Los Gatos Municipal Code Ch. 5 Bicycles and Regulated Mobility Devices

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 2340, § I, , adopted May 2, 2023, repealed the former Ch. 5, §§ 5.10.010—5.10.035, 5.20.010—5.20.055, 5.30.010—5.30.065, and enacted a new Ch. 5 as set out herein. The former Ch. 5 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Code 1968, §§ 6-1—6-29.

Cross reference— Amusements generally, Ch. 3; motor vehicles and traffic, Ch. 15; parks and recreation, Ch. 19; police, Ch. 21; streets and sidewalks, Ch. 23; vehicles for hire, Ch. 28.

Bicycle has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 231, as it may be amended from time to time.

Electric bicycle has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 312.5, as it may be amended from time to time.

Electric personal assistive mobility device has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 313, as it may be amended from time to time.

Electrically motorized boards has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 313.5, as it may be amended from time to time.

Low speed vehicle has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 385.5, as it may be amended from time to time.

Motorized scooter has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 407.5, as it may be amended from time to time.

Operator means a person who owns, operates, and/or controls a regulated mobility device.

Pedestrian path means any publicly owned path for the exclusive use of pedestrians.

Regulated mobility device means an electric bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electrically motorized board, low-speed vehicle, motorized scooter, and any other similar vehicle.

Rider means a traveler riding in or on a regulated mobility device who is not operating it.

Vehicle has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 670, as it may be amended from time to time.

(Ord. No. 2340, § I, 5-2-23)

Cross reference— Definitions and rules of construction generally, § 1.10.015.

(a) In addition to the restrictions imposed by this Chapter, every person riding or operating a bicycle or regulated mobility device within the Town shall exercise all due care and reduce the speed of the device, obey all traffic control devices, and take all other action relating to operation of the device as necessary to safeguard the operator, passengers, and any persons or other vehicles or devices in the immediate area. All persons must comply with all State laws pertaining to the equipping of and operation of bicycles and regulated mobility devices, particularly those sections of the California Vehicle Code pertaining to obedience to traffic officers and firefighters, accidents and accident reports, and all rules of the road.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to ride or operate a bicycle or regulated mobility device in violation of any of the provisions of the California Vehicle Code or this Chapter.

(Ord. No. 2340, § I, 5-2-23)

(a) No person shall ride or operate a bicycle or regulated mobility device on any sidewalk or pedestrian path, except as specifically permitted in this Chapter.

(b) Juveniles under the age often years, exercising due care, may ride and operate their bicycles or regulated mobility devices upon a sidewalk, except that no bicycles or regulated mobility device shall be ridden or operated by any person upon any sidewalk within a business or commercial district unless specifically permitted in this Chapter.

(c) Persons exercising due care and caution may ride and operate their bicycles or regulated mobility devices upon a sidewalk in the direction indicated when the sidewalk has been designated on an approved bicycle route plan as a "bicycle route" and has been properly signed and delineated as a bicycle route facility.

(Ord. No. 2340, § I, 5-2-23)

Persons riding or operating bicycles or regulated mobility devices on a public highway or street shall not ride more than two abreast, except on paths or parts of a roadway set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles and regulated mobility devices; and persons riding upon a sidewalk as may be specifically permitted in this Chapter shall ride in single file only.

(Ord. No. 2340, § I, 5-2-23)

No person riding or operating a bicycle or regulated mobility device upon a public highway or street shall participate in any race, speed, or endurance contest unless such race or contest has the written permission of the Town Council or designee and is under the supervision of the Chief of Police.

(Ord. No. 2340, § I, 5-2-23)

No person riding or operating a bicycle or regulated mobility device upon a public highway, street, or sidewalk, as may be specifically permitted in this Chapter, shall perform, or attempt to perform, any acrobatics, trick or stunt.

(Ord. No. 2340, § I, 5-2-23)

No person shall ride or operate a bicycle or regulated mobility device upon any playground or school grounds without permission of the person having supervision thereof.

(Ord. No. 2340, § I, 5-2-23)

No person shall park any bicycle or regulated mobility device against windows or on the main traveled portion of the sidewalk, nor in such a manner as to constitute a hazard to pedestrians, traffic, or property. If there is no bicycle rack or other facility intended to be used for the parking of bicycles and regulated mobility devices in the vicinity, they may be parked on the sidewalk in an upright position, parallel to and within 24 inches of the curb.

(Ord. No. 2340, § I, 5-2-23)

(a) Penalties for violations.

(1) The penalty for a first violation of this Chapter is fifty dollars ($50.00).

(2) The penalty for a second violation of this Chapter is seventy-five dollars ($75.00).

(3) The penalty for a third violation of this Chapter is one hundred dollars ($100.00).

(b) In lieu of a citation or other prosecution as authorized by this Code, the Police Chief or designee may allow a violator of this Chapter to complete a Police Department-approved safety course for bicycles or regulated mobility devices under the following circumstances:

(1) It is the violator's first violation; and

(2) The violator is fourteen (14) years of age or younger.

(Ord. No. 2340, § I, 5-2-23)

(a) Public agency personnel. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, or any other Section of this Code, Town and public agency personnel ay operate regulated mobility devices or other vehicles at any place in the Town in the performance of their official duties.

(b) Disability. This Chapter does not apply to, or otherwise restrict, regulated mobility devices used in a safe manner by physically disabled persons as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act."

(Ord. No. 2340, § I, 5-2-23)