[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of
Benton as Title 12, Ch. 2, of the Benton Code of Ordinances. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
Regulations. It shall be unlawful for any person in the Village of
Benton to operate or ride a scooter, skateboard, roller skates, sled,
toboggan, unicycle or toy vehicle upon which a person may ride in
any of the following places:
Where allowed. Skateboarding on sidewalks is permitted, except as
prohibited in this section and otherwise regulated. The operators
of skateboards must yield to all pedestrians.
Yield to pedestrians. Operators or riders of skateboards, roller
skates, roller skis, or other play vehicles shall yield the right-of-way
to other pedestrians using Village sidewalks, and shall not otherwise
endanger or interfere with normal pedestrian traffic on those sidewalks.
Roller skis not to be pulled by moving vehicles. No person riding
upon any roller skis shall attach the same or himself or herself to
any vehicle upon a roadway.
Parental responsibility. No parent or guardian of any child shall authorize or knowingly permit such child to violate any of the provisions of § 122-1, and this section.
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.
Required equipment. Every bicycle, when operated upon a highway,
shall be equipped with a brake adequate to control the movement of
and to stop such vehicle whenever necessary. Such brake shall be maintained
in good working order at all times.
Bicycles not to be pulled by moving vehicles. No person riding upon
a bicycle shall cling or attach himself or herself or his or her 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 vehicles or any other similar vehicle
on such highway.
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.
No person over the age of 10 shall ride or propel any bicycle upon
any public way set apart for pedestrians, including sidewalks, except
bicycles having wheels which are 20 inches or less in diameter. The
exception shall not apply to bicycles having wheels which are 20 inches
or less in diameter which are designed or modified to BMX specifications.
No person shall ride or propel any bicycle upon any public street,
alley, boulevard or sidewalk of the Village in such manner as to interfere
with the rights of other persons using such street, alley, boulevard,
or sidewalk.
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 ear or ears of such operator that materially
impairs the ability of such operator to hear traffic signals or warnings.[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 12-2-3, Use of state bicycle trail, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).