Manhattan Beach Municipal Code Ch. 3.01 Bicycles

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. 23-0008-U, § 2, adopted September 5, 2023, repealed ch. 3.01, §§ 3.01.010—3.01.110 and enacted a new ch. 3.01 as set out herein. Former ch. 3.01 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. 908, eff. December 21, 1961; Ord. 1360, effective June 6, 1974; Ord. 1330, effective October 18, 1973; Ord. 1404, effective April 3, 1975; and Ord. 1402, eff. March 6, 1975.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

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

"Beach bicycle path" has the same meaning as set forth in Section 14.28.130 of this Code.

"Electric bicycle" means all bicycles and off-road bicycles equipped with operable pedals and/or an electric motor of less than seven hundred fifty (750) watts, and shall include Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 units as defined in California Vehicle Code Section 312.5, as it may be amended from time to time.

"Motorized bicycle" has the same meaning as set forth in California Vehicle Code Section 406, as it may be amended from time to time.

"Operator" means a person who owns, operates, and/or controls a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle.

"Strand" means the paved public right-of-way defined in Section 12.01.030 of this Code.

"Trailer, sidecar, or similar device" has the same meaning as set forth in California Vehicle Code Section 467.5(b), as it may be amended from time to time.

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

(§ 2, Ord. 23-0008-U, eff. September 5, 2023)

It shall be unlawful for any person to ride or operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle in the City unless such bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle complies with all of the following rules of the road:

A. Every bicycle, electric bicycle, and motorized bicycle shall be equipped with a brake adequate to skid the front or rear tire of the bicycle upon application of the brake.

B. Every bicycle equipped with a trailer, sidecar, or similar device must have the device securely attached to the bicycle.

C. Every bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle operated at any time from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise, and at any other time when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernable any person or vehicle on the streets or sidewalks, shall be equipped with lights affixed to the front and back of the bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle, which lights shall be visible for a distance of three hundred (300) feet from the bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle.

D. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle on any sidewalk, except as specifically permitted in this section.

E. Minors under the age of fourteen (14) years, exercising due care and giving the pedestrian the right-of-way, may ride and operate their bicycles upon the sidewalk, except such sidewalks located adjacent to schools, religious institutions, restaurants, retail stores, the Civic Center, the Joslyn Community Center, the Metlox property, and the Los Angeles County Library.

F. Each person riding or operating a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle on a highway or street shall keep such bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle in marked bike lanes. On streets without bike lanes, such person shall keep the bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle as close to the right hand curb or edge of the roadway as possible, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction, except when preparing to make a left-hand turn; provided, however, if a highway or street carries traffic in one direction only and has two (2) or more marked traffic lanes, such persons may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of such roadway as possible, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.

G. Persons riding or operating bicycles, electric bicycles, or motorized bicycles in the City shall not ride more than two (2) abreast except on paths or parts of a roadway set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles; and provided, further than minors riding on bicycles on the sidewalk pursuant to subsection (E) shall do so in single file.

H. No person riding or operating a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle shall cling or attach themselves or their bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle to any other moving vehicle or persons in any other vehicle.

I. No person riding or operating a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle shall transport another person upon the bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle unless such passenger is seated upon a separate seat attached to the vehicle. If the passenger is four (4) years of age or younger, or weighs forty (40) pounds or less, the seat shall have adequate provision for retaining the passenger in place and for protecting the passenger from the moving parts of the bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle.

J. No person riding or operating a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle in the City shall tow any other vehicle.

K. No person riding or operating a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle shall participate in any race or speed contest unless permitted by the City.

L. No person riding or operating a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle shall perform or attempt to perform any acrobatic, fancy or stunt riding.

M. Every person operating a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle in the City shall stop for all arterial highways and traffic signals.

N. No person shall park any bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle against windows or parking meters or on a sidewalk such that the bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle obstructs sidewalk accessibility or passage, nor in such manner as to constitute a hazard to pedestrians, traffic or property.

O. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle faster than is reasonable and proper, having due regard for weather, visibility, pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and the surface and width of the sidewalk, and in no event at a speed that endangers the safety of any person or property.

P. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle upon any playground, park, or school ground where children are playing.

Q. The operator of any bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle involved in an accident shall take reasonable steps to ascertain whether or not anyone was injured, and shall give their name, address and the license number of their bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle to the person with whom they were in collision and obtain the same information from the other person. It shall be the duty of the operator to make a written report of any accident resulting in death or injury to the Police Department within twenty-four (24) hours of such accident.

R. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle upon any street or highway of the City while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage and/or any drug.

S. All operators and passengers under eighteen (18) years of age shall wear a helmet properly strapped while riding or operating a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle.

T. Bicycles, electric bicycles, and motorized bicycles must yield to pedestrians at all times.

U. Bicycles, electric bicycles, and motorized bicycles shall not exceed fifteen (15) miles per hour on the Marvin Braude Bike Path also known as the Beach Bicycle Path.

(§ 2, Ord. 23-0008-U, eff. September 5, 2023)

No person shall ride or operate an electric bicycle or motorized bicycle on any of the following:

A. City sidewalks, the beach, walk streets, Veterans Parkway, plazas, grass areas, lawns, the Civic Center, the Los Angeles County Library property, the Metlox property, the Strand, and parking structures and parking lots owned or operated by the City, County of Los Angeles, or State of California.

B. Other public property where signs prohibiting such activity are conspicuously posted.

(§ 2, Ord. 23-0008-U, eff. September 5, 2023)

This chapter is not intended to apply to or otherwise restrict bicycles, electric bicycles, and motorized bicycles operated by any officer employed by the City while on duty, or as utilized in a safe manner by physically disabled persons as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.).

(§ 2, Ord. 23-0008-U, eff. September 5, 2023)