Redlands Municipal Code Ch. 10.56 Bicycles

It is unlawful for any person to operate or use a bicycle, as defined in section 21200 of the Vehicle Code without having attached thereto a California bicycle license, upon any of the streets, alleys or public highways of this city. (Prior code § 63100)

The police department of the city is authorized and directed to obtain original bicycle license plates and renewal license plates from the California department of motor vehicles and issue same at the police department. (Prior code § 63101)

The bicycle shall be equipped and maintained as provided for in section 21201 of the Vehicle Code at all times when operated in the city, and before a license can be issued. (Prior code § 63102)

Licenses, when issued, shall entitle the licensee to operate such bicycle, for which said license has been issued, upon all the streets, alleys and public highways, exclusive of the sidewalks thereof, in the city. (Prior code § 63103)

The city shall provide, for a fee, a California bicycle license and maintain registration records as provided in division 16.7 of the California Vehicle Code. (Prior code § 63104)

The plate shall be attached to the frame of the bicycle below the seat on the seat post portion of the frame. (Prior code § 63105)

The plate shall not be removed. (Prior code § 63106)

The police department shall maintain registration records. (Prior code § 63107)

It shall be the duty of every license holder to notify to police department within ten (10) days of the destruction of the bicycle. The registration card shall be returned to the police department at that time. (Prior code § 63108)

The initial license fee and the renewal fee to be paid for each bicycle shall be one dollar fifty cents ($1.50). A bicycle purchased after license deadline may be licensed for fifty cents ($0.50) for each year remaining in the three (3) year period or portion of the remaining year, upon proof of sale. (Prior code § 63200)

A penalty of one dollar ($1.00) shall be added upon any application for annual renewal of registration made on or after February 1 of the registration renewal year, except as provided in section 10.56.100 of this chapter. (Prior code § 63201)

All licenses shall be payable in advance to the chief of police or his representative, who is designated as the license collector for all fees due under this chapter. (Prior code § 63202)

Pursuant to sections 10.56.160 and 10.56.170 of this chapter, a bicycle license may be transferred when the ownership of said bicycle is transferred and a fee of fifty cents ($0.50) shall be paid for the registration of such transfer. (Prior code § 63203)

All persons engaged in the business of buying secondhand bicycles are required to make a weekly report to the police department, giving the name and address of the person from whom each bicycle is purchased, the description of each bicycle purchased, the frame number thereof, and the number of any license found thereon, if any. (Prior code § 63300)

All persons engaged in the business of selling new or secondhand bicycles are required to make a weekly report to the police department, giving a list of all sales made by such dealers, which list shall include the name and address of each person to whom sold, the kind of bicycle sold, together with a description and frame number thereof, and the number of the license attached thereto, if any. (Prior code § 63301)

It is the duty of every person who sells or transfers ownership of any bicycle, to report such sale or transfer by returning to the police department the registration card issued to such person as licensee thereof, together with the name and address of the person to whom said bicycle was sold or transferred; and such report shall be made within ten (10) days of the date of said sale or transfer. (Prior code § 63400)

It shall be the duty of the purchaser or transferee of such bicycle to apply for a transfer of registration thereof within ten (10) days of the date of such transfer of registration. (Prior code § 63401)

In addition to the penalty hereinabove set forth, the police department, or any of the members thereof, may impound any bicycle operated in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, and retain possession of same until the license provided for herein is obtained by the owner of such bicycle. (Prior code § 63500)

The police department may issue a traffic citation to any person who operates a bicycle in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or the California Vehicle Code. (Prior code § 63501)

A. Riding in group. Persons operating bicycles within a bicycle lane or upon a bicycle path shall ride in single file except as provided for in Vehicle Code § 21202(a).

B. Direction of travel. Persons riding or operating a 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.

C. Walking bicycles. Bicycles may be walked subject to all provisions of law applicable to pedestrians.

D. Yielding right-of-way. Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield right-of-way to any and all pedestrians. A person riding a bicycle, upon entering a roadway or driveway from a sidewalk, shall yield to all traffic.

E. Riding on sidewalks. Bicycles may be ridden on all sidewalks, at a speed not to exceed five miles per hour, except upon sidewalks within a business district, upon sidewalks adjacent to any public school building when school is in session, upon a sidewalk at a recreation center when in use, upon a sidewalk at a church during services, over any pedestrian overcrossing or upon any other sidewalk where prohibited by posted signs. (Ord 3000 § 1, 2026)

An electric bicycle, or “E-Bike,” which is a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts, and is categorized by the following:

A. Class 1 - an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 miles per hour.

B. Class 2 - an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 miles per hour.

C. Class 3 - an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 28 miles per hour and is equipped with a speedometer. (Ord 3000 § 1, 2026)

All references to this section 10.56.220 shall include section 10.56.200 . These requirements are in addition to the other regulations for bicycle operation set forth in section 10.56.200 .

A. No person shall ride an electric bicycle in an unsafe manner on any publicly owned property, including but not limited to a public roadway, highway, sidewalk, park; nor on any private property open to the public.

1. “Unsafe manner” means any act or acts in violation of the Redlands' Municipal Code, California Vehicle Code, or other existing law. An “unsafe manner” can also be defined as operating an electric bicycle in such a way as to constitute a danger to the operator, a passenger, other motorists, other riders, or pedestrians in the area.

2. Examples of riding in an unsafe manner may include, but are not limited to, the following actions:

a. Intentionally lifting one or more wheels into the air while riding on a highway, sidewalk, bicycle lane, or bike path. It is not a violation of this subsection if one or more wheels lose contact with the ground briefly due to the condition of the road surface or other circumstances beyond the control of the rider.

b. Riding on the sidewalk without due caution for pedestrians.

c. Riding on the highway, or bicycle lane against the flow of traffic.

d. Intentionally swerving or riding around stopped or slowed traffic.

e. Operating an electric bicycle in a manner it was not designed for, including carrying passengers when not designed for carrying passengers, or standing on the seat of the bicycle.

f. Not obeying posted signs or traffic lights.

g. A person under the age of 18 riding without a properly fitted and fastened helmet.

B. No person shall operate an electric bicycle while holding and operating a handheld wireless telephone or an electronic wireless communications device unless the wireless telephone or electronic wireless communications device is specifically designed and configured to allow voice-operated and hands-free operation, and it is used in that manner while riding.

1. An “electronic wireless communications device” includes, but is not limited to, a broadband personal communication device, a handheld device, or pager. (Ord 3000 § 1, 2026)

Any violation of this article is deemed an infraction punishable by a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000). A second or subsequent violation of this article shall be punishable by a fine of two thousand dollars ($2,000). (Ord 3000 § 1, 2026)