[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Watertown
as § 7.15 of the former City Code; amended by Ord. No. 96-37. Subsequent
amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Every device propelled by the feet acting upon pedals and
having wheels, any two of which are not less than 14 inches in diameter.
That portion of roadway set aside by the City for the exclusive
use of bicycles or other modes of travel where permitted under § 349.23,
Wis. Stats., and so designated by appropriate signs and markings.
Any bicycle lane, bicycle way or highway which has been duly
designated by the City and which is identified by appropriate signs
and markings.
Any path or sidewalk or portion thereof designated for use
of bicycles by the City.
[Amended by Ord. No. 98-37]
No person whose residence is within the corporate limits of
the City shall operate a bicycle upon any street in the City unless
such bicycle is registered and bears a decal as herein provided.
[Amended by Ord. No. 98-37[1]]
Registration shall be accomplished by filing with the Police
Department the name and address of the owner, together with a complete
description of the bicycle, on forms provided by the Department, and
by paying a registration fee as set by the Common Council and provided
under separate fee schedule. The registration shall be nonexpiring,
providing the bicycle remains within the same household. If the bicycle
is sold, given away or otherwise disposed of, the owner shall notify
the Department of such action. The bicycle will have to be reregistered
by the new owner and the appropriate fee shall be paid, provided the
new owner is a resident of the City. The registration decal shall
remain attached to the bicycle at time it is sold, given away or disposed
of. In case the registration decal is lost, stolen or obliterated,
a renumbered decal shall be issued for a fee as set by the Common
Council and provided under separate fee schedule. All bicycles must
be registered within 10 days of purchase or before operating on any
City street. No registration shall be issued for any bicycle without
a serial number or owner- or City-applied number.
[Amended 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
The Police Department shall, on a quarterly basis, make an accounting
of the fees received to the City Treasurer.
No bicycle shall be considered registered until a registration
decal shall be affixed to the bicycle, which shall remain so affixed
until reregistration or removal by the Police Department for cause.
No person shall willfully remove, deface or destroy any such identification
decal. The decal should be attached to the upright frame member directly
below the seat-attaching clamp.
No bicycle shall be registered which is in unsafe mechanical
condition.
[Amended by Ord. No. 98-37]
Within 10 days after any bicycle registered hereunder shall
have changed ownership or been dismantled and taken out of operation,
the person in whose name the bicycle has been registered shall report
such information to the Police Department. In case of change of ownership,
the registration shall thereupon be changed to show the name of the
new owner, provided the new owner is a resident of the City. In case
of dismantling and taking out of operation, the registration shall
be canceled.
Whenever a bicycle is operated in the City, the following rules
apply:
A.
The rider of a bicycle upon a roadway carrying two-way traffic shall
ride as near as practicable to the right edge of the unobstructed
traveled roadway. On one-way roadways, the operator of the bicycle
shall ride as near as practicable 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, or when making a left-hand
turn at an intersection.
B.
No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the
number for which it is designed and equipped, nor shall a bicycle
be used to tow any coaster, sled, person on roller skates or in-line
skates, toy vehicle or other similar device. In addition to the operator,
a bicycle otherwise designed to carry only the operator may be used
to carry or transport a child seated in an auxiliary child's seat
or trailer designed for attachment to a bicycle if the seat or trailer
is securely attached to the bicycle according to the directions of
the manufacturer of the seat or trailer.
C.
No person operating a bicycle shall cling or attach himself or his
bicycle to any moving vehicle.
D.
No person shall operate a bicycle upon any public roadway abreast
of another person operating a bicycle except when passing such bicycle.
E.
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 410-13B of this Code (wheeled devices), every person operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall exercise due care and give an audible signal when passing a bicycle rider or pedestrian proceeding in the same direction.
F.
All bicycles shall stop for arterial highway signs, automatic traffic
signals and when emerging from alleys and driveways.
G.
No bicycle shall be parked upon any sidewalk area or upon any roadway
in such a manner as to interfere with free passage of pedestrian or
vehicular traffic.
H.
Bicycles which are not mechanically safe shall not be operated on
the public ways of the City.
I.
No person may operate a bicycle upon a highway, bicycle lane, bicycle
way or sidewalk during hours of darkness unless such bicycle is equipped
with or the operator is wearing a lamp emitting a white light visible
from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front of such bicycle.
Such bicycle shall also be equipped with a red reflector that has
a diameter of at least two inches of surface area on the rear so mounted
and maintained as to be visible from all distances from 50 to 500
feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps
on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a steady or flashing red light
visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear may be used in lieu
of the red reflector.[1]
J.
No person shall operate a bicycle upon a highway, bicycle lane or
bicycle way unless equipped with brakes in good working condition,
adequate to control the movement of and to stop the bicycle whenever
necessary.
K.
No person 12 years or older shall operate a bicycle upon a sidewalk
in Watertown, except for the specific purpose of distributing newspapers.
The statutory provisions describing and defining regulations
with respect to bicycles and play vehicles in the Wisconsin Statutes
are hereby adopted and, by reference, made a part of this Code as
if fully set forth herein. Any act required to be performed or prohibited
by any statute is required or prohibited by this Code.
Where the child is under the age of 12 years, full responsibility
for the proper equipment of the bicycle in compliance with State of
Wisconsin Statutes and the City of Watertown ordinances shall be that
of the child and his parent or guardian.
Any individual 12 years of age or older who violates the provisions
of this chapter or any parent or guardian of any child under the age
of 12 years who knowingly permits a child to violate any of the provisions
of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, forfeit amounts as
set forth in the Uniform State Traffic Deposit Schedule. All violations
not listed in the Uniform State Traffic Deposit Schedule shall carry
a penalty of not less than $10 for the first offense and $25 for second
and continuing offenses, plus costs of prosecution.
