[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the Borough of West Chester 3-11-1953. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The following words, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section except in those instances where the context clearly indicates otherwise:
BICYCLE
A device propelled by human power and having two (2) tandem wheels of a diameter not less than fifteen (15) inches.
CHIEF OF POLICE
The Chief of Police of the Borough of West Chester, or any member of the Police Department of the borough designated by him to perform any of the duties or exercise any of the powers herein vested in the Chief of Police.
PUBLIC HIGHWAY
Any public street, avenue, road, square, alley, highway or other public place located in the Borough of West Chester.
It shall be unlawful for any person to ride or operate a bicycle upon a public highway unless said bicycle shall first have been properly registered and tagged as hereinafter provided:
A. 
Every owner or operator of any bicycle shall, on or before June 1, 1953, make application for the registration of such bicycle with the Chief of Police on a form provided for that purpose and shall annually thereafter, on or before June 1 of each year, make similar application for renewal of such registration. Every purchaser or transferee of a bicycle, whether new or used, after June 1, 1953, shall, within seven (7) days after acquisition, apply to the Chief of Police for an identification tag and registration card for such bicycle. In the event that the owner of a bicycle is a minor under fourteen (14) years of age, the parent, guardian or person having the care of such minor shall make such application on behalf of such minor owner.
B. 
Registrations of bicycles shall be serially numbered and kept on file by the Chief of Police in his office as a public record. Such record shall include the date issued, the name and address of the person to whom issued, a description of such bicycle by name or make, the frame number thereof and such other information as shall be found necessary to carry out the intent of this chapter.
C. 
The Chief of Police, upon receiving proper registration of a bicycle, shall affix or cause to be affixed to the rear mudguard or frame of the bicycle or other suitable place an identification tag or plate, serially numbered to correspond to the bicycle's 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. Such identification tags and registration cards shall be provided by the borough, and the Borough Secretary is authorized and empowered to furnish such tags and cards to the Chief of Police in such quantities as may from time to time be necessary. The operator of a bicycle shall display his owner registration card or produce satisfactory proof that the owner has such registration card upon demand of any police officer.
D. 
A fee of fifty cents ($0.50) shall be charged for the registration and tagging of any bicycle for the whole or any part of each registration period. Upon application and satisfactory evidence of loss of a tag, a new tag shall be issued upon payment of twenty-five cents ($0.25). Upon application and satisfactory evidence of loss of a registration card, a new card shall be issued upon payment of ten cents ($0.10). The Chief of Police shall maintain an accurate record of all such fees and shall promptly pay the same to the Borough Treasurer for the use of the borough.
E. 
Within seven (7) days after the sale, transfer or dismantling of any registered bicycle, such information shall be reported to the Chief of Police by the person in whose name the bicycle was registered. Such a person may have the registration tag of his former bicycle transferred to another bicycle owned by him without payment of an additional fee, upon proper registration of such bicycle with the Chief of Police.
F. 
The Chief of Police shall inspect each bicycle presented for registration and shall refuse to register any bicycle found to be in an unsafe mechanical condition or lacking the equipment specified as necessary under the terms of this chapter.
G. 
It shall be unlawful for any person willfully or maliciously to remove, destroy, mutilate or alter the registration tag or frame number of the bicycle or the registration card issued to the owner thereof.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or use any bicycle upon a public highway in violation of any of the following regulations:
A. 
The operator of a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.
B. 
No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one (1) time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.
C. 
No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and circumstances then existing and with undue regard to the safety of the operator and others.
D. 
A bicycle shall be operated only on the roadway, as near to the right-hand side as possible. Bicycles shall not be operated on the sidewalks.
E. 
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.
F. 
The operator of a bicycle emerging from an alley, driveway or building shall yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians on the sidewalk and to all vehicles on the roadway.
G. 
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 (2) or more persons.
H. 
The operator of a bicycle shall not indulge in any abnormal or trick riding and shall keep at least one (1) hand on the handlebars at all times while in use.
I. 
Operators of bicycles shall not ride in any manner other than single file.
J. 
The operator of a bicycle shall not cling or hold on or be fastened to any other moving vehicle, nor tow or draw any coaster, sled, person on roller skates, toy vehicles or other similar vehicle.
K. 
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 pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
L. 
Bicycles shall not be used or operated above the ground floor of any public parking garage in the Borough.
[Added 11-20-2012 by Ord. No. 21-2012[2]]
[2]
Editor’s Note: This ordinance also provided for the renaming of Ch. 39, Bicycles and Skateboards, as Ch. 39, Bicycles, Skateboards and Rollerblades
[1]
Editor's Note: Sections 3 and 4 of the original ordinance, which immediately preceded this section, were repealed 6-13-1973. Section 3 required retailers to report bicycle purchases to the Chief of Police, and Section 4 regulated equipment of bicycles.
[Added 5-10-1989 by Ord. No. 11-1989; amended 11-20-2012 by Ord. No. 21-2012]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to use, ride, propel or otherwise operate a skateboard on the public sidewalks of the following streets within the Borough of West Chester in the areas set forth below:
Street
Location
Church Street
Between Chestnut Street and Miner Street
Darlington Street
Between Chestnut Street and Miner Street
Gay Street
Between Matlack Street and New Street
High Street
Between Chestnut Street and Barnard Street
Market Street
Between Matlack Street and New Street
Walnut Street
Between Chestnut Street and Miner Street
B. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to use, ride, propel or otherwise operate a skateboard or rollerblades in a public parking garage in the Borough.
[Amended 6-13-1973; 5-10-1989 by Ord. No. 11-1989]
Any person who shall be convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter before any District Justice shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than three hundred dollars ($300.), together with costs of prosecution, or to imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed thirty (30) days, or both.
[1]
Editor's Note: Sections 6 and 7 of the original ordinance, which immediately preceded this section, were repealed 6-13-1973. These sections related to suspensions and revocations of licenses and impoundment and redemption of unlicensed bicycles.