Simi Valley Municipal Code Ch. 3 Bicycles

No person shall operate or use a bicycle which has not been licensed by the City upon any highway, street, or roadway in the City.

(§ 6275, S.V.M.C.)

The provisions of Section 4.3.01 of this chapter shall not apply to any person who is merely bicycling through the City or to any person operating any bicycle which is required to be licensed pursuant to the provisions of the Vehicle Code of the State.

(§ 6275-1, S.V.M.C.)

The Chief of Police shall issue bicycle licenses upon written applications therefor and the payment of the fee set forth in Section 4-3.05 of this chapter. Such applications shall be made only by owners of bicycles or their authorized agents.

(§ 6275-2, S.V.M.C.)

The Chief of Police shall file each application for a bicycle license received and, if the applicant is entitled to register the bicycle, shall license the bicycle and keep a record thereof.

(§ 6275-3, S.V.M.C.)

The license fee to be paid for each bicycle shall be set by resolution of the Council. The fee shall be paid when the application is made for the license.

(§ 6275-5, S.V.M.C., as amended by § 1, Ord. 570, eff. May 16, 1984)

Upon registering a bicycle, the Chief of Police shall issue a license plate or sticker and a registration certificate to the owner of the bicycle. The Chief of Police shall keep and file a duplicate registration certificate for each license issued and for each change of ownership. The license and registration certificate shall be valid and effective as long as the bicycle is subject to licensing pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

(§§ 6275-4 and 6275-5, S.V.M.C.)

The license plate or sticker shall have City of Simi Valley stamped upon it, as well as identifying numbers. Such license plate or sticker shall be suitable for attachment to the frame of a bicycle, and it shall be the duty of the owner to ensure that the license plate or sticker is attached to the frame of the bicycle after the license has been issued. The license plate or sticker shall remain attached to the bicycle as long as the bicycle is subject to licensing pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

(§ 6275-4.2, S.V.M.C.)

No person shall wilfully or knowingly remove, destroy, mutilate, or alter any bicycle license issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter during the period which such license plate or sticker is operative; provided, however, the owner may remove the license to paint or repair the bicycle.

(§ 6275-10, S.V.M.C.)

The registration certificate shall contain the date of issuance, the name and address of the owner, the license number of the bicycle, a description of the bicycle, including the manufacturer's identification number, and a place for the signature of a transferee. Each owner shall keep the registration certificate in a safe available place at all times. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to require the owner to carry the certificate upon his person but rather to have the certificate available for inspection by any peace officer at any reasonable time.

(§§ 6275-4.1 and 6275-4.3, S.V.M.C.)

In the event a registration certificate or license is stolen, lost, or mutilated or becomes illegible, the owner of the bicycle shall, within two (2) weeks after the discovery thereof, make an application and obtain a duplicate registration certificate or license, as the case may be, with or without the issuance of a new registration number as determined most advisable by the Chief of Police. A fee of fifty (50) cents shall be charged the owner for making such application.

(§ 6275-7, S.V.M.C.)

If the ownership of a licensed bicycle is transferred, the owner shall require the purchaser to sign the registration certificate as transferee. The transferee shall, within five (5) days, make an application to the Chief of Police for a new registration certificate by presenting the old registration certificate and the payment of the transfer fee. The Chief of Police shall make the appropriate change on his duplicate copy of the registration certificate, indicating the new owner and his address. A transfer fee of fifty (50) cents shall be charged for the issuance of a registration certificate to the new owner.

(§ 6275-6, S.V.M.C.)

The provisions of this chapter shall not prohibit the Chief of Police from stamping identification numbers on the frame of a bicycle on which no serial number can be found or on which the number is illegible or insufficient for the purposes of identification.

(§ 6275-11, S.V.M.C.)

(a) Reports. The owner of any bicycle registered pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, which bicycle has been lost or stolen, shall immediately notify the office of the Chief of Police of such loss, and every owner who has given such notice shall notify the office of the Chief of Police of the recovery of such bicycle.

(b) Suspension of registration certificates. Upon receiving a report of a lost or stolen bicycle, the Chief of Police shall immediately suspend the registration certificate or issue a license for the bicycle until such time as he is notified in writing by the last registered owner that such vehicle has been recovered or transferred.

(c) Reports: Duration. A report of a lost or stolen bicycle shall be effective for a period of not less than one year from the date the bicycle was first reported lost or stolen or for such longer period as the Chief of Police may determine.

(§§ 6275-8, 6275-8.1, and 6275-8.2, S.V.M.C.)

If a bicycle licensed pursuant to the provisions of this section is junked or wrecked, the registration certificate therefor shall be surrendered to the Chief of Police by the owner within five (5) days after such occurrence.

(§ 6275-9, S.V.M.C.)

"Bicycle lane" shall mean that portion of a roadway set aside for the use of bicycles and designated by appropriate paint upon the surface of such roadway and by signs placed adjacent to such roadway.

(§ 7101, S.V.M.C., as added by § 1, Ord. 169)

"Bicycle path" shall mean a paved pathway for bicycles, so designated by signs posted adjacent thereto.

(§ 7102, S.V.M.C., as added by § 1, Ord. 169)

No person shall ride a bicycle upon a roadway adjacent to which or upon which bicycle lanes have been designated except within such bicycle lane, or except as otherwise permitted by the provisions of this chapter. No person shall ride a bicycle upon a roadway adjacent to which there is a bicycle path which is parallel to and within seventy-five (75&prime) feet of said roadway, except as otherwise permitted by the provisions of this chapter.

(§ 7104, S.V.M.C., as added by § 1, Ord. 169)

No person shall drive a vehicle upon or across a bicycle path or lane except as follows:

(a) To enter or exit a driveway or alley; and

(b) To park such vehicle or leave a parking space.

No person shall drive upon or across a bicycle lane as permitted by this section except after yielding the right-of-way to all bicycles within such lane.

(§ 7108, S.V.M.C., as added by § 1, Ord. 169)

The Traffic Engineer is hereby authorized to erect or place signs upon or adjacent to any street indicating the existence of a bicycle lane and otherwise regulating the operation and use of vehicles and bicycles with respect thereto. A bicycle lane shall be designated by a solid white line or lines four (4″) inches wide, a painted legend, and a directional arrow.

(§ 7103, S.V.M.C., as added by § 1, Ord. 169)

No person shall ride or operate a bicycle within a bicycle lane in any direction except that permitted for vehicular traffic traveling on the same side of the roadway.

(§ 7106, S.V.M.C., as added by § 1, Ord. 169)

Any person riding a bicycle within a bicycle lane shall leave such lane only when it is safe to do so and under the following circumstances:

(a) At an intersection;

(b) For the purpose of passing an obstruction or overtaking and passing another bicycle;

(c) Between intersections to make a U-turn or turn into a driveway or alley; and

(d) As a pedestrian walking a bicycle.

(§ 7107, S.V.M.C., as added by § 1, Ord. 169)

(a) Definitions. The following words and phrases used in this section shall have the following meanings.

(1) "Conveyance" shall have a broad meaning and include a bicycle, electric bicycle, e-bike, moped, scooter, motor-driven cycle, electric motorcycle, pocket bike, or any other electric conveyance.

(2) "Class 1 Electric Bicycle" is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, that is not capable of exclusively propelling the bicycle that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of twenty (20) miles per hour, and that is not capable of providing assistance to reach speeds greater than twenty (20) miles per hour. A Class 1 Electric Bicycle may have start assistance or a walk mode that propels the electric bicycle on motor power alone, up to a maximum speed of 3.7 miles per hour.

(3) "Class 2 Electric Bicycle" is a 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 the speed of twenty (20) miles per hour.

(4) "Class 3 Electric Bicycle" is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, ceases to assist at twenty-eight (28) miles per hour, and includes a speedometer. A Class 3 Electric Bicycle may have start assistance or a walk mode that propels the electric bicycle on motor power alone, up to a maximum speed of 3.7 miles per hour.

(5) "Electric Bicycle" or "E-Bike" shall mean a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor that does not exceed 750 watts of power, as defined in California Vehicle Code Section 312.5.

(6) "Unsafe Manner" shall mean violating any provision of the Simi Valley Municipal Code, the California Vehicle Code, or any other applicable law; endangering or potentially endangering the safety of the operator, passengers, pedestrians, or other persons; or disrupting the orderly use of sidewalks, sidepaths, or similar pathways.

(b) Operating a conveyance in an unsafe manner.

(1) No person shall operate any conveyance in an unsafe manner on any public sidewalk, pedestrian sidepath, park pathway, or any other public right-of-way that is primarily intended for pedestrian use, within the City of Simi Valley.

(2) No person shall tamper with or modify an electric bicycle so as to change the speed capability of the bicycle, unless he or she appropriately replaces the label indicating the classification. It shall be unlawful to operate an electric bicycle which has been modified to exceed twenty-eight (28) miles per hour upon any roadway, sidewalks, trail or other public property in the City.

(c) Examples of operating a conveyance in an unsafe manner. The following non-exclusive list provides examples of conduct deemed to constitute operation in an unsafe manner:

(1) Failing to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians;

(2) Riding at a speed greater than fifteen (15) miles per hour or at a speed that is unreasonable or imprudent for the conditions then existing;

(3) Operating a conveyance in a manner for which it was not designed, including but not limited to carrying passengers if the device is not equipped to do so;

(4) Performing stunts, such as lifting one or more wheels from the ground ("wheelies") or swerving unnecessarily;

(5) Riding against the flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, where applicable;

(6) Disregarding posted signage prohibiting or limiting such operation;

(7) Operating any such conveyance while under the influence of alcohol or drugs;

(8) Permitting a person under eighteen (18) years of age to ride without a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet as required by law.

(d) Tampering with manufacturer serial number or label. No person shall remove, destroy or otherwise alter any serial number permanently stamped or cast on the frame of a bicycle or other conveyance by its manufacturer. Each electric bicycle shall also bear a permanent, prominently affixed label containing its classification number, top assisted speed, and motor wattage, printed in Arial font at a minimum of nine-point type. Equipment.

(1) All persons under eighteen (18) operating or riding as a passenger upon a bicycle or conveyance on a public street, public right-of-way, public place, or place open to the public for vehicle and pedestrian travel must wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet.

(2) No person shall operate a bicycle or electric bicycle on a roadway unless it is equipped with a brake that will enable the operator to make one braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement.

(3) All bicycles and electric bicycles shall have reflectors affixed to both the front and back wheels and on the rear of the bicycle or electric bicycle.

(4) Electric bicycles shall be equipped with pedal reflectors and a red rear reflector or a solid or flashing red light with a built-in reflector on the rear that shall be visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear during all hours and pedal reflectors.

(5) All bicycles and electric bicycles operated during darkness shall be equipped with a lamp emitting a white light that, while the bicycle is in motion, illuminates the ground in front of the bicycle or electric bicycle and is visible from a distance of 300 feet in front and from the sides of the bicycle.

(e) Regulation by signage. The City Traffic Engineer is authorized to install signage prohibiting or regulating the operation of any conveyance covered by this section, as necessary for public health and safety.

(f) Enforcement.

(1) Penalty for violations. Every person violating any provision of this section shall be subject to the penalties provided for in Chapter 8 of Title 1 of the Simi Valley Municipal Code.

(2) Violations by minors. Any minor who is cited for violating this section shall have their parent or legal guardian jointly and severally liable for the administrative fine issued. With respect to minors whose E-Bike activities are in violation of this section and where such activities result in damage to public property, the City may, pursuant to California Civil Code Section 1714.1, pursue a civil complaint in tort against the minor's parent or legal guardian having custody and control of the minor for the recovery of such property damage.

(3) If an officer removes a vehicle pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), of 22651.08 CVC, the owner, violator, or the parent or legal guardian of the owner or violator will be required to deliver proof that the violator has completed an electric bicycle safety and training program, as described in Section 894 of the Streets and Highways Code, or a related local bicycle safety course.

(g) Exemptions. This section does not apply to mobility devices used by persons with disabilities, including powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

(§ 7105, S.V.M.C., as amended by § 1, Ord. 169, as amended by § 1, Ord. No. 1367, eff. April 8, 2026)