Chapter 10.64 — BICYCLES, ROLLER SKATES AND COASTERS

• For state law providing that traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles - See Veh. C.A. § 21050; for provisions prohibiting bicycles from vehicular crossings except when signs indicate otherwise - See Veh. C.A. § 23330.

The council establishes those bicycle lanes and paths as designated on the Master Plan attached to Resolution No. 4441. adopted by the council of the city on April 19, 1971, as said map is thereafter and from time to time hereafter amended.

(Ord. 2652 § 1, 1972)

The city manager is authorized, empowered, and directed to implement the establishment of the bicycle lanes and paths as designated on the Master Plan.

(Ord. 2652 § 2, 1972)

The city shall be a licensing agency for the licensing of bicycles in accordance with all provisions of Division 16.7 of the California Vehicle Code.

(Ord. 2877 § 2, 1975: Ord. 2051 (part), 1961: prior code § 16.02)

Every person engaged in the business of buying secondhand bicycles is required to make a daily report to the police department, giving the name and address of the person from whom the bicycle was purchased, the description of each bicycle purchased, the frame number thereof, and the number of the license tag thereon, if any.

(Ord. 2877 § 4, 1975: Ord. 2051 (part), 1961: prior code § 16.04)

No person shall willfully or maliciously remove, destroy, mutilate or alter the number of any bicycle frame licensed pursuant to this chapter. No person shall remove, destroy, mutilate or alter any license tag or registration certificate during the time in which such license tag or registration certificate is operative; provided, however, that nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the city from stamping numbers on the frames of bicycles on which no serial number can be found, or on which the number is illegible or insufficient for identification purposes.

(Ord. 2877 § 6, 1975: Ord. 2051 (part), 1961: prior code § 16.06)

No person shall equip a bicycle with a siren or whistle or operate or use a bicycle so equipped; provided, that nothing in this section prohibits the equipping, operation or use of a bicycle with an unusual kind of bicycle horn or bell as approved by the chief of police.

(Ord. 2877 § 10 (part), 1975: Ord. 2051 (part), 1961: prior code § 16.12)

Every bicycle that is equipped with handlebar grips must have the grips securely glued or cemented to the handlebars.

(Ord. 2877 § 10 (part), 1975: Ord. 2051 (part), 1961: prior code § 16.13)

Every bicycle equipped with a carrier must have the carrier securely attached to the bicycle.

(Ord. 2877 § 10 (part), 1975: Ord. 2051 (part), 1961: prior code § 16.14)

It is unlawful for any person to ride or operate a bicycle in the city unless the bicycle is equipped as provided in this chapter and unless the bicycle is in safe mechanical condition.

(Ord. 2877 § 10 (part), 1975: Ord. 2051 (part), 1961: prior code § 16.20)

It is unlawful for any person to ride or operate a bicycle in the city in violation of the rules of the road as set forth in Sections10.64.130 through 10.64.210.

(Ord. 2877 § 10 (part), 1975: Ord. 2051 (part), 1961: prior code § 16.21)

(a) No person shall ride or operate a bicycle upon any sidewalk in a business district.

(b) No person shall ride or operate a bicycle upon any sidewalk in the University Avenue undercrossing below Alma Street and the Palo Alto train station or in the California Avenue undercrossing below Alma Street and the California Avenue train station when others are present.

(c) Any person riding or operating a bicycle upon any sidewalk shall exercise due care and shall yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians.

(d) No person riding or operating a bicycle upon any sidewalk where a bicycle lane or path has been established shall travel in a direction other than as posted.

(Ord. 5433 § 2, 2018: Ord. 3055 § 1, 1978: Ord. 2877 910 (part), 1975: Ord. 2652 § 7, 1972: Ord. 2496 (part), 1969: Ord. 2470 (part), 1968: Ord. 2051 (part), 1961: prior code § 16.22)

Any person riding or operating a bicycle upon any street where a bicycle lane or path appropriate to his direction of travel is established and officially designated may ride or operate such bicycle in such bicycle lane or path or on the sidewalk where otherwise allowed by this code. "Street" means a way or place of whatever nature publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of travel.

(Ord. 2877 § 10 (part), 1975: Ord. 2771 § 1, 1974: Ord. 2652 § 8, 1972)

No person shall operate a vehicle within an established and officially designated bicycle path except for purposes of ingress or egress to and from driveways, or for purposes of intersectional travel.

(Ord. 4453 § 60, 1997: Ord. 2877 § 10 (part), 1975: Ord. 2652 § 9, 1972)

No person riding or occupying any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, roller blades, sled, skateboard, toy vehicle, motorcycle, moped, or any other similar human-powered or motor-powered device shall attach the same or himself or herself to any vehicle or device when upon a public right-of- way, or upon any land, property, or facilities owned or controlled by the city of Palo Alto.

(Ord. 3880 § 1 (part), 1989: Ord. 3233 § 7, 1980: Ord. 2972 § 1 (part), 1977: Ord. 2877 § 10 (part), 1975: Ord. 2652 § 10, 1972: Ord. 2051 (part), 1961: prior code § 16.23)

No person riding or operating a bicycle, when upon a public right-of-way or upon park or open space lands owned and/or controlled by the city of Palo Alto, shall be permitted to carry another person upon the bicycle; provided, however, that this prohibition shall not apply to bicycles which are built for two persons to ride and propel the same or to the carrying of a child when the child is securely fastened to a seat designed to carry a child or to the rider or operator if the child is under two years of age.

(Ord. 4642 §12, 2000: Ord. 3233 § 8, 1980: Ord. 2877 § 10 (part), 1975: Ord. 2051 (part), 1961: prior code § 16.24)

No person riding or operating a bicycle, moped, motorcycle, sled, toy vehicle, or any other similar human-powered or motor-powered device upon a public right-of-way or upon park or open space lands owned and/or controlled by the city of Palo Alto shall tow any other vehicle or person, including a skateboard and rider, except that bicycle trailers used for delivery or transportation of newspapers, magazines, people or merchandise may be towed when being used in such activity.

(Ord. 4642 §13, 2000: Ord. 3233 § 9, 1980: Ord. 2972 § 1 (part) 1977: Ord 2877 § 10 (part) 1975: Ord. 2051 (part), 1961: prior code § 16.25)

No person riding or operating a bicycle, moped, skateboard, roller skates, roller blades, sled, toy vehicle, or any other similar human-powered or motor-powered device upon a public right-of-way or upon any land, property, or facilities owned or controlled by the city of Palo Alto, shall participate in any race, speed, or endurance contest unless such race, speed or endurance contest has the written permission of the city manager and is under the supervision of the chief of police.

(Ord. 3880 § 1 (part), 1989: Ord. 3233 § 10, 1980: Ord. 2877 § 10 (part), 1975: Ord. 2051 (part), 1961: prior code § 16.26)

No person riding or operating a bicycle, moped, coaster, roller skates, roller blades, sled, skateboard, toy vehicle, or motorcycle shall perform any acrobatic, fancy, stunt, or trick riding upon any public right-of-way, or upon any space, land, property or facilities owned or controlled by the city of Palo Alto.

(Ord. 3880 § 1 (part), 1989: Ord. 3233 § 11, 1980: Ord. 2877 § 10 (part), 1975: Ord. 2051 (part), 1961: prior code § 16.27)

(a) No person shall park a bicycle against any window or parking meter or on the main-traveled portion of the sidewalk, nor in such manner as to constitute a hazard to pedestrians, traffic or property.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, when bicycle parking spaces have been established and designated by official signs and markings pursuant to Chapter 10.40, no person shall park a bicycle in the vicinity thereof except in such bicycle parking spaces.

(Ord. 2877 § 10 (part), 1975: Ord. 2051 (part), 1961: prior code § 16.28)

(a) No person shall ride or operate any bicycle, skateboard, or any other transportation vehicle or device in excess of fifteen miles per hour upon on a shared-use path when pedestrians are present.

(b) No person shall operate any transportation vehicle or device at a speed greater than is reasonable for safe operation, nor in any manner which may endanger the safety of others.

(Ord. 5433 § 3, 2018)

No person shall skate with roller skates, or roller blades, propel any coaster wagon or vehicle or ride any skateboard upon any sidewalk, or roadway, or upon any public right-of-way, or upon any land, property or facilities owned or controlled by city of Palo Alto, if such right-of-way, land, property or facility is located within any business district of the city as defined in California Vehicle Code, Section 235, and as it may hereafter be amended.

(Ord. 3880 § 1 (part), 1989: Ord. 2972 § 1 (part), 1977: Ord. 2877 § 10 (part), 1975: Ord. 2051 (part), 1961: prior code § 16.45)

No persons upon roller skates, roller blades, or riding in or by means of any coaster, skateboard, toy vehicle or similar device shall go upon any roadway or upon any city owned, operated, or controlled parking lots, garages, or other city-owned property and facilities, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

(Ord. 3880 § 1 (part), 1989: Ord. 3684 § 1, 1986: Ord. 2972 § 1 (part), 1977: Ord. 2877 § 10 (part), 1975: Ord. 2051 (part), 1961: prior code § 16.46)

The riding of skateboards shall be permitted upon public sidewalks and roadways in residential districts of the city of Palo Alto with the exception that the riding of skateboards shall not be permitted:

(a) Upon any freeway, or upon any of the following arterial and/or collector roadways or streets:

Alma Street

Arastradero Road

Arboretum Way

California Avenue

Coyote Deer Creek

East Bayshore Road

El Camino Real

El Camino Way

Embarcadero Road

Foothill Expressway

Hanover Street (South of California)

Hansen Way

Hillview Avenue

Middle field Road

Oregon Expressway

Page Mill Road

Palo Alto Avenue

Porter Way

San Antonio Road

Sand Hill Road

Skyline Boulevard

Stanford Avenue

University Avenue

West Bayshore Road;

(b) Upon any public or private sidewalk or ramp, or accessway specially designed for use by the handicapped;

(c) Upon any private or public property where not otherwise prohibited by any provision of this chapter, when such property has been posted pursuant to this section. The city manager or his designee is authorized to post or erect or cause to be posted or erected, signs, at the owner's expense, prohibiting the riding of skateboards or similar devices, in or on those premises for which such a request has been made to, and approved by, the chief of police or his designee.

(Ord. 3880 § 2 (part), 1989)

A reflective device or devices or reflective clothing, arranged or worn on the person of the rider in a manner which is visible from all directions, shall be used while riding a skateboard in the city of Palo Alto from sunset until sunrise the following day.

(Ord. 3880 § 2 (part), 1989)

Persons riding skateboards, as otherwise permitted under this chapter, shall obey the following rules of the road:

(a) Obey all stop signs, traffic signals, yield signs, and such other traffic-control devices;

(b) When in the roadway, travel to the far right side of the roadway;

(c) Yield the right-of-way to pedestrians whenever and wherever they are encountered;

(d) Not impede or interfere with the flow of vehicular traffic;

(e) Yield to approaching vehicles when entering any roadway;

(f) Not impede or interfere with the flow of bicycle traffic in bicycle lanes;

(g) When on sidewalks, proceed with due care and at a safe speed;

(h) Not allow any other person, or persons, to ride the skateboard simultaneously with the rider.

(Ord. 3880 § 2 (part), 1989)

Persons who ride skateboards shall not wear headphones while riding skateboards.

(Ord. 3880 § 2 (part), 1989)

No person shall ride a skateboard recklessly, or in such a manner as to cause danger or injury to himself or to others.

(Ord. 3880 § 2 (part), 1989)

Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of an infraction and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable as provided in Chapter 1.08 of this code. Where any provision of this chapter or of state law with respect to bicycles, roller skates, skateboards and coasters has been violated by any juvenile under the age of eighteen years, in lieu of the institution of criminal proceedings under Chapter 1.08 or of proceedings in the juvenile court, the chief of police may prohibit the operation upon the streets, alleys, and public places in the city for a period not to exceed thirty days of a bicycle, roller skate, skateboard or coaster so used in such violation, and in such event the bicycle, roller skate, skateboard or coaster so used in such violation may be impounded by the chief of police and retained during the period of operation which is prohibited.

(Ord. 4712 § 2, 2001: Ord. 2877 § 10 (part), 1975: Ord. 2051 (part), 1961: prior code § 16.47)

The parent of any child, and/or the guardian of any ward, shall not authorize or knowingly permit any such child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 3880 § 2 (part) 1989)