Terms as used in this article relating to bicycles and the owners thereof shall be as follows:

(a)   Bicycle. - A light vehicle with two or three wheels, none of which shall be less than 12 inches in diameter, having a steering bar and propelled by pedals;

(b)   Chief of Police. - The chief of police of the city, or any member of the police department of the city designated by the chief of police to act in his or her place and stead in carrying out this article;

(c)   License collector. - The city clerk of the city;

(d)   Owner. - All persons in whom title to the bicycle has been vested or any other person who is in legal possession of the bicycle.

(e)   Plate. - Metal or adhesive reflective license to be displayed on bicycle.

(f)   Skateboard. - Skateboard. A device with a platform having two or more wheels beneath it, which the rider balances on top of, and which is either motorized or self-propelled, hands free or not. This definition shall include the term “hoverboard”, a self-balancing electronic skateboard.

(g)   Roller skate. - A metal runner in a frame fastened to a shoe or a shoe with such runner attached with two pairs of wheels for gliding on a floor or sidewalk, etc.

(h)   Roller blade. - A metal runner in a frame fastened to a shoe or a shoe with wheels in a direct line for gliding on a floor or sidewalk, etc.

(Code 1973, 16-401; Ord. 2613, Sec. 1; Ord. 2664, Sec. 2; Code 2007; Ord. G-2838)

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or use a bicycle upon any of the streets, alleys, parks or public highways of the city, which has not been licensed as provided in this article.

(Code 1973, 16-402)

The license fee for each bicycle shall be $1.00 per annum payable in advance to the license collector on or before June 1 of each year.

(Ord. 2678, Sec 1:2; Code 2007)

(a)   Every applicant for a bicycle license shall first present the bicycle to an official inspection station designated by the license collector. If upon inspection the bicycle is found to be in a safe mechanical condition, the license collector shall issue to the owner a certificate of inspection and approval which shall state the name of the owner, describe the bicycle and certify that the same has been approved for license.

(b)   Upon the filing of such certificate with the license collector and the payment of fees provided for in section 15-403, the license collector shall issue to such owner a receipt which shall contain on the face thereof the date issued, the name and address of the owner, a description of the bicycle and the license number assigned. The license collector shall, in addition, furnish to such owner one number plate which shall have displayed on it the number assigned and the year for which it is issued. The letters and numbers shall be in such contrast of colors to the plate as to make such letters and numerals easily read. The color of such plates shall be changed each year.

(Code 2007)

(a)   It shall be the duty of every owner of a bicycle to attach the license plate therefor on the bicycle in such a manner that the numerals thereof shall be plainly visible and such license plate shall be so displayed during the current year for which the license is issued.

(b)   It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously remove, destroy, mutilate or alter such license plate during the time in which the same is operative. It shall also be unlawful for any person to remove, destroy, mutilate or alter the frame serial number on any bicycle.

(Ord. 2613, Sec. 2)

(a)   Upon the transfer of ownership of any bicycle licensed under the provisions of this article, the existing license and the right to use the number plate thereof on such bicycle shall expire. There shall be no transfer of such license and the number plate shall be removed by the owner thereof. It shall be unlawful for any persons other than the person to whom such number plate was originally issued to have the same in his or her possession.

(b)   Upon the transfer of ownership of any bicycle under the provisions of this article, the new owner shall, within 10 days from the date of such transfer, make application to the license collector for the issuance of a license for such bicycle and after such time it shall be unlawful for any person to operate such bicycle on the streets, parks or public highways of the city, unless the bicycle shall have been licensed as provided by this article. For failure to make application for license as provided in this section a penalty of 50-cents shall be added.

(Code 1973, 16-406)

The provisions of section 15-406 shall not be interpreted so as to prevent the original owner of the number plate to license another bicycle under the same number upon application to the city clerk for a change of registration and payment of a 25-cent transfer fee.

(Code 1973, 16-406)

In the event a license plate is lost or destroyed, the license collector, upon proper showing by the licensee and the payment of a fee of 25-cents shall issue a new license plate in accordance with the provisions of this article.

(Ord. 2380, Sec. 7)

(a)   Every person riding a bicycle upon the streets, alleys, parks or public highways of the city shall be governed by Article 15 of the Standard Traffic Ordinance incorporated by section 15-101.

(b)   Speed. - No bicycle shall be ridden faster than is reasonable and proper considering the use and condition of the highway.

(c)   Riding on Sidewalks. - It shall be unlawful for any person to ride or operate a bicycle upon the downtown sidewalks on Main Street between Springfield and Pennsylvania Streets, and public tennis courts. In all other areas, bicycle riders will yield to pedestrian traffic.

(d)   Leaving Bicycles on Sidewalks. - It shall be unlawful for any person to leave a bicycle upon the public sidewalks or to leave any bicycle unattended in front of any theater except in designated parking areas. Any bicycle so parked or left shall constitute a nuisance which shall be abated by the impounding of the bicycle by the chief of police or his or her representative.

(Code 1973, 16-408; Ord. 2613, Sec. 3; Ord. 2664, Sec. 3; Code 2007)

It shall be unlawful for any person to ride or operate a skateboard upon the downtown sidewalks on Main Street between Springfield and Pennsylvania Streets, and public tennis courts. In all other areas skateboard users will yield to pedestrian traffic.

(Ord. 2664, Sec. 4; Code 2007)

It shall be unlawful for any person to roller skate or roller blade upon the downtown sidewalks on Main Street between Springfield and Pennsylvania Streets, and the public tennis courts.         In all other areas roller skate and roller blade users will yield to pedestrian traffic.

(Ord. 2664, Sec. 5; Code 2007)

Any person, 16 years of age and under, who violates any of the provisions of this article on official police instructions for the safe operation of bicycles, skateboards, roller skates or roller blades shall be, for the first offense, reprimanded in writing by the police department addressed to the parents or guardian of the offender. The reprimand shall state the nature of the violation and warning that a repetition of the violation, or any other violation, must be prevented by the parents or guardian or the bicycle, skateboard, roller skates or roller blade use will be suspended for a period of time at the discretion of the police department and during that period of time the offender cannot ride any bicycle, skateboard, roller skate or roller blade. The bicycle offenders registration certificate will be suspended during this time.

On the second offense the offender will be summoned to appear at police headquarters with his or her bicycle, skateboard, roller skates or roller blade, accompanied by a parent or guardian, and after a hearing on the violation, the offenders bicycle, skateboard, roller skates, or roller blade may be impounded for not to exceed seven days at the discretion of the chief of police or his or her representative or parent or guardian, and returned with an impoundment fee of $25.00.

(Ord. 2664, Sec. 6; Code 2007)