Hidden Hills Municipal Code Art. H Bicycles

The purpose of this Article is to regulate the operation of bicycles on roads located within the City. This Article may be referred to as the City's bicycle regulations.

(Ord. 181, 2-17-86)

A. Compliance with Provisions Required: It is unlawful for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in this Article.

B. Parents' Responsibility: The parent of any child or guardian of any ward shall not authorize or knowingly permit any such child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this Article.

C. Applicability of Provisions: These regulations applicable to bicycles shall apply whenever a bicycle is operated upon any street within this City or upon any path therein set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, subject to those exceptions stated herein.

(Ord. 215, 1-19-89)

A. License Required: No person who resides within this City shall ride or propel a bicycle on any street or upon any public path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles unless such bicycle has been licensed and a license indicia is attached thereto as provided herein.

B. License Application and Fee: Application for a bicycle license shall be made upon a form provided by the City and shall be made to the City Clerk or Sheriff. A license fee, as prescribed by the bicycle licensing authority, shall be paid to the City before each license or renewal thereof is granted.

C. Inspection of Bicycles: The City Clerk or Sheriff or other authorized official shall inspect each bicycle before licensing the same and shall refuse a license for any bicycle which he determines is in unsafe mechanical condition.

D. Issuance or Denial of License:

1. The City Clerk or Sheriff, upon receiving proper application therefor, is authorized by the local authority to issue a bicycle license.

2. The City Clerk or Sheriff shall not issue a license for any bicycle when he knows or has reasonable ground to believe that the applicant is not the owner of or entitled to the possession of such bicycle.

E. Attachment of License Indicia:

1. The City Clerk or Sheriff, upon issuing a bicycle license, shall also issue a license indicia bearing the license number assigned to the bicycle, the name of the City, the calendar year for which issued and the expiration date thereof.

2. The City Clerk and Sheriff shall cause such license indicia to be affixed to the front of the seat tube of the bicycle frame.

3. No person shall remove a license indicia from a bicycle during the period for which issued, except upon a transfer of ownership or in the event the bicycle is dismantled and no longer operated upon any street or bicycle path in this City.

F. Renewal of License: Upon the expiration of any bicycle license, the same may be renewed upon application and payment of the fee as prescribed by the bicycle licensing authority.

G. Transfer of Ownership: Upon the sale or other transfer of a licensed bicycle, the licensee shall follow the respective rules set by the bicycle licensing authority.

H. License Records: The City Clerk and Sheriff shall keep a record of the number of each license, the date issued, the name and address of the person to whom issued and the number on the indicia of the bicycle for which issued and a record of all bicycle license fees collected by him.

(Ord. 215, 1-19-89; 1994 Code)

A. No person shall operate a bicycle on a roadway if:

1. The bicycle is not equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make one braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement;

2. The bicycle is equipped with handlebars so raised that the operator must elevate his hands above the level of his shoulders in order to grasp the normal steering grip area; or

3. The bicycle is of such size as to prevent the operator from safely stopping the bicycle, supporting it in an upright position with at least one foot on the ground, and restarting it in a safe manner.

B. Every bicycle operated upon any roadway during darkness shall be equipped 1) with a lamp emitting a white light which, while the bicycle is in motion, illuminates the roadway in front of the bicyclist and is visible from a distance of 300 feet in front and from the sides of the bicycle; 2) with a red reflector on the rear which shall be visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle; 3) with a white or yellow reflector on each pedal visible from the front and rear of the bicycle from a distance of 200 feet; and 4) with a white or yellow reflector on each side forward of the center of the bicycle, and with a white or red reflector on each side to the rear of the center of the bicycle, except that bicycles which are equipped with reflectorized tires on the front and the rear need not be equipped with these side reflectors. A lamp or lamp combination, emitting a white light, attached to the operator and visible from a distance of 300 feet in front and from the sides of the bicycle may be used in lieu of the lamp required by this subsection B.

(Ord. 215, 1-19-89; 1994 Code)

Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway or any paved shoulder shall have all the rights and shall be subject to all the applicable provisions of the Vehicle Code.

(Ord. 215, 1-19-89; 1994 Code)

No person shall park any bicycle upon the roadway, equestrian or pedestrian trails in such a manner as to constitute a hazard to pedestrians, animals, traffic or property. If there are no facilities available to park bicycles in the vicinity, bicycles may be parked upon equestrian or pedestrian trails in an upright position parallel to and within 24 inches of the outer edge of the roadway.

(Ord. 215, 1-19-89)

The Council shall establish bicycle lanes, from time to time, by resolution. The Building Official is authorized by the Council to implement the establishment of the bicycle lanes and paths as designated in said resolution.

(Ord. 215, 1-19-89; 1994 Code)

Every person convicted of a violation of any provision of this Article shall be punishable as an infraction and by removal and detention of the license indicia from such person's bicycle for a period of not to exceed 30 days or by impounding of such person's bicycle for a period not to exceed 30 days or by any combination thereof.

(Ord. 215, 1-19-89)