City of Erie, PA Bicycle Licensing and Operation

[1]

Editor's Note: Former Section 533.02, Registration and license requirements, adopted by Ord. No. 51-1964 § 3, passed 9-30-1964, as amended by Ord. No. 58-1965 § 1, passed 11-17-1965, and Ord. No. 30-1966 § 1, passed 7-13-1966; and former Section 533.03, Mechanical condition and equipment, adopted by Ord. 51-1964 § 4, passed 9-30-1964, were repealed by Ord. No. 22-2023, passed 5-3-2023.

[Ord. 51-1964 § 6, passed 9-30-1964]

(a)

Any person operating a bicycle shall obey the instructions of official traffic control signals, signs and other control devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.

(b)

No person shall ride or operate a bicycle in the City on any sidewalk, except as herein specifically permitted.

(c)

Persons under the age of 16 years may ride and operate their bicycles on the sidewalks, except such sidewalks as are adjacent to school buildings or located within a business district.

(d)

Whenever a person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk or street, such person shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian, and shall give an audible signal before attempting to overtake and pass a pedestrian or another bicycle. This audible signal must be given only by a bell or other warning device capable of giving an audible signal and shall be given at such a distance and in such a manner as not to startle the person being overtaken and passed.

(e)

Persons riding or operating bicycles on a highway or street shall keep such bicycles as close to the right-hand curb as possible, except when preparing to make a left-hand turn.

(f)

Persons riding or operating bicycles in the City shall always ride single file, whether on a street, roadway or sidewalk.

(g)

No person riding on or operating a bicycle shall cling or attach himself or his bicycle to any other moving vehicle or person in another vehicle.

(h)

A person riding or operating a bicycle shall not ride other than astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto, nor carry any other person upon such bicycle other than upon an individual seat or carrier separate from that intended to be used by the operator, nor shall any person ride upon a bicycle unless he is seated upon an individual seat or carrier separate from that intended to be used by the operator.

(i)

No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.

(j)

No person riding or operating a bicycle shall tow any other vehicle or person, except that bicycle trailers used for the delivery of newspapers, magazines or merchandise may be towed while being used for such delivery service.

(k)

No person riding or operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article in such a manner as to take either hand from the handlebars.

(l)

No person riding or operating a bicycle upon the highways, streets or sidewalks of the City shall participate in any race, speed or endurance contest unless such race or contest has the written permission of the Chief of Police.

(m)

No person riding or operating a bicycle shall perform any acrobatic, fancy or stunt riding upon any highway, street or sidewalk or operate a bicycle without both hands upon the handlebars, except when necessary to give the appropriate hand signals required herein.

(n)

No person shall park any bicycle against windows or parking meters or on the main traveled portion of the sidewalk, or in such manner as to constitute a hazard to pedestrians, traffic or property. If there are no bicycle racks or other facilities intended to be used for parking of bicycles in the vicinity, bicycles may be parked on the sidewalk in an upright position parallel to and within 24 inches of the curb.

(o)

No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable and proper under the conditions then existing.

(p)

The operator of a bicycle emerging from an alley, driveway or building shall, upon approaching a sidewalk or the sidewalk area extending across an alley or driveway, yield the right of way to all pedestrians approaching on such sidewalk area, and upon entering the street shall yield the right of way to all vehicles approaching on such street.

(q)

No person shall ride or operate a bicycle upon any playground or school ground, where children are playing, without permission of the person having supervision thereof.

(r)

No person shall operate a bicycle upon any street, roadway or sidewalk in such a manner as to interfere with any pedestrian who is exercising due care thereon.

(s)

Every person riding or operating a bicycle upon the streets and highways of the City shall turn only at intersections, except as otherwise provided herein.

(t)

Every person riding or operating a bicycle intending to turn to the right at an intersection, or into an alley or driveway, shall approach the turning point in the line of traffic nearest the right-hand curb of the street.

(u)

Every person riding or operating a bicycle intending to turn left at an intersection, or to enter an alley or driveway, shall approach the point of turning in the line of traffic nearest to the center of the roadway. The operator of a bicycle, in turning left at an intersection, shall pass to the right of the center of the intersection before turning, unless otherwise directed by markers, buttons or signs.

(v)

No bicycle shall be turned in any business district so as to proceed in the opposite direction except at intersections. No bicycle operated in a residence district shall be turned so as to proceed in the opposite direction when any other vehicle is approaching from either direction within 200 feet, except at an intersection.

(w)

The operator of a bicycle, on leaving an alley or driveway, when his view of either the sidewalk or the street area is obstructed, shall stop such bicycle immediately prior to riding upon such sidewalk or street area.

(x)

Every person operating a bicycle shall pass to the left when passing vehicles going in the same direction and shall pass to the right when meeting vehicles going in the opposite direction.

(y)

No person shall turn a bicycle or stop a bicycle when he is riding or operating such bicycle unless such movement can be made with safety, and then only after giving an appropriate signal within the last 50 feet traveled by the bicycle before turning or stopping.

(z)

Left turn. Every person signaling a left turn shall do so by extending his left hand and arm horizontally beyond the side of the bicycle.

Right turn. Every person signaling a right turn shall do so by extending his left hand and arm upward beyond the side of the bicycle.

Stop. Every person signaling a stop shall do so by extending his left arm and hand downward beyond the side of the bicycle.

(aa)

The operator of any bicycle involved in an accident shall take reasonable steps to ascertain whether or not anyone was injured, and shall give his name, address and the license number of his bicycle to the person with whom he collided, and shall obtain the same information from the other person. It shall be the duty of the bicycle operator to make a written report of any accident resulting in death or injury to the Bureau of Police within 24 hours of such accident.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Former Sections 533.06, Bicycle establishments; purchase and sale of bicycles; 533.07, Bicycle rental agencies; 533.08, General provisions; and 533.09, License suspension, adopted by Ord. No. 51-1964 §§ 7 through 10, respectively, passed 9-30-1964, which sections immediately followed, were repealed by Ord. No. 22-2023, passed 5-3-2023.