[Adopted 10-19-2021 by L.L. No. 11-2021]
For the purposes of this article, the terms used herein are
defined as follows:
Encompass the area bounded by the following streets, and
shall not include any operation upon the sidewalks appurtenant thereto:
beginning at the corner of Court Street and West Main Street; running
thence east on West Main Street to the corner of Peconic Avenue and
West Main Street; thence south on Peconic Avenue to the Town line;
thence east along the Town line to the intersection of McDermott Avenue
and to the Town line; thence north on McDermott Avenue to the intersection
of McDermott Avenue and East Main Street; thence east on East Main
Street to the corner of East Main Street and Howell Avenue, thence
west from the corner of Howell Avenue and East Main Street to the
corner of East Main Street and Ostrander Avenue; thence north on Ostrander
Avenue to the intersection of Ostrander Avenue and Second Street;
thence west on Second Street to the intersection of Second Street
and Roanoke Avenue; thence north on Roanoke Avenue to the intersection
of Roanoke Avenue and Railroad Avenue; thence west on Railroad Avenue
to the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Osborne Avenue; thence
south on Osborne Avenue to the intersection of Osborne Avenue and
Court Street; thence west on Court Street to the intersection of Court
Street and West Main Street.
Any two-tandem-wheeled device that has handlebars, is designed
to be stood upon by the operator and is powered by an electric motor
that is capable of propelling the device with or without human propulsion.
A network of self-service and publicly available electric
scooters, and related infrastructure, in which an electric scooter
trip begins and/or ends on any public highway.
A.
Electric scooters shall comply with all applicable federal safety
standards.
B.
This article is adopted pursuant to the New York State Vehicle and
Traffic Law § 1281, Subdivision 2(b) thereof.
C.
Except as actually set forth in this article, the Town of Riverhead
hereby incorporates by reference the provisions of Article 34-D, § 1282
thereof, of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York as
it now exists and as from time to time may be amended. Should the
requirements of this article conflict with or otherwise be inconsistent
with any provision or requirement of the Vehicle and Traffic Law,
the more stringent provisions, or those imposing the higher standards,
shall govern.
A.
Electric scooters may be operated upon public highways and roads,
subject to the rules and regulations set forth herein.
B.
No person shall operate an electric scooter in excess of 15 miles
per hour.
C.
Operation of electric scooters shall be prohibited on any roadway
or highway with a posted speed limit in excess of 30 miles per hour,
and electric scooters shall not be operated within designated bicycle
lanes.
D.
Operators of electric scooters shall be required to wear a helmet
designed to protect against serious head injury at all times that
the scooter is in motion.
E.
Riding abreast. When two or more persons in a group are operating
electric scooters on a roadway, they shall ride single file.
F.
No electric scooter shall be used to carry more than one person at
one time. No person operating an electric scooter shall carry any
person as a passenger in a pack fastened to the operator or fastened
to the electric scooter.
G.
No person operating an electric scooter shall carry any package,
bundle or article which prevents the operator from keeping at least
one hand upon the handle bars or which obstructs his or her vision
in any direction, and both wheels of the scooter shall be upon the
ground at all times during operation.
H.
Every person operating an electric scooter shall yield the right-of-way
to pedestrians in all circumstances.
I.
Intoxication. No person shall operate an electric scooter while in
an intoxicated condition.
J.
Drugs. No person shall operate an electric scooter while his or her
ability to operate such a device is impaired by the use of a drug
as defined in the Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1192, Subdivision
4.
K.
Compliance with regulations. Every person operating an electric scooter
shall obey all stop signs and traffic control signals and comply with
all traffic regulations of the Town.
L.
Sidewalks restricted. No person shall operate, park, abandon or keep
motionless an electric scooter on any sidewalk within the downtown
area as hereinabove described unless parked in a designated area,
stall or other corral designated for the parking of electric scooters.
M.
Traffic regulations. Every person operating an electric scooter shall
strictly observe all traffic signs and signals and all other traffic
rules and regulations applicable thereto and shall obey the orders
and directions of every officer of the Town authorized to direct or
regulate traffic.
N.
No electric scooter shall be operated upon any way, or in any place
to which the public has a right of access, or in any place which the
public has right of access as invitees or licensees, within the Town
of Riverhead, New York between the hours of 1/2 hour after sunset
and 1/2 hour before sunrise.
O.
No electric scooter shall be operated upon Main Street between Court
Street extending east to Old County Road/Route 58.
P.
No electric scooter shall be operated upon and/or within the bicycle
path system located at Vietnam Veterans Memorial Recreation Trail
at the Calverton Enterprise Park.
Pursuant to the provisions of Article 34-D, § 1282 thereof, of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York, Subdivision 10(a), the Town of Riverhead specifically authorizes the operation of shared electric scooter systems within the downtown area of the Town of Riverhead as defined hereinabove at § 213-11, except that no electric scooter shall be operated upon Main Street between Court Street extending east to Howell Avenue. Electric scooters may cross Main Street to and from permitted roadways. Any such operation of shared electric scooter systems shall be pursuant to agreement with and resolution of the Riverhead Town Board.
The Riverhead Police Department shall enforce the provisions
of this article by the issuance of a summons returnable in the Riverhead
Justice Court.
A violation of this article shall be punishable by imprisonment
of up to 15 days and/or a fine of up to $250.
