Long Beach Municipal Code Ch. 10.48 Bicycles

Footnotes:

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State Law reference— Provisions on bicycles, Veh. C. § 21200 et seq.

A. A bicycle is every device propelled by human power which any person may ride, having two (2) tandem wheels either of which is twenty inches (20") or more in diameter.

B. The term "bicycle" also includes all classes of electric bicycle or "e-bike" defined in California Vehicle Code section 312.5.

(ORD-26-0022 § 1, 2026; Prior code § 3410.200)

Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway or sidewalk shall be subject to the provisions of this Title applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except as to provisions which by their nature can have no application, and such person shall also comply with the special bicycle regulations contained in the Chapter.

(Prior code § 3410.201)

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 the sidewalk or sidewalk area, and upon entering the roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on the roadway.

(Prior code § 3410.202)

Persons operating bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two (2) abreast, except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

(Prior code § 3410.203)

No person shall park a bicycle upon a street other than upon the roadway against the curb or upon a sidewalk in a rack to support the bicycle or against a building or at the curb in such manner as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic.

(Prior code § 3410.204)

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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no person other than an authorized City employee or representative shall use, or enter upon, that portion of the Mark Bixby Memorial Bicycle-Pedestrian Path located within the Harbor District, including its Ocean Boulevard, Pico Boulevard and Terminal Island approaches between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Moreover, in addition to the prohibitions set forth in Chapters 10.51.030, 10.52.040 and 10.54.040, the use of scooters on the Mark Bixby Memorial Bicycle-Pedestrian Path is prohibited at all times.

(ORD-23-0016 § 1, 2023; Prior code § 3410.205)

A. No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within any business district; upon the sidewalks of bridges; in pedestrian underpasses; on pedestrian overpasses; upon sidewalks adjacent to any school building, church, recreation center, playground, or senior citizens' residential development; within the area south of Ocean Boulevard between the Long Beach Museum of Art on the west and Bluff Park on the east; on the northerly side of the Downtown Marina mole which directly abuts said marina, between Gangway A and Gangway P.

B. No person shall ride a Class 3 electric bicycle upon any sidewalk.

C. Any person riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian, and when overtaking and passing a pedestrian, shall give an audible signal and shall pass to the left of the pedestrian only under conditions permitting such movement in safety.

D. The speed limit for bicycles on a sidewalk is fifteen (15) miles per hour unless otherwise posted. The speed limit where pedestrians are present is five (5) miles per hour. Signs specifying the speed limit shall be placed by the Traffic Engineer in locations which will provide notice to significant concentrations of sidewalk bicycle riders or where bicycle speed problems are found to exist on sidewalks.

E. For the purpose of this Section, the following public ways shall be considered sidewalks:

1. Seaside Walk south of Ocean Boulevard between Fifty-Fifth Place and Sixty-Ninth Place, known as the Boardwalk;

2. Bay Shore Walk north of Ocean Boulevard between Fifty-Fifth Place and Sixty-Ninth Place.

F. This Section shall not apply to a bicycle operated by any officer employed by the City while acting within the course and scope of his or her employment, having peace officer powers pursuant to Penal Code Section 830 or are employed in positions as provided under Sections 16.16.080, 16.08.340 and 16.08.341 of the Long Beach Municipal Code.

(ORD-26-0022 § 2, 2026; Ord. C-7453 § 1, 1997; Ord. C-7210 § 1, 1994: Ord. C-7204 § 1, 1994; Ord. C-7084 § 1, 1993: Ord. C-6883 § 1, 1991; Ord. C-6322 § 1, 1986; Ord. C-5911 § 1, 1982; Ord. C-5678 § 1, 1981; prior code § 3410.206)

No person shall operate a bicycle upon a sidewalk unless it is equipped with a bell, horn or other device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least one hundred feet (100'), except that a bicycle shall not be equipped with, nor shall any person use upon a bicycle, any siren or whistle.

(Ord. C-6322 § 2, 1986)

Violation of any provision of this Chapter is an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00).

(Ord. C-6322 § 3, 1986)

Whenever any provision of this Chapter prohibits the riding of bicycles, the Traffic Engineer shall have the authority to erect and maintain signs giving notice thereof in the area where such prohibition is in effect.

(Ord. C-6883 § 2, 1991)

Editor's note— ORD-26-0022 § 4, adopted Aug. 18, 2026, repealed § 10.48.110, which pertained to prohibited areas for bicycle riding" and derived from Ord. C-7281 § 3, 1994.