San Mateo Municipal Code Ch. 11.56 Bicycles

For the statutory provisions regarding the regulation of the operation of bicycles, see Veh. Code § 21200 et seq. For the provision granting local authorities the power to provide additional consistent regulations by ordinance, see Veh. Code § 21206.

No person shall operate or use a bicycle upon any of the streets, alleys, or public highways of the City without first obtaining from the City a license to do so. A "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 (2) or three (3) wheels (one (1) of which is at least 20 inches in diameter in tandem or tricycle arrangement) or having a frame size of at least 14 inches, including motorized bicycles.

prior code § 76.01

Upon written application and payment of the license fee hereinafter specified, the City shall issue a license to the applicant. The license shall entitle the licensee to operate and use the bicycle for which such license was obtained upon the streets in City, except as otherwise herein specified. Such application must be made within 10 days of purchase or other acquisition of ownership.

prior code § 76.02

The City shall provide licenses, together with registration cards, as provided by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. The license shall be affixed to the front of the seat tube of the bicycle frame of the licensed bicycle during the existence of such license. The City shall keep a record of the date and number of every such license and the name of the person to whom the same was issued. On and after January 1, 1979, all license and registration numbers shall be permanently assigned to the bicycle for which they were originally issued and recorded.

prior code § 76-03

No person shall willfully or maliciously remove, destroy, mutilate or alter any bicycle license or alter any bicycle registration card, or the numbers thereon, during the time in which the same is operative. The Police Department or Fire Department shall stamp numbers on the frames of bicycles on which no serial number can be found, or in which such number is illegible or insufficient for identification purposes.In the event that any bicycle license or registration form issued pursuant to this chapter is lost, stolen, or mutilated, the licensee of such bicycle shall immediately notify the City, and within 10 days after such notification, shall apply to the City for a duplicate license or registration form. Thereupon the City shall issue to such licensee a replacement license or registration form upon payment of the appropriate fee.

prior code § 76.08

All owners of bicycles must pay a license fee on obtaining ownership of any bicycle. The fee for licensing, registration and renewal shall be established from time to time by resolution of the City Council. Each license shall expire on the 31st day of December of the third year next succeeding the payment of such fee.The license fee shall be payable for a maximum period of three (3) years following the date of acquisition and ending with the 31st day of December of the third year, after which the license must be renewed if the bicycle is still used.New licenses must be obtained on transfer of ownership of any bicycle by the transferee.All bicycle license fees shall be paid into a special revolving fund to cover the cost of license plates, registration cards, expenses of administration, to improve bicycle safety programs and establish bicycle facilities, including bicycle paths and lanes.

prior code § 76.09

Every person who sells or transfers ownership of any used or secondhand bicycle shall report such sale or transfer to the City within 10 days thereafter, returning the registration card theretofore issued to him or her, and giving the date of transfer, the name, address, and telephone number of the person to whom such bicycle shall have been sold or transferred. The purchaser or transferee shall apply to the City for a transfer of the registration of such bicycle within 10 days after such sale or transfer.

prior code § 76.04

On and after January 1, 1979, all persons engaged in the business of selling new or secondhand bicycles as a bicycle dealer shall supply to each purchaser a registration form provided by the City and shall include, on the sales check or receipt given to the purchaser, the name and address of the seller, year and make of the bicycle, serial number of the bicycle, if delivered in an assembled state, general description of the bicycle, and name and address of the purchaser. A copy of the registration form shall be filled out by the purchaser and filed with the City within 10 days from the date of sale. The seller shall make a report to the City of every secondhand bicycle purchased by them, and every new or secondhand bicycle which they sell. Such report shall contain the same information provided the purchaser as set forth above.All of the foregoing reports shall be made to the City within 10 days after such purchase or sale.For the purposes of this chapter, a "bicycle dealer" is any person who sells, gives away, buys, or takes in trade for the purpose of resale, more than five (5) bicycles in any one (1) calendar year, whether or not such bicycles are owned by such person. "Bicycle dealer" also includes agents or employees of such person.

prior code § 76.05

In case any bicycle has been lost or stolen, the owner or person in control thereof shall immediately notify the Police Department.

Prior code § 76.06

All persons who rent, hire out or loan bicycles shall first obtain a license to be used on each bicycle by paying therefor the regular fee established by Council resolution.

prior code § 76.07

(a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at the time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:

(1) When overtaking and passing a vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of California Vehicle Code Section 21656. For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway, which highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two (2) or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.

(c) It is unlawful for any person to ride or operate a bicycle, motor driven cycle or motor scooter upon any sidewalk or upon any overhead pedestrian crossing over any street, roadway, State highway or State freeway that is signed for pedestrian use only within the City.

prior code § 76.10

Bicycles designed and constructed to carry only one (1) person shall not be used to carry additional person or persons either on the handlebars thereof or elsewhere thereon.

Prior code § 76.11

A person operating a motorcycle or bicycle shall not ride other than upon the permanent and regular seat attached thereto, nor carry any other person upon such motorcycle or bicycle, other than upon a firmly attached seat at the rear of the operator, nor shall any person ride upon a motorcycle or bicycle other than as above authorized.

Prior code § 73.29

No person, while riding any bicycle shall hold on to, or pull, another moving vehicle.

Prior code § 76.12

Every person riding and operating a bicycle shall obey all traffic signals and signs, and before making turns shall give the same signals that are required of operators of motor vehicles.

Prior code § 76.13

No rider of a bicycle shall ride the same at night without an adequate white headlight on the front thereof and a red light or red reflector on the rear, as required by the Vehicle Code of the State.

Prior code § 76.14

The City Manager shall provide and set up suitable racks adjacent to the curb or gutter at such places in the business districts of the City as he or she may deem advisable for the parking of bicycles by persons who have occasion to stop temporarily in such districts. All bicycles found lying on the sidewalk may be taken up and impounded by the Police Department, whence they may be recovered by proving ownership thereof and obtaining an order from the Chief of Police.

Prior code § 76.15

Any person violating the licensing, registering or reporting provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a public offense. Violations of the provisions of this chapter regulating the use and operation of bicycles upon the streets and public ways of the City shall be the offense prescribed by the California Motor Vehicle Code and punishable as provided therein.