[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City of Pawtucket, approved 10-17-1967
by Ch. No. 1135 as Secs. 5-1 through 5-17 of the 1966 Code. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
The provisions of this chapter 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 in this chapter.
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.
Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all 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 Chapter 392 and other traffic ordinances of this city applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except as to special regulations in this chapter and except as to those provisions of 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 turn, left turn 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.
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.
Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two
(2) abreast.
No person shall ride a bicycle on any roadway or the areas adjacent
to the roadways of a freeway, expressway or limited-access highway.
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 (1) 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, in such manner is to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian
traffic.
A.
No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within
a business district.
B.
No person fifteen (15) or more years of age shall ride
a bicycle upon any sidewalk in any district.
C.
Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk,
such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give
audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.
A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride
a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.
No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the
number for which it is designed and equipped.
Every bicycle, when in use at nighttime, shall be equipped with a lamp
on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at
least five hundred (500) feet to the front and with a red reflector on the
rear of a type which shall be visible from all distances from fifty (50) feet
to three hundred (300) feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper
beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible
from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the rear may be used in addition
to the red reflector.
No person shall operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with a bell
or other device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least
one hundred (100) feet, except that a bicycle shall not be equipped with,
nor shall any person use upon a bicycle, any siren or whistle.
Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator
to make the braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
