Street on East
Ramsdell Street.
(b)
Between South Main Street and southwest First Street on West
Ramsdell Street.
(c)
Between North Main Street and southeast First Street on Garfield
Avenue.
(d)
Between North Main Street and the west 100 feet on West Garfield
Avenue.
(e)
Between North Main Street and the east 100 feet on Perry Avenue.
(f)
Between Ramsdell Street and Perry Avenue on North Main Street.
H.
Bicycle operation while hearing obstructed. No person may operate
a bicycle upon a highway while such operator is using any audio device
attached directly to the ear or ears of such operator that materially
impairs the ability of such operator to hear traffic signals or warnings.
I.
Mopeds prohibited on bicycle ways. No person may ride a moped or
motor bicycle with the power unit in operation upon a bicycle way.
J.
Riding bicycle on bicycle lane.
(1)
Unless two-way traffic is authorized by the Common Council on any
portion of a roadway which it has set aside as a bicycle lane and
appropriate traffic signs are installed, every person operating a
bicycle upon a bicycle lane shall ride in the same direction in which
vehicular traffic on the lane of the roadway nearest the bicycle lane
is traveling.
(2)
Entering or leaving bicycle lane.
(a)
Unless otherwise provided under Subsection J(2)(b) below, a person operating a bicycle may enter or leave a bicycle lane only at intersections or at driveways adjoining the bicycle lane.
(b)
A person may leave a bicycle lane at any point by dismounting from
the bicycle and walking it out of the lane. A person may enter a bicycle
lane at any point by walking his bicycle into the lane and then mounting
it.
(3)
Every person operating a bicycle upon a bicycle lane shall exercise
due care and given an audible signal when passing a bicycle rider
proceeding in the same direction.
(4)
Every operator of a bicycle entering a bicycle lane shall yield the
right-of-way to all bicycles in the bicycle lane. Upon leaving a bicycle
lane, the operator of a bicycle shall yield the right-of-way to all
vehicles and pedestrians.
K.
B.
Registration shall be made by filing with the Chief of Police the
name, address and age of the owner, together with a complete description
of the bicycle which shall include the manufacturer, style and color,
on forms provided by the City and upon payment of a registration fee
of set by the Common Council, which registration shall run with ownership.
Registration shall be serially numbered and kept on file as a public
record of the City. Upon such registration the City shall issue a
registration slip and cause an identification tag or sticker to be
affixed to the bicycle registered, serially numbered to correspond
with the registration number. Such tag or sticker shall be affixed
and kept affixed by the owner to the rear of the seat of the bicycle
for which such tag or sticker is issued. Such tag shall remain affixed
to the bicycle unless removed by a police officer for cause or for
retagging upon reregistration. In event of theft or loss, a duplicate
shall be issued for a fee set by the Common Council. The Police Department
may inspect bicycles for safety as a condition of registration.[2]
C.
Any police officer may suspend the registration and remove the identification
tag from any bicycle operated while in an unsafe condition or operated
contrary to any state law or City ordinance. Such suspension and removal
period shall not exceed 10 days, provided that such registration shall
not be reinstated or such identification tag be returned and replaced
while such bicycle is in an unsafe mechanical condition, if such condition
was the cause of removal. Such suspension and removal shall be in
addition to other penalties hereinafter provided.
D.
Within 10 days after any bicycle registered hereunder shall change ownership or be dismantled and taken out of operation, the person in whose name the bicycle has been registered shall report such information to the Chief of Police. In case of change of ownership, the new owner must register the bicycle forthwith as provided in Subsection B.
A.
Any person 16 years of age or older who shall violate any provision
of this article may be issued a uniform traffic citation and be subject
to the penalties provided by the Uniform State Traffic Deposit Schedule.
B.
Any person 14 years of age through 15 years of age who shall violate any provision of this article may be issued a citation and be subject to the penalties provided by the deposit schedule and, upon conviction thereof, may be subject to a penalty as provided in § 1-4 of this Code, together with the cost of the prosecution, and in default of such payment the court may suspend the child's operating privileges, as defined in § 340.01, Wis. Stats., for not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days.[1]
C.
Any person under 14 years of age who shall violate any provision
of this article may be issued a special bicycle violation warning
notice along with the following additional actions:
D.
All violations shall be determined based on the preceding twelve-month
period to establish which violation has occurred.
E.
Any parent or guardian of any child who authorizes or knowingly permits
such child to violate any of the provisions of this article may be
subject to the provisions of §§ 346.77 and 346.82(1),
Wis. Stats.