Orange County Municipal Code Art. 5 Pedestrian, Bicycle, Skateboard, and Equestrian Regulations

(a) Direction of Travel: Persons riding or operating a bicycle or electric bicycle on a bicycle trail or path may proceed in either direction except on those trails or paths designated for one-way traffic by appropriate markings or signs defined by the direction of adjacent vehicular traffic.

(b) Walking bicycles: Bicycles may be walked subject to all provisions of law applicable to pedestrians.

(c) Unsafe operation: No person shall operate a bicycle or electric bicycle in any manner that endangers any person or animal. No person shall operate a bicycle or electric bicycle at a speed that is greater than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for other users and the surface, width, and grade of the road. No electric bicycle shall travel over twenty-eight (28) miles per hour on a county highway or the speed limit whichever is lower.

(d) Parking: No person shall leave a bicycle or electric bicycle lying on its side on or in a road or trail in such a way as to obstruct pedestrian, equestrian, bicycle, or other vehicular traffic.

(e) Helmets: No person under eighteen (18) years of age shall ride or operate, whether or not as a passenger, a bicycle or an electric bicycle on any road, bikeway, sidewalk, or trail unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet. The bicycle helmet must meet the standards set forth in the California Vehicle Code.

(f) Operation of Class 3 electric bicycle.

i. A person under sixteen (16) years of age shall not operate a class 3 electric bicycle.

ii. A person shall not operate a class 3 bicycle, or ride upon a class 3 electric bicycle as a passenger unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet as required under California Vehicle Code Section 21213.

(g) Maximum number of riders: Persons riding bicycles or electric bicycles on a roadway, bicycle lane, or sidewalk shall not ride more than two (2) abreast.

(h) Passengers: A bicycle or electric bicycle operator shall not allow a person riding as a passenger on a bicycle or electric bicycle upon a county highway other than upon or astride a separate seat attached to the bicycle or electric bicycle by the manufacturer. This section does not apply to any type of bicycle or electric bicycle with an original factory seat designed to collectively accommodate the operator and passenger. Passengers of four (4) years of age or younger, or weighing forty (40) pounds or less, shall be in seats that have adequate provision for retaining the passenger in place and for protecting the passenger from the moving parts of the bicycle.

(i) Motorized bicycle: Motorized bicycles shall be operated in accordance with all applicable provisions of the California Vehicle Code including licensing requirements, and other Orange County Ordinances.

(Ord. No. 3768, § 2, 11-7-89; Ord. No. 98-15, § 64, 12-8-98; Ord. No. 24-002, 5-21-24)

(a) Riding on Sidewalks: Bicycles and electric bicycles may be ridden on all sidewalks in the unincorporated area of Orange County at a speed not to exceed five (5) miles per hour except upon sidewalks within a business district, upon sidewalks adjacent to any public school building when school is in session, recreation center when in use, church during services, over any pedestrian overcrossing or other sidewalk where prohibited by posed signs.

(b) Director to Designate Prohibitions: The Director may designate and declare certain portions of sidewalk to be prohibited to bicycle and electric bicycle use.

(c) Director to Post Prohibitions: The Director is authorized to erect and maintain signs adjacent to sidewalks designating limits of bicycle prohibitions.

(d) Yielding Right-of-Way: Any person riding a bicycle or electric bicycle upon a sidewalk shall yield right-of-way to any and all pedestrians and equestrians, and, when overtaking or passing a pedestrian or equestrian, shall give an audible alarm. A person riding a bicycle or electric bicycle upon entering a roadway or driveway from a sidewalk shall yield to all traffic. The driver of a motor vehicle, prior to driving over or upon any sidewalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian or bicycle or electric bicycle rider thereon.

(Ord. No. 3768, § 2, 11-7-89; Ord. No. 24-002, 5-21-24)

(a) No person shall ride a skateboard, roller skates or other conveyance propelled by human power other than a bicycle or cause or permit same to roll or coast on the roadway of any highway in the County of Orange.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) shall not apply to cul-de-sacs where the length of the cul-de-sac is five hundred (500) feet or less.

(Ord. No. 3768, § 2, 11-7-89)

(a) Intersections: The Director is hereby authorized to place and maintain signs or markings to prohibit or to restrict pedestrian crossings at certain legs of intersection.

(Ord. No. 3768, § 2, 11-7-89)