Article 9-60

BICYCLES

Sections:

9-60.010 Reserved. 9-60.020 Reserved. 9-60.030 Equipment regulation. 9-60.040 General rules of operation. 9-60.050 Bicycle lanes. 9-60.060 Enforcement of Article.

Editor’s note— Ord. No. 342, § 1(Att. A, § 2), adopted Oct. 19, 2016 repealed § 9-60.010, which pertained to licensees and derived from original codification.

Editor’s note— Ord. No. 342, § 1(Att. A, § 2), adopted Oct. 19, 2016 repealed § 9-60.020, which pertained to reports of sales and transfers and derived from original codification.

No person shall sell or operate a bicycle in the City unless it is equipped as follows:

(a) Brakes. The bicycle shall be equipped with a brake adequate to skid one braked wheel on dry, level, clean pavement upon application of the brake.

(b) Lights and reflectors. Every bicycle operated upon any street during darkness shall have the following equipment:

(1) A lamp emitting a white light which, while the bicycle is in motion, illuminates the street in front of the operator and is visible from a distance of three hundred feet in front and from the sides of the bicycle; or in lieu thereof, a lamp or lamp combination emitting a white light, attached to the operator and visible from a distance of three hundred feet in front and from the sides of the bicycle.

(2) A red reflector on the rear which shall be visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear when directly in front of the lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle.

(3) A white or yellow reflector on each pedal visible from the front and rear of the bicycle from a distance of two hundred feet.

(4) A white or yellow reflector on each side forward of the center of the bicycle and a white or red reflector on each side to the rear of the center of the

bicycle, except that bicycles which are equipped with reflectorized tires on the front and rear need not be equipped with such side reflectors.

(c) Serial number. The bicycle shall have stamped or cast thereon a serial number as required under Section 39007 of the Vehicle Code.

(d) Restriction on raised handlebars. No person shall operate any bicycle equipped with handlebars so raised that the operator must elevate his hands above the level of his shoulders in order to grasp the normal steering grip area.

(e) Restriction on size. No person shall operate any bicycle which is of such size as to prevent the operator from safely stopping the bicycle, supporting it in an upright position with at least one foot on the ground, and restarting it in a safe manner.

(a) Rights and duties equivalent to operators of motor vehicles. Every person riding in a bicycle upon a street or highway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by the laws of the State declaring rules of the road applicable to vehicles, or by this Code or any other ordinances of the City applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except those provisions of laws and ordinances which by their nature can have no application.

(b) Endangering others. No person shall ride, use or operate a bicycle within the City in such a way as to endanger any pedestrian or the operator of another bicycle.

(c) Obedience to traffic control devices. Any person operating a bicycle shall obey the instructions of official traffic control signs, and other control devices applicable to vehicles and bicycles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.

(d) Use of righthand roadway; riding abreast. Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the righthand side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. Persons riding or operating bicycles shall not ride more than two abreast, except on paths or parts of a street or highway designed for the exclusive use of bicycles; provided, that all persons permitted to ride, use or operate a bicycle on a sidewalk or pedestrian path shall do so in a single file.

(Saratoga Supp. No. 40, 1-17)

191

9-60.040

(e) Riding on sidewalks. No person shall ride, use or operate a bicycle on any sidewalk or pedestrian path within the City. Any child under the age of ten years shall be exempt from the restriction set forth in this subsection provided due care is exercised by such child for the rights and safety of all others using the sidewalk or pedestrian path and, provided further, such exemption shall not apply to the use and operation of bicycles on any sidewalk or pedestrian path in any commercial zoning district.

(f) Yielding right-of-way.

(1) The operator of a bicycle emerging from an alley, driveway or building shall, upon approaching a sidewalk or the sidewalk area extending across any alleyway, yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians approaching on such sidewalk or sidewalk area, and upon entering a bicycle lane, shall yield the right-of-way to all bicycles approaching on such lane, and upon entering the roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on such roadway.

(2) Upon approaching a street intersection, any person riding or operating a bicycle shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles within or approaching such intersection; except, that all vehicles which must stop before entering an intersection because of a stop sign and all vehicles making a left hand turn at an intersection shall not proceed to such intersection nor make such a turn without first yielding the right-of-way to all bicycles within or approaching such intersection, and shall proceed only when it is safe to do so.

in or approaching such intersection; except, that all vehicles which must stop before entering an intersection because of a stop sign and all vehicles making a left hand turn at an intersection shall not proceed to such intersection nor make such a turn without first yielding the right-of-way to all bicycles within or approaching such intersection, and shall proceed only when it is safe to do so.

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

(h) Passengers. No person riding or operating a bicycle shall carry or transport another person on such bicycle unless such person carried or transported is seated upon an individual seat or carrier affixed to such bicycle which is separate from that used by the operator. No person shall ride upon a bicycle as a passenger unless such person is seated upon an individual seat or carrier affixed to such bicycle, which is separate from that used by the operator of such bicycle.

(i) Leaving bicycle unattended at public place. Every bicycle, when placed or left unattended on or in any public place, shall be securely locked by the operator thereof.

(a) Establishment. Bicycles lanes on public streets within the City, separated from vehicular lanes, are

hereby established and approved, the location of each such bicycle lane to be as established from time to time by resolution of the City Council. Upon the approval by the City Council of the location of such bicycle lane or lanes, the Maintenance Director is authorized to erect or place signs indicating the existence of the same and otherwise regulating the location and use of vehicles and bicycles with respect to each other on such street or streets. Before any such sign is erected, each bicycle lane shall be designated on such street by an approved painting on the surface thereof, or in such other manner as will provide sufficient notice of the bicycle lane. When such signs and paintings or other designations are in place, no person shall disobey the same.

(b) Use of bicycle lane required. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle upon a street or highway adjacent to which, or upon which, bicycle lanes have been designated, except within such bicycle lane, or except as otherwise permitted in this Section.

(c) Direction of travel. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle within a bicycle lane in any direction except that permitted of vehicular traffic traveling on the same side of the roadway, except such bicycle lanes as have been designated for two-way bicycle traffic and which are clearly sign-posted or otherwise identified by painting or markings as two-way bicycle lanes.

(d) Leaving bicycle lanes. Once having entered a bicycle lane, no person operating a bicycle shall leave such lane, except when safe to do so and under the following circumstances:

(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle, vehicle or pedestrian within the lane or about to enter the lane if such overtaking and passing cannot be done safely within the lane.

(2) When making a u-turn, where such a turn is permissible for vehicular traffic, or when making right or left turn at intersections or driveways.

(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid debris or other hazardous conditions.

(e) Driving motor vehicle in bicycle lane. No person operating a motor vehicle shall drive in a bicycle lane, except to enter or leave a street or driveway, or to prepare for a turn, or to park the motor vehicle where parking is permitted, and in all such cases only after giving the right-of-way to all bicycles within the lane. This subsection does not prohibit use of a bicycle lane by a motorized bicycle or moped, provided the same is

(Saratoga Supp. No. 40, 1-17)

192

9-60.060

operated at a reasonable and prudent speed having due regard for visibility and traffic on, and the surface of, the bicycle lane, and in no event in a manner which endangers the safety of bicyclists utilizing the bicycle lane.

It shall be the duty of all policemen and Community Service Officers appointed for such purpose and all deputies of the County Sheriff performing police services in the City to enforce all of the regulations set forth in this Article and all State laws applicable to the operation of bicycles in the City.

192.1

(Saratoga Supp. No. 57, 1-26)