Ordinance 1665Alameda City Ordin
ces Ordinance So. 1665
New Series
CITY OF ALAMEDA
Ordinance No. 1665,
New Series
AMENDING THE ALAMEDA
MUNICIPAL CODE BY REPEAL-
ING CHAPTER 3 OF TITLE VII
THEREOF: AND ADDING A NEW
CHAPTER 3 TO TITLE VII THERE-
OF, CONSISTING OF ARTICLES"
1 THROUGH 6, SECTIONS 7 -311
THROUGH 7 -361, REGULATING
THE OPERATION, REGISTRA-
TION, LICENSING, PURCHASE
A ND SALE OF BICYCLES.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ALAMEDA:
Section f. Chapter 3, Title VII
of the Alameda Municipal Code -
is hereby repealed.
Section 2. A new Chapter 3
is hereby added to Title VII.
of the Alameda Municipal'
Code, which Chapter shall be
entitled and composed of Arti-
cles and Sections as follows:
CHAPTER 3. BICYCLES
Article 1. Licensing and
Registration of Bicycles.
Sec. 7 -311. Bicycle, Defi-
nition. A bicycle is a device
upon which any person may
ride, propelled by human
power through a belt, chain or
gears. and having either two
or three wheels In a tandem
or tricycle arrangement. A
"unicycle" is not a bicycle and
shall not be ridden on public
streets or highways.
Sec. 7-312. It shall be unlaw-
ful for any person to operate
or use a bicycle in the City
of Alameda which has not been
registered and licensed and
equipped with a license as pro.
vided in this chapter, except
as may . be specifically herein.
exempted.
Sec. 7 -313. Any non- resident
of the City of . Alameda may
operate in the City of Alameda
any . bicycle which is duly li-
censed and registered in an-
other � municipality, . and
equipped with such license,
without obtaining an Alameda
license, provided that such
other : municipality wherein
said bicycle is licensed extends
the same privilege to residents
of the City of Alameda.
Sec. 7 -314: Every person de-
siring a bicycle license in the
City of Alameda shall make
application to the Fire Depart-
ment u on blanks furnished by
that department• said appli-
cation must be filed in dupli-
cate and shall contain such
information as may oe
required by the Chief of Police
as to the applicant and the
description of the bycycle li-
censed. No license shall be is-
sued unless the bicycle to be
licensed complies with the re-
quirements of this chapter as
to its safe mechanical condi-
tion.
Sec, 7 =315; ,......Every Berson
desiring a bicycle license shall
pay to the rare Department a
fee of 82.00 (two dollars), ay-
able at the time the bic cle is
presented for licensing. Such li-
cense shall be valid on the
bicycle for such time as the
licensing person owns said
bicycle.
Sec. 7 -318. Upon approval of
the application, and payment
of the license fee, the Fire De-
partment shall issue a bicycle
license which shall remain
valid for as long as the re s-
tered person owns said bicyc e.
Sec. 7.317. The bicycle license
shall expire on the day that
said bicycle is sold, iven
away, or discarded by thrlegal
owner, as registered with the,
Fire Department.
(a) Every person who sells
or transfers ownership of any
`bicycle shall first obtain the
name, address, and phone
number of the person to whom
the bicycle was sold and shall
report such . transaction to the
Police Department and give to
that Department that informa-
tion of the recipient of the
bicycle within five (5) days
from the date of the transac-
tion.
(b) The license on the bicycle
shall not be transferable from
one bicycle to another, nor
from one owner to another. It
shall therefore, be the duty of
the purchaser or transferee of
such bicycle to take the bicycle
to the Fire Department and
make application for a new li-
cense within seven (7) days
from the date of the transac-
tion.
(c) Upon discarding a bicycle
the legal owner of same shall
report such disposition to the
Police : Department within five
(5) days. .
Sea 7.318. The size, form and
character - of said bicycle li
ee -
nse shall he designa }�y
d
the Fire Department. Tne li-
cense shall be affixed to the
bicycle in the manner desig-
nated by the Fire Department.
Sec. 7.319. Upon loss of a
bicycle license, the licensee
shall report its loss or theft to
the Fire Department within
seven (7) days. Upon receipt
of such report the Fire Depart-
ment shall cancel the old li-
cense with the Police Depart-
ment and issue a new license
to the licensee upon payment
of a fee of twenty -five cents
(25c).
Alameda City Orc
ces Ordinance No. 1665
New Series
Article 2. Mechanical Condi-
tion and Equipment of Bicy -.
cles.
Sec. 7 -321. Brakes. Every
bicycle operated in Alameda
shall be equipped with a brake
which will enable the operator
to skid the front or rear tire(s)
upon application of said brake
on dry, level, clean pavement.
Sec. 7-322. Warning Devices.
E v e r y bicycle - shall be
equipped with a buzzer, horn,
or bell in good working order,
capable of emitting sound audi-
ble for a distance of not less
than one hundred (100) feet
under normal conditions.
Sec. 7 -323. Sirens and Whis-
tles. It shall be unlawful for
any person riding a bicycle to
emit any sound, . vocally or
mechanically, which resembles
a siren or whistle.
Sec. 7-324. Handlebar Grips.
Every bicycle that is equipped
with handlebar grips must
have said grips securely at-
tached to the handlebars so as
to allow no slippage.
Sec. 7 -325. Lights. Every bicycle
operated during any time from
dusk until dawn. or at any
other time when there is insuf-
ficient light to distinguish a
person or vehicle on the streets
or sidewalks, shall be equipped
with a white light which shall
be visible fora distance of at
least three hundred (300) feet
to the front of said bicycle.
This bicycle shall also be
equipped with a red reflector
which shall be visible for a dis-
tance of at least three hundred
(300) feet to the rear of said
bicycle when directly in . front
of the lawful upper . beams of
headlamps on a motor vehicle.
A red light visible for three
hundred (300) feet to the rear
of the bicycle '. may be used in
addition to the red reflector.
Arm or leg lights may be worn
in lieu or other lights if such
lights are of a type approved
by the Chief of Police.
Article 3. Operation of Bicy-
cles.
Sec. 7 -331. Every person
riding a bicycle upon a road-
way shall be granted all of the
rights and shall be subject to .
all of the duties applicable to .
the driver of a bicycle by this
chapter, and with .certain sec-
tions of the California Vehicle'
Code affecting the operations
of a bicycle. Every driver shall
be responsible for obe ing each
of these duties and : it.. shall be
unlawful for any such person
to disobey them.
Sec._ 7-332. Riding on Side-
walk. Bicycles may be ridden
on the Sidewalk, except such
sidewalks that pass directly in
front of or . adjacent to . any
stores. schools; or other build -`
ings used for business purposes
during the hours that such
establishment is open for busi-
ness.
(a) Whenever any person is
riding a . bicycle upon a side-
walk. such person shall yield
the right of way to any pedes-
trian and : shall give audible
signal before overtaking and
passing such pedestrian.
(b) It shall be unlawful for
any person to ride bicycle in
any pedestrian crosswalk, at a
signal- controlled intersection,
adjacent to any school, or one
which is under the control of
the school crossing guard. At
all other intersections the bicy-
clist shall exercise due caution
before entering onto the road -.
way.
Sec. 7 -333. Riding on Bridges.
It . shall be unlawful for any
person to ride a bicycle . in the
traffic lanes of any bridge
leading to or from the City of
Alameda. Bicycles must be
walked across these bridges in
the pedestrian walkways, Pro -
vided, : however, if there is a
barrier at least . as : high as the
seat of the bicycle, between the
walkway and the traffic lanes,
said bicycle may be ridden
across the walkway.
Seca ' 7-334. Lane of Travel.
Right Side of Roadway. Per-
sons riding bicycles on any
street of Alameda shall keep
said bicycles as close to the
right hand curb as possible, ex-
cept when .preparing to make
a left turn, and except further,
that there is no bicycle path
designated on that particular
street:
a (a) Bicycle Path. Wherever
path for bicycles has
been provided . adjacent to a
roadway, bicycle riders shall
use such path and shall not use
the roadway.
Sec. 7 -335. Riding in a Group.
Persons riding or operating
bicycles in Alameda shall not
ride more than two abreast,
exec t on paths . or arts of a
roadway set aside for the ex-
clusive use of bicycles; provid-
ed, further, that persons riding
bicycles on the sidewalk shall
do so in single file.
Sec. 7.336 Clinging to Moving
Vehicles. No person riding a
bicycle in the City of Alameda
shall cling or attach himself or
his bicycle to any other moving
vehicle, including trains, or
person in any other vehicles.
Seca .7 -337. Passengers. No
person riding a bicycle in the
City of Alameda shall carry
another person on said bicycle,
unless such person or passen-
ger is seated upon an indi-
vidual seat, or, unless there is
adequate room on the bicycle
seat to safely afford space for
both riders.
Sec. 7 -338. Towing. No person
riding or operating a bicycle
in the City of Alameda shall
tow any other vehicle or r --
son, except that bicycle trailers
used for the delivery of news-
papers, magazines or mer-
chandise may be towed when
being used in such delivery
service.
A a eda City Cardin
ces Ordinance No. 1665
New Series
Sec. 7 -339. Carrying Articles.
No person operating a. bicycle
shall carry any package,
vents .tne rope �ator�rhfrom
keeping at least one hand upon
the handlebars.
Sec. 7.3310. Racing. No
person riding or . operating a
bicycle upon a public highway
or street shall participate in
any race, speed or endurance
contest.
Sec. 7 -3311. Trick Riding. No
person riding or operating a
bicycle shall rform or at-
tempt to perform any acro-
batic, unusual or stunt riding
upon any public highway or
street in the City of Alameda.
Sec. 7 -3312. Traffic Controls.
Every person operating a bicy-
cle in the City of Alameda shall
obey all traffic control devices.
Sec. 7- 3313. Parking. No .per -
son shall park any bicycle
against windows or on the main
traveled .portion of the side-
walk, nor in such manner as
to constitute a hazard to.pedes-
trians, traffic or property.
Bicycles must be parked in
approved racks or such places
as may be designated 'by the
Chief of' Police. If there is no
bicycle rack or other facilities
intended to be used for the
parking of : bicycles in the
vicinity, bicycles may be
parked on the sidewalks in an
upright position parallel to and
within twenty -four (24) inches
of the curb.
Any merchant or person
desiring to construct and .erect
bicycle racks may do . so after
obtaining the approval of the
Chief of - Police as : to the type
of rack and the place where
such person or merchant in-
tends to erect such bicycle
racks.
Sec. 7 -3314. Speed. No person
' shall ride or operate a bicycle
faster than is reasonable and
proper, and :every bicycle shall
be o rated with reasonable re
-gard to the safety of the oper-
ator and other persons upon the
streets, sidewalks and public
hi hways of the City of Alame-
Sec. 7- 3315. Parks, Play-
' wounds and Schools. No person
all ride or operate a bicycle
upon any playground, park or
school round, where children
are playing, without permission
of the person having supervi-
sion thereof; provided, further,
that if bicycle paths are avail-
able in such an area the bicy-
clist maay ride a bicycle upon
said path.'
Sec. 7 -3316. Right Turn.
Every person riding or operat-
ing a bicycle intending to turn
to the right at an intersection
or in an . alley or driveway,
shall approach the . turning
point in the line of traffic near-
est the right hand curb of the
street.
Sec. 7 -3317. Left Turn. Every
person riding or operating a
bicycle intending to turn left
at an intersection or to enter .
an alley or driveway, shall ap-
proach the point of turning in
the line of traffic nearest to
the canter of the roadway, The
operator of a bicycle in turning
left at an intersection shall
pass jo the right of the center
of the inter tion ' rre
turnip unless otherwise di-
rected markers buttons or
sdgns. However, if said inter-
section is controlled by signal
lights . the left turn shall be
completed by remaining on the
right side. o1' the roadway and
proceedinst to ride the bicycle
to the far right corner . where
the rider will wait for the sig-
nal light to change. At the time
the light changes the parson on
the bicycle will proceed in their
new direction remaining as
close to the right curb as pos-
sible.
Sec. 7- 3318. U- turns. No bicy-
cle shall be turned in any busi-
ness district so as to proceed
In the opposite direction, ex-
cept at intersections where the
turn will be completed to the
far right side of the roadway.
(a) No bicycle operated in
a residence district : shall be
turned so as to proceed in the
opposite direction when any
other vehicle is approaching.
a.
from either direction if such
movement would create a haz-
ard to either the operator or
the bicycle or the vehicle.
Sec. 7 -3319. Crossings. The
operator of a bicycle on leaving
an alley or driveway, when his
view of either the sidewalk or
street area is obstructed shall
stop such bicycle immediately
prior to riding upon such side-
walk or Street area.
Sec. 7 -3320, Turn Against Red
Light. A right hand turn may
be made at an intersection by
the operator of any bicycle
against a red traffic signal un-
less otherwise posted, provid-
ed that it is safe to begin and
complete such a maneuver,
Sec. 7 -3321. Passing. Every
person riding a bicycle may
pass to the left when passing
vehicles going in the same
direction only when such pass-
ing maneuver can be com-
pleted safely.
Sec. 7 -3322. Hand Signals. No
person shall turn a bicycle or
stop a bicycle which he is rid:
ing or operating unless such
movement can be made with
safety, and then only after giv-
ing an a proppriate signal dur-
ing . the last fifty 50) feet trav-
elled by the bicycle
turning or stopping.
Sec. 7-3323. Methods of Giv-
ing Signals — Left Turn. Every
person signalling a left turn
shall do so by extending his
Alameda City Ordinances
Ordinance No. 1665
New Series
left hand and arm horizontally
beyond the side of the bicycle.
RightTurn. Every person sig-
nalling a right turn shall do
so by extending his left hand
and arm upward beyond the
side of the bicycle.
Sec. 7-3324. The operator of
any bicycle involved in an acci-
dent shall take reasonable
steps to ascertain whether or
not anyone was injured, and
shall give his name, address
and the license number of his
bicycle to the person with
whom he was in collision; and
he shall obtain the same in-
formation from the other per-
son.
It shall be . the duty of the
bicycle operator to make a
written report of any accident
resulting in death or injury, to
the . Police Department within
twenty -four (24) .hours of such
accident.
Article 4. Bicycle . Establish-
ments — Purchase and Sale of
Bicycles
Sec. 7 -341. Bicycle Establish-
ments. The term "bicycle .
establishment" means a busi-
ness operated by any person,
partnership, association or .
corporation wherein bicycles or
bicycle : parts are purchased,
sold exchanged, bartered; re-
paired, remodeled, - dismantled
or-junked.
sec. 7 -342. No person in the
City of Alameda shall estab-
lish, carry on or operate a
bicycle establishment, except:
as authorized by this chapter,
and without first obtaining a
license from the City of Ala-
meda. • .. ....
Sec. 7-343. All persons
operating a bicycle establish-
ment are hereby: required to
make a weekly report to the
Chief of Police upon forms pro -
vided for that purpose by the
Chief of Police, giving the true
name and address of the per-
son from whom each bicycle
part is purchased; description
of each bicycle, its frame num-
ber and the number of the li-
cense found thereon, if any.
This report: shall be known as
the Second -Hand Buy Report,
and shall be made in triplicate.
The original shall be mailed or
delivered to the Chief_ of Police
after purchase, the duplicate
'shall be given to the seller, and
the triplicate shall remain with
the dealer. It shall be the duty
of the dealer to mail or deliver
to the Chief of Police all re-
ports at the close of each
week's business.
Sec. 7- 344. All persons
operating a bicycle establish-
ment shall make a . weekly re-
port to the Chief of Police upon
forms provided for that pur-
pose by the Chief of Police, a
report of all sales made, in-
eluding the name and address
of each person to whom a bicy-
cle is sold, together with the
make, frame number and the
license number attached there-
to. These reports shall be
known as the Sales Report, and
shall be made in triplicate, the
original forwarded weekly to
the Chief of Police, the dupli-
cate shall be given to the pur-
chaser, and the triplicate re-
tained by the dealer.
Sec, : 7 -345. Upon receipt of
the reports set forth in Sections
7 -343 and 7-344, the Chief of Po-
lice shall check them to deter-
mine if the . purchase or . sale
is recorded in the Police
Department, and that the sale
or purchase is approved, and
to make proper record of such
transfer of ownership. Should
the new owner fail to apply for
registration _ or .license, the
Chief of Police shall notify the
new owner to do so.
Sec. 7-346. No person operat-
ing a bicycle establishment
shall take in exchange, receive
any goods. article or bicycle
part or bicycle from any per-
son under the age or eighteen
years, . or from any person
under the influence of intoxi-
cating liquor.
Seca 7 -347. No person operat-
ing a bicycle establishment shall
alter, repair or dispose of any
bicycle or bicycle part pur-
chased or taken in exchange
as a second -hand bicycle or
bicycle part thereof until after
the expiration of ten (10) days
from the date of urchase or
exchange, and during those ten
(10) days the bicycle or bicycle.
part . so obtained shall remain
without alteration on the prem-
ises in respect: to which the li-
cense is issued and shall be
subject to inspection at any
time during business hours by
the Chief of Police, or any po-
lice officer, or other person des -
ignated by the Chief of Police.
Article b. General Provisions
Sec. 7.351, All persons en-
gaged in operating a bicycle
rental agency: for tie purpose
of renting or lending bicycles
to patrons . shall first obtain a
license for each bicycle so used
by paying therefor the regular
license fee. Licenses thus ob-
tained by bicycle rental agen-
cies: shall not be transferred
from one bicycle to another.
Sec.. 7-352. No person shall
wilfully remove, destroy, muti-
late, or otherwise alter the
manufacturer's serial number
or the Alameda serial number,
if any, on any bicycle frame,
nor shall any person remove,
destroy. mutilate or otherwise
alter any license if valid.
Sec. 7 -353. No person shall
buy, sell, receive, dispose of or
conceal any bicycle or bicycle
equipment from which the
Alameda City Ordin
ces
Ordnance No. 1665
New Series
ulacture:rs name plate,
serial number or any other dis-
tinguishing mark has been re-
moved, defaced, covered, al-
tered or destroyed.
Sec. 7-354. the serial num-
ber of any bicycle is obliterated
or defaced, and the possessor
has satisfactory proof of
owners ip, the Fire Department
is hereby authorized to place
an Alameda Police serial
number thereon.
Sec. 7 -356. All abandoned
bicycles and unidentified bicy-
cles remaining in the hands of
the Chief of Police may, at the
end of three (3) . months, be
sold at public auction in the.
manner . provided for in Chap-
ter 4 of Title XVI of this Code
for the disposition and sale of
other lost and unclaimed prop-
erty.
Sec. 7-356. Notwithstanding
the preceding section or any
other provision of this Cocte,
the City Manager may sell not
more than fifty rcent (50%)
of all such abandoned and un-
claimed bicycles to the Ala-
meda Junior Chamber of Com-
merce for the sum of One Dol-
lar ($1.00), providin said
organization agrees (a) to re-
sell said bicycles at auctions fn
which the bidding and saie is
limited and restricted to per-
sons between the ages of nine
(9) and seventeen (17) years,
and (b) to remit to the City
one -half (.) the total proceeds
realized from each such auc-
tion without deduction for any
costs or expense.
The City Manager may adopt
such rules and regulations as
he may deem appropriate to
carry out the foregoing provi-
sions.
Article 6. Miscellaneous
Sec. 7 -361. The parent of any
child and the guardian of any
ward shall not authorize or
knowingly permit any such
child or ward to violate any
of the provisions of this ordi-
nance.
Sec. 7 -362. Bicycle Court. The
Chief Of Police shall have the
authority to organize a Bicycre°
Citation Hearing, called "Bicy-
cle Court ". Where this chapter
has been violated by . juveniles
under the age of eighteen (18)
years, . and In lieu of . other
action taken by. the City of Ala-
meda, such violators may be
cited into Bicycle Court. They
will be arraigned, allowed to
plea, and will be judged in said
Court. If found guilty of the
violation they may be given
such sentence as the Chief of
Police may approve.
Section 3. Insofar as this
ordinance, or any sections
thereof constitute a reenact-
ment of present sections of the
said Chapter 3 hereby to be
repealed, they shall be deemed
to be a continuation of salu.;-
tions and their effectiveness
deemed to be uninterrupted by
this ordinance.
Section 4. This ordinance
shall be in full force and effect
from and after the expiration
of thirty (30) days from the
date of its final passage
TERRY LA CROIX, J.R.
Presiding Officer
of the Council
Attest:
IRMA . L. NELSON
City Clerk
I. the undersigned, hereby
certify that the foregoing Ordi-
nance was duly and regularly
adopted and passed by the
Council of the City of Alameda
in regular meeting assembled
on the 1Sth day of April, 1972,,
by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmen Fore,
Levy. Longaker and Presidents
La G roix. Jr. (4)
NOES: Councilman McCall
(1)
ABSENT: None
IN W.ITN ESS WHEREOF, I
have hereunto set my hand and
affixed the official seal of said
City this 19th day of April,
1972.
IRMA L. NELSON (SEAL)
City Clerk of the
City of Alameda
A 601— Publish April 21, 1972