Mendota Municipal Code Ch. 10.24 Bicycles

"Bicycle," for the purposes of this chapter, means any device upon which a person may ride, which is propelled by human power through a system of belts, chains or gears having either two or three wheels (one of which is at least twenty (20) inches in diameter) or having a frame size of at least fourteen (14) inches, or having four or more wheels.

(Ord. 94-20 § 2 (part), 1994: prior code § 8.07.001)

Every person desiring a bicycle license in the city shall make application to the chief of police upon blanks furnished by him; said application must be filed in duplicate and shall contain such information as may be required by the chief of police as to the applicant and the description of the bicycle to be licensed.

(Ord. 94-20 § 2 (part), 1994: prior code § 8.07.004)

Every person desiring a bicycle license shall pay to the chief of police an annual license fee of one dollar fifty cents ($1.50), payable in advance at the time the application is made.

(Prior code § 8.07.005)

Any nonresident of the city may operate in the city, any bicycle which is duly licensed and registered in another municipality, and equipped with a license plate, without obtaining a Mendota license, provided that such other municipality wherein said bicycle is licensed extends the same privilege to residents of the city of Mendota.

(Prior code § 8.07.003)

Upon making an application for his first license, registration card and license plates, the applicant may be required to be examined by the examining officer designated by the chief of police. The chief of police may further designate the manner of examination. Upon completion of said examination, the chief of police may refuse to issue a license to the applicant if the said examination discloses to the chief of police that the applicant does not have a reasonable knowledge of the provisions of this chapter, the provisions of Section 21050 of the Vehicle Code of the state of California, or that the applicant is unable to exercise reasonable control in operating a bicycle.

(Prior code § 8.07.006)

Upon loss of a license plate, the licensee shall be required to report its loss or theft within ten days. Upon receipt of such report, the chief of police shall cancel this license and issue a new license plate to the licensee upon receipt of a fee of one dollar ($1.00).

(Prior code § 8.07.012)

Upon loss of a registration card, the licensee shall make application for a duplicate card which shall be issued to him free of cost.

(Prior code § 8.07.013)

Upon dismantling, and disposing of bicycles as junk, the licensee shall turn in his registration card and license plate to the chief of police.

(Prior code § 8.11.004)

If the serial number of any bicycle is obliterated or defaced, and the possessor has satisfactory proof of ownership, the chief of police is authorized to place a police department serial number thereon.

(Prior code § 8.11.007)

Every person other than the operator of a bicycle establishment who sells or transfers ownership of any bicycle shall report such sale or transfer of ownership to the chief of police and shall return the registration card issued to such person to the chief of police, together with the name and address of the person to whom said bicycle was sold or transferred within ten days from the date of sale or transfer; provided, however, that if the sale or transfer is made to the operator of a bicycle establishment, then such registration card shall be given to the owner of said bicycle establishment who shall then forward the registration card to the chief of police.

(Prior code § 8.11.001)

A. License plates shall not be transferable from one bicycle to another or from one owner to another. A license plate shall be deemed to be canceled when the bicycle is sold, exchanged, junked or is disposed of in any other manner by the person to whom the license was originally issued.

B. It shall be the duty of the purchaser or transferee of such bicycle to deliver such license plate to the chief of police and make application for a new license and registration card within ten days of such purchase or transfer.

(Prior code § 8.11.002)

All persons engaged in operating a bicycle rental agency for the purpose of renting or lending bicycles to patrons shall first obtain a license plate and registration card for each bicycle so used by paying therefor the regular license fee. License plates thus obtained by bicycle rental agencies shall not be transferred from one bicycle to another.

(Prior code § 8.11.003)

No person shall buy, sell, receive, 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.

(Prior code § 8.11.006)

No person shall wilfully remove, destroy, mutilate or alter the manufacturer's serial number or the Mendota Police serial number, if any, on any bicycle frame, nor shall any person remove, destroy, mutilate or alter any license plate or registration card during the period in which such license plate or registration card is operative.

(Prior code § 8.11.005)

A. It is unlawful for any person to ride or operate a bicycle in the city in violation of any of the following rules of the road:

1. Riding on Sidewalk. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle on any sidewalk in the city, except as specifically permitted in this chapter.

2. Juveniles Riding on Sidewalk. Juveniles under the age of sixteen (16) years, exercising due care and giving pedestrian the right of way, may ride and operate their bicycles upon the sidewalk, except such sidewalks as are in front of schools, stores or buildings used for business purposes.

3. Parking. No person shall park any bicycle against windows or parking meters or on the main traveled portion of the sidewalk, nor in such manner as to constitute a hazard to pedestrians, traffic or property.

B. If there are no bicycle racks or other facilities intended to be used for parking of bicycles in the vicinity, bicycles may be parked on the sidewalk in an upright position parallel to and within twenty-four (24) inches of the curb.

(Ord. 94-20 § 4 (part), 1994: prior code § 8.09.002)

It is unlawful for any person to ride or operate a bicycle in the city unless said bicycle is licensed as otherwise provided in this chapter.

(Ord. 94-20 § 4 (part), 1994: prior code § 8.09.001)

It is unlawful for any person to operate or use a bicycle in the city which has not been registered and licensed and equipped with one or more license plates as provided in this chapter, except as may be specifically herein exempt.

(Prior code § 8.07.002)

A. 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 and license number of his bicycle to the person with whom he was in collision; and he shall obtain the same information from the other person.

B. 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 department within twenty-four (24) hours of such accident.

(Prior code § 8.09.003)