Part 7 — Special Stops Required

• (a) Whenever the provisions of this Code designate and describe any street, or portion thereof, as a through street, or whenever the provisions of this Code or resolution of the City Council describe any intersection at which vehicles are required to stop at one or more entrances thereto, the City Traffic Engineer shall erect and maintain stop signs and pavement markings on each and every street intersecting such through street, or portion thereof, so designated and at those entrances of other intersections where a stop is required. Signing and pavement markings shall conform to the requirements of the CAMUTCD and the City.

• (b) Whenever a traffic study considering traffic volumes, traffic characteristics, accident history, pedestrian volumes, street and area conditions and characteristics and engineering judgment is conducted by the City Traffic Engineer at an intersection and the findings of the traffic study, when applied to the criteria set forth in the CAMUTCD or criteria established by the City is met, the City Traffic Engineer may consider the installation of stop control on one or more of the traffic approaches to the study intersection.

• (Added by Ord. 18-1402, adopted 11-13-18)

• (a) Those streets and parts of streets designated by resolution of the City Council as such shall be through streets.

• (b) The provisions of this part shall also apply at one or more entrances to the intersections as such entrances and intersections are described by resolution of the City Council.

• (c) When stop signs are so erected at the entrance to any intersection, every driver of a vehicle shall stop as required by the California Vehicle Code.

• (Added by Ord. 18-1402, adopted 11-13-18)

Whenever a traffic study considering traffic volumes, traffic characteristics, accident history, pedestrian volumes, approach speeds, street and area conditions and characteristics and engineering judgment is conducted at an intersection by the City Traffic Engineer and the findings of the traffic study, when applied to the criteria set forth in the CAMUTCD or criteria established by the City is met, the City Traffic Engineer may consider the installation of yield control signs.

(Added by Ord. 18-1402, adopted 11-13-18)

The driver of a vehicle emerging from an alley, driveway or building shall stop such vehicle immediately prior to driving onto a sidewalk or parkway when no paved sidewalk exists or, into the sidewalk area extending across an alleyway.

(Added by Ord. 18-1402, adopted 11-13-18)

Part 8 Miscellaneous Driving Rules

No driver of a vehicle, except an emergency vehicle, shall drive between vehicles comprising a funeral procession while they are in motion and when the vehicles in such processions are conspicuously so designated.

(Added by Ord. 18-1402, adopted 11-13-18)

The driver of a vehicle shall not drive within any parkway except at a permanent or temporary driveway or in performance of work being performed by or authorized by the City. (Added by Ord. 18-1402, adopted 11-13-18)

No person shall walk, ride or drive any animal or vehicle over or across any newly-made pavements, sidewalks or freshly painted pavement markings on any street when a barrier or sign is in place warning persons not to drive over or across such pavement, sidewalk or pavement markings or when a sign is in place stating that the street, sidewalk or any portion thereof, is closed.

(Added by Ord. 18-1402, adopted 11-13-18)

No person shall drive onto or from any limited access except at such entrances and exits as are established by public authority. "Limited access," in this section, shall mean any street or property for which the City has vehicular access rights. (Added by Ord. 18-1402, adopted 11-13-18)

No person while operating any automobile, motorcycle, or any other motor driven vehicle within the City shall engage in any speed contest, or game of "follow the leader," "hare and hound," or any other similar game or contest on any public street. (Added by Ord. 18-1402, adopted 11-13-18)

• (a) No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within the Central Business District as defined in Section 3108 of this chapter. Nor shall any person ride upon any other sidewalk within the City which has been posted with signs prohibiting such riding. When a bicyclist is riding on the sidewalk in other than the aforementioned areas, the rider shall yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians, obey the rules of the road and all traffic control devices and shall ride at a speed that is safe for the existing conditions.

• (b) No person shall ride a bicycle to cross a roadway within a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

• (c) No person shall ride a bicycle upon any pedestrian bridge which has been posted with signs prohibiting such riding.

• (d) No person shall park a bicycle at any location which has been posted with signs prohibiting such parking.

• (e) No person shall ride a motorized bicycle upon any public sidewalk within the City at any time.

(Added by Ord. 18-1402, adopted 11-13-18)

• (a) No person mounted upon roller skates or riding in, on, or by means of any skateboard, coaster, toy vehicle, or similar device shall go upon any roadway or upon the sidewalk in any business district.

• (b) No person shall ride a motorized scooter, skateboard or personalized mobility device other than for transportation purposes of disabled persons upon any public sidewalk within the city at any time.

(Added by Ord. 18-1402, adopted 11-13-18)

• (a) No person shall operate any motorized scooter (as defined by Section 407.5 of the California Vehicle Code) on any highway, except as authorized by Section 21235(b) of the California Vehicle Code or by this Section:

  • (1) Motorized scooters may be operated outside of a Class II or Class IV bikeway (as defined by Section 890.4 of the California Streets and Highways Code) on the following highways within the City:

    • (i) Downey Avenue. Between Firestone Boulevard and Florence Avenue.

    • (ii) Brookshire Avenue. Between Stewart and Gray Road and Gallatin Road.

    • (iii) Patton Road. Between Stewart and Gray Road and Firestone Boulevard.

    • (iv) Cherokee Drive. Between Downey Avenue and Lakewood Boulevard.

    • (v) Fifth Street. Between Brookshire Avenue and Lakewood Boulevard.

    • (vi) Firestone Boulevard. Between Paramount Boulevard and Lakewood Boulevard.

    • (vii) Stewart and Gray Road. Between Paramount Boulevard and Bellflower Boulevard.

(viii) Alameda Street. Between Paramount Boulevard and Lakewood Boulevard.

• (ix) Columbia Way. Between Lakewood Boulevard and Imperial Highway.

• (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3164, and in accordance with Section 21235(g) of the California Vehicle Code, a motorized scooter may operate upon a sidewalk only as may be necessary to directly enter or leave an adjacent property.

• (b) Sunset Provision. This Section shall expire and be deemed repealed 90 days after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section, unless extended by ordinance.

• (Added by Ord. 20-1423, adopted 1-28-20)

• (a) Definitions. As used in this Section, the following definitions shall apply. Whenever any words or phrases used in this Section are not defined herein, but are defined in the California Vehicle Code, such definitions are incorporated herein and shall be deemed to apply to such words and phrases used herein as though set forth herein in full.

Electric Standup Scooter. A device with no more than three wheels measuring 12 inches or smaller in diameter, that has handlebars and is designed to be stood upon by the user while riding, weighs no more than 50 pounds, and is powered by an electric motor that is capable of propelling the device with or without human propulsion at a speed no greater than 15 miles per hour on a paved level service.

Shared-Use Mobility Device. A transportation device by which a person can be propelled, moved or drawn, that is displayed, offered or placed for rent in any public street, highway, roadway, alley, sidewalk, parkway, or other pathway designed or used for pedestrian or vehicular travel that is owned, granted by easement, operated, or controlled by the City, or any other outdoor area open to the public for public use, whether owned or operated by the City. Shared-Use Mobility Device includes Electric Standup Scooters that are part of a Shared-Use Mobility Device Program, as each of these terms is defined in this Section.

• (i) Shared-Use Mobility Device does not include any of the following:

  • A. Any motor vehicle that is operated as part of an App-Based Rideshare Service (as that term is defined in Section 3197.1(a) of the Downey Municipal Code);

  • B. Any Automobile for Hire (as that term is defined by Section 6510.1 of the Downey Municipal Code);

  • C. Any Motorbus (as that term is defined by Section 6510.3 of the Downey Municipal Code);

  • D. Any Taxicab (as that term is defined by Section 6510.7 of the Downey Municipal Code);

  • E. Any motor vehicle for hire which provides private service to qualified senior citizens or disabled persons as part of the Downey Dial-A-Ride Program or to the general public as part of the Downey-Link Program pursuant to a valid contract with the City; and

  • F. A motor vehicle rented or leased by an automobile rental agency in full compliance with the Downey Municipal Code – including business licensing and zoning regulations.

Shared-Use Mobility Device Operator. An individual or a public, private, or non-profit entity that manages and operates a Shared-Use Mobility Device Program.

Shared-Use Mobility Device Program. A system of self-service Shared-Use Mobility Devices for hire in the City of Downey operated by a Shared-Use Mobility Device Operator.

• (b) Authority of Director of Community Development. The Director of Community Development shall implement a Shared-Use Mobility Device pilot program for Electric Standup Scooters and implement such Rules and Regulations as necessary and appropriate for a pilot Shared-Use Mobility Device Program. Such Rules and Regulations may include, but shall not be limited to, permit rules; operational regulations; insurance, indemnification, and fee requirements; and impoundment regulations. The Director of Community Development shall issue a Shared-Use Mobility Device Permit to a qualified Shared-Use Mobility Device Operator in accordance with the Rules and Regulations implemented pursuant to this Subsection.

• (c) Permit Required. No person shall operate a Shared-Use Mobility Device Program, nor otherwise provide Shared-Use Mobility Devices for hire in the City of Downey, without a current and valid Shared-Use Mobility Device Permit, issued by the Director of Community Development in accordance with the Rules and Regulations enacted pursuant to Subsection (b).

  • (1) A Shared-Use Mobility Device Operator shall comply with all Rules and Regulations and conditions of any Shared-Use Mobility Device Permit.

(Added by Ord. 20-1423, adopted 1-28-20)

No person shall hold or be a participant in any parade, procession, or any other assemblage or demonstration upon any public street unless a permit therefor has been granted by the City Council. Such permits may be granted by the City Council upon written applications filed with the City Manager in such form as prescribed. A traffic control or detour plan approved by the City Traffic Engineer shall be a condition of approval.

(Added by Ord. 18-1402, adopted 11-13-18)

No peddler or itinerant merchant will be permitted to sell or offer for sale on any public property or right-of-way any goods, wares, or merchandise at parades in the formation areas, on the parade routes, or in the disbanding areas, except those peddlers or persons who have been previously approved by the City. Maps and/or descriptions defining the parade areas as submitted by the applicant shall be filed for reference in the City Clerk and License Departments regarding the restricted areas for such sales.

(Added by Ord. 18-1402, adopted 11-13-18)

Part 9 Pedestrians

• (a) Establish Marked Crosswalks. The City Traffic Engineer may, in conformance with the traffic study requirements set forth in the CAMUTCD and the California Vehicle Code, designate, establish and maintain marked crosswalks at intersections and other places; additionally:

  • (1) Configuration, signing and pavement markings for marked crosswalks shall conform to the requirements of the CAMUTCD and the California Vehicle Code.

  • (2) Other than marked pedestrian crosswalks at intersections, no other marked crosswalk shall be established in any block which is less than four hundred feet (400′) in length. Elsewhere, not more than one additional marked crosswalk shall be established in any one block, such marked crosswalk shall be located at or near mid-block.

  • (3) The City Traffic Engineer shall establish a no parking or standing zone of not less than twenty feet (20′) on each traffic approach of the marked crosswalk. However, the length of the no parking or standing zone shall be increased in length at the rate of one foot (1′) per each mile per hour increase in the posted speed limit or as required to address adverse street characteristics or geometrics.

  • (4) School crosswalks shall be installed in conformance with the requirements and standards of the CAMUTCD and the California Vehicle Code.

  • (5) The City Traffic Engineer may enhance the visibility of a marked crosswalk with the installation of electronic signing, amber flashing warning beacons, raised reflective pavement markers, increased safety lighting, or other CAMUTCD-approved devices. A pedestrian signal may be considered if the location of the marked crosswalk meets the warrant criteria defined in the CAMUTCD.

• (b) Removal of Marked Crosswalks. The City Traffic Engineer may recommend the removal of a marked crosswalk based on a traffic study finding that the marked crosswalk is no longer needed. The traffic study, process and removal of the marked crosswalk shall conform to the requirements of the California Vehicle Code Section 21950.5.

• (Added by Ord. 18-1402, adopted 11-13-18)

No person shall stand in any roadway other than in a crosswalk if such action interferes with the lawful movement of traffic. No person shall sit or lie in any roadway. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any police or public officer or contractor or employee of a public utility when necessarily upon a street in the line of duty.

(Added by Ord. 18-1402, adopted 11-13-18)

(a) No pedestrian shall sell, distribute or give away any newspaper or other printed matter from a position or place in or upon any public roadway, except when authorized by a permit as authorized by this Code.

• (b) No pedestrian shall solicit donations, contributions or services from a position or place in or upon any public roadway, except when authorized by a permit as authorized by this Code.

(Added by Ord. 18-1402, adopted 11-13-18)

• (a) No pedestrian shall cross or attempt to cross a roadway on which there is a raised divisional island with a fence or other barrier paralleling the roadway.

• (b) It shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to cross any public street at any time and/or place where a "No Pedestrian Crossing Zone" has been established by the City Traffic Engineer.

Each such zone shall be delineated by signs placed at each end of the designated zone of not less than 12 inches by 18 inches, containing the words "No Pedestrian Crossing" and the international symbol for no pedestrian crossing prominently displayed thereon, posted at each end of the designated zone, with an arrow pointing to the opposite end of the zone. If the designated zone is more than 200 feet from end to end, then additional signs, showing arrows pointing in both directions, shall be placed between the two border signs at intervals of not less than 100 feet and not more than 200 feet or such alternative signage shall be posted as shall be approved by the City Traffic Engineer based upon the particular characteristics of the designated area. Except as specified in this section, the size, shape, height, color, and design of the signs or the letters and arrows appearing on the signs and the content of the wording of each sign shall be as determined by the City Traffic Engineer.

Each sign shall contain reference to this section.

• (c) No pedestrian shall cross a roadway at any place other than by a route at right angles to the curb or by the shortest route to the opposite curb except in a marked crosswalk.

(d) No pedestrian shall cross a roadway other than in a crosswalk in any business district. (Added by Ord. 18-1402, adopted 11-13-18)