El Cerrito Municipal Code Ch. 11.64 Bicycles

Every person operating a bicycle upon a public right-of-way or upon park or open space lands owned and/or controlled by the city of El Cerrito shall maintain a bicycle in a safe mechanical condition and in accordance with the California Vehicle Code, including, but not limited to, the following requirements and prohibitions:

A. Sirens and Whistles. It is unlawful to equip a bicycle with a siren or whistle except for bicycles used by members of the El Cerrito Police Department or other authorized sworn peace officer in the course and scope of employment.

B. Handlebar Grips. Every bicycle that is equipped with handlebar grips must have the grips securely fastened, glued or cemented to the handlebars.

C. Reflectors. Every bicycle shall be equipped with a reflector, pedal reflector, reflex reflector or reflectorized tire.

(Ord. No. 2014-01, § 1, 3-18-2014)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2014-01, § 2, adopted March 18, 2014, repealed the former § 11.64.020, and § 1 set out herein provisions similar to those contained in the former § 11.64.090. See note at § 11.64.090. The former § 11.64.020 pertained to license required and derived from Ord. 93-1, Divs. 1, 2 (part), adopted in 1993.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2014-01, § 2, adopted March 18, 2014, repealed the former § 11.64.030, which pertained to license exception for nonresident and derived from Ord. 93-1, Divs. 1, 2 (part), adopted in 1993.

It is unlawful for any person to ride or operate a bicycle in the city in violation of any of the rules of the road as defined in the California Vehicle Code and set forth in this section as follows:

A. Riding on Sidewalks. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle on any sidewalk in the city except peace officers who determine in good faith that riding or operating a bicycle on the sidewalk is necessary to perform official duties and juveniles as specifically permitted herein.

B. Juveniles Riding on Sidewalks. Juveniles under the age of sixteen years exercising due care may ride and operate their bicycles upon the sidewalk, except such sidewalks as are in front of stores or other buildings used for business purposes.

C. Carrying Children. No person shall carry any child between the ages of one to four, or weighing forty pounds or less, anywhere on a single-passenger bicycle except in a baby seat attached to the bike or in a manufactured bicycle trailer designed or intended for the use of carrying passengers. The child must be able to sit upright in the seat or trailer and must be held in the seat by a harness or seat belt.

D. Towing. No person riding or operating a bicycle in the city shall tow any other vehicle or person, moped, motorcycle, sled, toy vehicle, or any other similar human-powered or motor-powered device including a skateboard and rider, upon a public right-of-way or upon park or open space lands owned and/or controlled by the city, except for manufactured bicycle trailers being used for their intended purpose.

E. Trick Riding. No person riding or operating a bicycle, moped, coaster, roller skates, sled, skateboard, toy vehicle, or motorcycle shall perform or attempt to perform any acrobatic or stunt riding wherein such action creates a dangerous situation to the rider, pedestrians or motor vehicles, upon any right-of-way, or space, land, property or facilities owned or controlled by the city of El Cerrito. The foregoing prohibition shall not apply to city parks, open space, greenways and areas designated specifically to accommodate cycling and riding activities, such as designated skateparks, bikeparks and cross-country mountain bike trails, unless such venues are being used for special events that prohibit trick riding, because a large gathering of pedestrians or vehicular traffic is present, thus creating a dangerous situation.

F. Parks, Playgrounds and Schools. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle upon any playground, park or school ground where children are playing without permission of the person having supervision thereof.

G. Turns and Stops. No person shall turn a bicycle or stop a bicycle which he is riding or operating unless such movement can be made with safety, and then only after an appropriate signal during the last fifty feet traveled by the bicycle before turning or stopping.

H. Accident Reports. The operator of any bicycle involved in an accident shall take reasonable steps to ascertain whether or not anyone was injured, and he shall give his name and address to the person with whom he was in collision, and he shall obtain the same information from the other person. It shall be the duty of the bicycle operator to make a written report of any accident resulting in death or injury to the police chief within twenty-four hours of such accident.

(Ord. 93-1, Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993; Ord. No. 2014-01, § 1, 3-18-2014)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2014-01, § 2, adopted March 18, 2014, repealed the former § 11.64.040, and § 1 redesignated the former § 11.64.180 as a new § 11.64.040. See note at § 11.64.180. The former § 11.64.040 pertained to license application and conditions required and derived from Ord. 93-1, Divs. 1, 2 (part), adopted in 1993.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2014-01, § 2, adopted March 18, 2014, repealed the former §§ 11.64.070 and 11.64.080, which pertained to license fees; and license issuance and period of validity, respectively, and derived from Ord. 93-1, Divs. 1, 2 (part), adopted in 1993.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2014-01, § 1, adopted March 18, 2014, repealed the former § 11.64.090, which pertained to equipment prerequisite to license issuance and derived from Ord. 93-1, Divs. 1, 2 (part), adopted in 1993. The same section of the ordinance set out similar provisions as a new Code § 11.64.020.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2014-01, § 2, adopted March 18, 2014, repealed the former §§ 11.64.100—11.64.130, which pertained to operation without equipment or in an unsafe mechanical condition prohibited; license indicia and registration certificate, issuance, attachment and form; license indicia and registration certificate, notice of loss or theft required, duplicate issuance, and fee; sale or transfer of ownership, procedures required, respectively, and derived from Ord. 93-1, Divs. 1, 2 (part), adopted in 1993.

No person shall buy, sell, receive, possess, dispose of or conceal any bicycle or bicycle equipment from which the manufacturer's name plate, serial number or any other distinguishing mark has been removed, defaced, covered, altered or destroyed.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2014-01, § 2, adopted March 18, 2014, repealed the former §§ 11.64.160 and 11.64.170, which pertained to rental agency bicycle licensing requirements; and destroying bicycle numbers or licenses prohibited, identification number placement authorized, respectively, and derived from Ord. 93-1, Divs. 1, 2 (part), adopted in 1993.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2014-01, § 1, adopted March 18, 2014, redesignated the provisions of the former § 11.64.180, which pertained to rules of the road and accident reports, as a new § 11.64.040.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2014-01, § 2, adopted March 18, 2014, repealed the former § 11.64.190, which pertained to operation prohibited as penalty for violation, and derived from Ord. 93-1, Divs. 1, 2 (part), adopted in 1993.

All abandoned or unidentified bicycles remaining in the hands of the police chief shall at the end of six months be sold at public auction.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)