[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Columbia 11-20-1940 (Ch. 12 of the 1971 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 186.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 207.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BICYCLE
A two-wheeled vehicle propelled solely by human power.
It shall be unlawful for any person to ride or operate a bicycle upon any street or public place within the Borough unless said bicycle shall first have been properly registered and tagged as hereinafter provided.
[Amended 7-9-1979 by Ord. No. 555]
Every owner or operator of any bicycle within the Borough shall, within 10 days of the acquisition of ownership of such bicycle, file with the Chief of Police a complete description of such bicycle upon a blank form to be provided for that purpose, which filing shall constitute a registration of such bicycle. All registrations shall be serially numbered and shall be kept on file by the Chief of Police in his office as a public record. Bicycles operated for hire shall be registered in the name of the owner.
[Amended 7-9-1979 by Ord. No. 555]
Upon registration of a bicycle in accordance with this chapter, the Chief of Police or someone in his office designated by him shall affix to such bicycle an identification tag, serially numbered to correspond with the registration of such bicycle. Such tag shall thereafter remain affixed to such bicycle unless removed by the Chief of Police or someone in his office designated by him for cause or for replacement with another tag upon reregistration. A charge as set from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council shall be made for the registration or tagging of any bicycle under the provisions of this chapter.
[Amended 7-9-1979 by Ord. No. 555]
The registration of each bicycle pursuant to this chapter shall be permanent and need not be renewed, except that if the bicycle is sold or transferred to a new owner, it shall be the duty of the new owner to have the bicycle registered in his or her name and to have a new identification tag issued therefor or if the original identification tag as been mutilated or destroyed so as to be unreadable or has been lost, the owner thereof shall obtain a new identification tag and a registration therefor.
[Amended 7-9-1979 by Ord. No. 555]
The owner of each bicycle, at the time of registration or reregistration, shall present the Chief of Police evidence of ownership of the bicycle satisfactory to the Chief of Police.
[Amended 11-23-1954 by Ord. No. 277; 7-7-1979 by Ord. No. 555]
A. 
The Chief of Police or someone in his office designated by him shall have the authority to refuse to register any such bicycle presented for registration and found by him to be in unsafe mechanical condition.
B. 
The Chief of Police or someone in his office designated by him shall have authority to suspend the registration and remove the identification tag from any bicycle operated upon any street or public place in the Borough in an unsafe condition or lacking any of the equipment required by this chapter.
[Added 7-9-1979 by Ord. No. 555]
Registration suspended pursuant to this chapter shall be restored upon application of the owner of such bicycle and a showing satisfactory to the Chief of Police or someone in his office designated by him that such bicycle has been restored to a condition of safety and shall again comply with the provisions of this chapter pertaining to equipment. The fee for restoration of registration of each bicycle upon such circumstances shall be as set from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council, which shall be paid at the time the identification tag is issued.
[Amended 7-9-1979 by Ord. No. 555]
All registrations and identification tags issued hereunder are nonassignable. Within 10 days after any bicycle shall have changed ownership or been dismantled and taken out of operation, such information shall be reported to the Chief of Police by the former owner or person in whose name the bicycle has been registered, and the new owner shall register the bicycle and receive a new identification tag therefor.
[Amended 11-23-1954 by Ord. No. 277; 7-9-1979 by Ord. No. 555]
Any person who shall operate any bicycle not properly registered or not carrying a proper identification tag as required herein upon any street or public place in the Borough shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to the penalty provided in § 86-13 hereof.
[Amended 7-9-1979 by Ord. No. 555; 12-16-2003 by Ord. No. 726]
No person shall ride a bicycle upon any sidewalk, park, schoolyard or other public place so as to obstruct pedestrian traffic or endanger another person's safety. No person shall park or let a bicycle stand upon any sidewalk, park, path or any public place where it is an obstruction to pedestrian traffic. No person shall ride a bicycle upon any sidewalk.
[Amended 7-9-1979 by Ord. No. 555; 12-16-2003 by Ord. No. 726]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for the operator of any bicycle to operate the same in violation of 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3501 et seq. of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, as amended from time to time.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for the rider of any bicycle to operate the same in violation of § 86-11 of this chapter.
C. 
It shall be unlawful for any operator of a bicycle to fail to comply with the equipment and operational requirements for bicycles as set forth in the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3501 et seq., as amended from time to time.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 12-13, Brakes, warning devices and lamps required, as amended, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 12-16-2003 by Ord. No. 726.
[Amended 11-23-1954 by Ord. No. 277; 7-9-1979 by Ord. No. 555; 12-16-2003 by Ord. No. 726]
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof before any District Justice of the Borough, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $10, and costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment of such fines and costs, to imprisonment for not more than three days. The bicycle operated by any person in violation of this chapter may be impounded by the Chief of Police at his discretion, until such bicycle is registered as herein provided.