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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCc1120 1120 REGULATION OF BICYCLES AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE OPERATION AND LICENSING OF BICYCLES UPON THE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS OF THE CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS, WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA, AND PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS, WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA, DOES ORDAIN: 1120.01 Definition. "Bicycle" is every device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels either of which is over fourteen inches (14 ") in diameter, and including any device generally recognized as a bicycle though equipped with two (2) front or rear wheels. 1120.02 Regulation of Operation. Except for Section 169.222, Subdivision 4 (b), Minnesota Statutes 1967, Chapter 169.222 as amended by the laws of 1973 is hereby adopted as the Bicycle Regulation Ordinance of the City of Oak Park Heights, Washington County, Minnesota, as set forth below. 1120.03 Bicvcles. A. Traffic Laws Apply. Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway or upon any path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this Chapter, except as to special regulations in this Chapter and except as to those provisions of this Chapter which by their nature can have no application. B. Manner and Number Riding. 1. A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto. 2. No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped, except on a baby seat attached to the bicycle, provided that such seat is equipped with a harness to hold the child securely in the seat and that protection is provided against the child's feet hitting the spokes of the wheel, or in a seat attached to the bicycle operator. C. Hitching Rides. 1 No person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled, or toy vehicle shall attach the same or himself to any car or vehicle upon a roadway. D. Where to Ride. 1. 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. 2. Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than single file except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. 3. Whenever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway. 4. No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business distri ct. 5. 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. E. Carrvini2� Articles. No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle, or article which prevents the driver from keeping at least one hand upon the handle bars. F. Liihtini2� and Brake Equipment. 1. Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with, or its operator shall carry, a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet (500') to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the Department of Public Safety which is visible from all distances from one hundred feet (100') to six hundred feet (600') to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet (500') to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector. No person may, after the passage and publication of this Ordinance, at any other time when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of five hundred feet (500') ahead operate a bicycle unless the bicycle or its operator is equipped with reflective surfaces that shall be visible during the hours of darkness from six hundred feet (600') 2 when viewed in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. The reflective surfaces shall include reflective materials on each side of each pedal to indicate their presence from the front or the rear and with a minimum of twenty (20) square inches on each side of the bicycle or its operator, or white reflective material. All reflective materials used in compliance with this Subdivision shall meet the requirements as prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Safety. 2. Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement. G. Sale with Reflectors. After the passage and publication of this Ordinance, it shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale any new bicycle, unless it is equipped with such reflectors as are prescribed by Section F. 1120.04 Bicvcle Trails. The operation of any motorized vehicle upon any bicycle trail established by the City of Oak Park Heights, Washington County, or the State of Minnesota is prohibited. 1120.05 Bicvcle Licensing. Reiistration and Identification. A. Reiistration Reauired. No person shall ride, use, or leave a bicycle upon any public street, highway, boulevard, sidewalk, or pathway or in any public park or school grounds in the City of Oak Park Heights unless the bicycle shall be licensed and registered as herein provided. B. Application. Every owner of a bicycle may make application for a license for same to the Police Department, which application shall state the person's name and address, the name of the manufacturer of the bicycle, its serial number, style, and general description. Upon receipt of application the Police Department will provide the owner with a reflectorized bicycle license. C. Fee The City Council shall establish fee for bicycle licenses by resolution from time to time. D. Operation Identification. 3 The etching of a police assigned Operation Identification number on the frame of a bicycle is an acceptable alternative to licensing. There is no fee for Operation Identification. E. Alter or Destrov. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully remove, alter, destroy, or mutilate any license or Operation Identification number issued pursuant to this Ordinance. F. Impounding and Sale. If any bicycle is found in any public street, highway, boulevard, sidewalk, or pathway or in any public park or school grounds, without a proper license or Operation Identification number, said bicycle shall be impounded by the Police Department. The Police Department shall try to find the legal owner of the bicycle and will release the same after it is licensed by the owner. At the expiration of ninety (90) days after such impounding, each bicycle which has not been claimed by its owner may be sold at public auction as provided for by appropriate State and local law. 1120.06 Penaltv. Any person convicted of violating any of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not to exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00); but if a minimum fine or imprisonment is prescribed by the State Highway Traffic Act for an offense under this Ordinance, such penalty shall apply to a person convicted of the same offense under this Ordinance. 4