[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of West Reading 9-6-1960 by Ord. No. 459 (Ch. III of the 1993 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BICYCLE
As herein mentioned, a device having two tandem wheels of a diameter not less than 10 inches and propelled by human power.
STREET
Includes all public highways, boulevards, streets, lanes, alleys, and all public places within the Borough of West Reading.
No person shall ride or operate a bicycle upon any public street within the Borough of West Reading unless said bicycle has been properly registered, tagged and licensed as hereinafter provided.
A. 
The Police Department is hereby authorized and directed to issue upon application bicycle licenses which shall be effective for the period of the ownership of the bicycle by the applicant.
B. 
Every owner of a bicycle residing within the Borough of West Reading shall list and register said bicycle with the Police Department of West Reading at the Borough Hall and shall make application for such registration to the Police Department on a form provided for that purpose. If the owner be a minor under the age of 21 years, then his parents, or one of them, or if said minor does not reside with his parents, or either of them, then the adult person having care of said minor or the adult person with whom said minor resides, shall make such listing and registration, and the application therefor, on behalf of said minor owner.
C. 
Registrations of bicycle shall be serially numbered and kept on file by the Police Department in its office as a public record.
D. 
The Police Department, upon receiving proper registration of a bicycle, shall affix, or cause to be affixed to the rear mudguard, frame or other rear portion of the bicycle an identification tag or sticker serially numbered to correspond to the bicycle registration, in such position as to be plainly visible from the rear. A registration card shall be issued to the owner of each properly registered bicycle.
E. 
A charge of $0.50 shall be made for the registration and tagging of bicycles, and an additional charge of $0.25 shall be made for the issuance of duplicate registration cards and/or tags or stickers. All charges for registration or for duplicate registrations shall be paid to the Police Department at the time of such issuance of the registration, duplicate registration, or transfer of registration.
F. 
It shall be the duty of the owner to see that such tag or sticker is attached to the bicycle for which it is issued and that it remains attached thereto during the effective period of such license.
G. 
The Police Department shall keep a record of:
(1) 
The number of each registration;
(2) 
The date issued;
(3) 
The name and address of the person to whom issued;
(4) 
The make and number of each bicycle frame;
(5) 
A record of all bicycle registration fees collected.
H. 
Within five days after the sale, transfer or dismantling of any registered bicycle, such information shall be reported to the Police Department and the registered owner shall return thereto the registration card issued to such person as licensee thereof, together with the name and address of the person to whom such bicycle was sold or transferred, if that be the case.
I. 
It shall be the duty of any purchaser or transferee of any registered bicycle to make application for a new registration of such bicycle and for a new tag or sticker within five days after such sale or transfer.
J. 
Every person engaged in the business of buying or selling new or secondhand bicycles in the Borough of West Reading shall make a report within five days to the Police Department:
(1) 
Of every bicycle purchased or sold by said dealer, giving the name and address of the person from whom purchased or to whom sold;
(2) 
A description of such bicycle by name or make;
(3) 
The frame number thereof;
(4) 
The number of the identification plate, if any, found thereon.
K. 
A rental agency shall not rent or offer any bicycle for rent unless the bicycle is properly registered and tagged and unless such bicycle is provided with the equipment required under the terms of this chapter.
L. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, wilfully or maliciously, to remove, destroy, mutilate or alter the identification tag or sticker, frame number of the bicycle, or the registration card issued to the owner thereof.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Ch. III, Section 103, Examination of applicant, and Section 104, Inspection, which immediately followed this section, were repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[Amended 4-15-1969 by Ord. No. 544]
A. 
Every bicycle operated upon a public street at any time during the period from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 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 at a distance of 500 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 500 feet to the rear of such bicycle. Such reflector or lamp on the rear shall be of a diameter of at least 1 1/2 inches.
B. 
No bicycle shall be registered nor shall any person operate a bicycle upon the public streets of the Borough unless the same is equipped with a mechanical braking device in good working condition.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
A. 
A bicycle shall be operated only on the roadway of streets and as near to the right-hand side as possible. Bicycles shall not be operated on sidewalks in the Borough of West Reading. This provision shall, however, not apply to a child under 10 years of age operating a bicycle in a purely residential part of the Borough under the control or guidance of his parent or a responsible person.
B. 
The operator of a bicycle shall obey all official traffic signals, signs and other control devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
C. 
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.
D. 
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.
E. 
The operator of a bicycle shall not indulge in any abnormal or trick riding and shall keep at least one hand on the handlebars at all times when in use.
F. 
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.
G. 
Operators of bicycles shall not hitch onto vehicles or motor buses upon a roadway.
H. 
The operator of a bicycle shall park the same upon the roadway at the curb; or upon the sidewalk in a rack to support the bicycle; or against a building, except windows or glass doors thereof, in such manner as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrians or vehicular traffic.
It shall be unlawful for the owner of a bicycle to permit any child to operate his bicycle upon a public street of the Borough of West Reading, unless such child or person is capable of operating a bicycle with safety to himself and the public generally. If a child shall have satisfactorily passed an oral examination given by the Police Department of the Borough of West Reading to determine his ability to ride a bicycle, and to determine his knowledge of safe riding rules and practices prescribed under this chapter, the passing of such examination shall be prima facie evidence under this chapter of the ability of such child to operate a bicycle with safety.
Any bicycle owned and operated by a nonresident of the Borough of West Reading shall not be required to be registered under the provisions of this chapter, but shall be subject to all other provisions of this chapter.
[Amended 4-15-1969 by Ord. No. 544]
A. 
If the owner of a bicycle registered pursuant to the terms of this chapter shall violate any provision of this chapter, the registration card so issued for such bicycle shall be revoked by the Police Department for a period not exceeding 15 days upon the first offense, and for a period not exceeding 30 days upon the occurrence of two or more offenses within a one-year period, against any of the provisions of this chapter. The period of such revocation, under the terms of this section, shall be within the discretion of the Chief of Police. Operation of a bicycle for which such registration card was issued during the term of revocation shall be a violation of this chapter and shall subject the registered owner of such bicycle to the penalties provided in this section.
B. 
Any person, firm or corporation violating § 159-2I through K shall, upon conviction thereof before the Magisterial District Judge, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $5 or more than $25 and costs of prosecution.
C. 
Any person violating any other provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof before the Magisterial District Judge, in addition to the penalty provided in Subsection A of this section, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $5 and costs of prosecution. Provided, any violation of any provision of this chapter which shall also be a violation of any provision in the laws of Pennsylvania or in any other ordinance of the Borough shall be prosecuted under such law or other ordinance, as the case may be.