[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Westbrook 7-13-1965 (Ch. 5 of the 2007 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
STATE LAW REFERENCES
Bicycle regulations generally — 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2321 et seq.
A. 
It is a civil violation for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in this chapter.
[Amended 4-22-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-35]
B. 
The parent of any child and the guardian of any ward shall not authorize or knowingly permit any such child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this chapter.
C. 
These regulations applicable to bicycles shall apply whenever a bicycle is operated upon any highway or upon any path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, subject to those exceptions stated herein.
D. 
These regulations applicable to bicycles shall apply to “electric bicycles” meaning a two-wheel or three-wheel bicycle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts that is a Class 1 electric bicycle, a Class 2 electric bicycle or a Class 3 electric bicycle as defined in this subsection.
[Added 4-22-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-35]
(1) 
"Class 1 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 miles per hour.
(2) 
"Class 2 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that is capable of being used exclusively to propel the bicycle but is not capable of propelling the bicycle at a speed of 20 miles per hour.
(3) 
"Class 3 electric bicycle” means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 28 miles per hour.
Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by the laws of this state declaring rules of the road applicable to vehicles or by the traffic ordinances of the City applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except as to special regulations in this chapter and except as to those provisions of the laws and ordinances which by their nature can have no application.
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. 
Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right, left or U-turn is permitted, no person operating a bicycle shall disobey the direction of any such sign, except where such person dismounts from the bicycle to make any such turn, in which event such person shall then obey the regulations applicable to pedestrians.
[Amended 12-21-2020 by Order No. 2020-153; 4-22-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-35]
A. 
Bicycles shall be outfitted with equipment as outlined in 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2084. A person under 16 years of age who is an operator or a passenger on a bicycle shall wear a helmet as required by 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2323.
B. 
Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
A. 
Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.
B. 
Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
C. 
Wherever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway.
No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing.
The operator of a bicycle emerging from an alley, driveway or building shall, upon approaching a sidewalk or the sidewalk area extending across any alleyway, yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians approaching on such sidewalk or sidewalk area and, upon entering the roadway, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on such roadway.
No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the rider from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars.
No person shall park a bicycle upon a street other than upon the roadway against the curb or upon the sidewalk in a rack to support the bicycle or against a building or at the curb, in such manner as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic.
Any person 17 years of age or over who violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be punished in accordance with § 1-8 of this Code. The Chief of Police, when satisfied that a juvenile under the age of 17 years has ridden a bicycle in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, may impound the bicycle for a period not to exceed five days for the first offense, for a period not to exceed 10 days for a second offense, and for a period not to exceed 30 days for any subsequent offense.