Chapter 7

 

BICYCLES1

 

                                                    Art. I.          Definitions, Penalties, Application, §§ 7-1—7-10

                                                   Art. II.          Registration, §§ 7-11—7-30

                                                 Art. III.          Bicycle Dealers, §§ 7-31—7-40

                                                 Art. IV.          Abandoned Bicycles, §§ 7-41—7-50

                                                   Art. V.          Operation, §§ 7-51—7-60

                                                 Art. VI.          Bicycle Advisory Committee, §§ 7-61—7-65 (Repealed)

 

                         ARTICLE I.  DEFINITIONS, PENALTIES, APPLICATION

 

Sec. 7-1.  Definitions.

 

         The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter:

 

         Authorized agent: The chief of police or his designee, or any person or business granted authority by the chief of police to register a bicycle.

 

         Bicycle: A device propelled by human power which any person may ride, having two (2) tandem wheels either of which is more than sixteen inches (16) in diameter or having three (3) wheels in contact with the ground any of which is more than sixteen (16) inches in diameter.

 

         Bicycle lane: Any portion of a roadway designated for bicycle use and defined by pavement markings, curbs, signs or other traffic-control devices.

 

         Dealer: A retail distributor of new or secondhand bicycles with sales of fifty (50) or more bicycles per month who has not been designated as an authorized agent by the chief of police.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88; Ord. No. 88.42, § 1, 6-30-88; Ord. No. 94.34, 5-11-95)

 

Sec. 7-2.  Responsibility of parent.

 

         The parent of a child and the guardian of a ward shall not authorize or knowingly permit the child or ward to violate any provisions of this chapter. 

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88)

 

            State law reference—Similar provisions, A.R.S. § 28-811(A).

 

__________________

      1Editor's note—Ordinance No. 87.24, adopted Jan. 14, 1988, amended Ch. 7, Bicycles, in its entirety to read as herein set out. The substantive provisions of former Ch. 7, §§ 7-1—7-4, 7-21—7-26, 7-41—7-47, 7-61—7-74, 7‑91—7-95 and 7-101—7-106, were derived from the following:

 

Code 1967            Sec.                         Ord. No.                                Date

                                7-1—7-17             371.5                                      1-10-85

                                7-19—7-35           371.6                                      11-14-85

                                7-36(a), (b)            86.65                                      9-25-86

                                                                                                                7-31

     Cross reference—Motor vehicles and traffic, Ch. 19.

     State law reference—Authority of city to license and regulate operation of bicycles, A.R.S. § 28-627(A)(8).
Sec. 7-3.  Application of provisions.

 

         The regulations of this chapter in their application to bicycles shall apply when a bicycle is operated upon any highway, bicycle path or side walk subject to those exceptions stated in this article.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88)

 

            State law reference—Similar provisions, A.R.S. § 28-811(B).

 

Sec. 7-4.  Civil sanctions.

 

         Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be liable for the imposition of a civil sanction not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250), unless another penalty is specified.   There is no penalty or civil sanction for violation of section 7-11.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88; Ord. No. 94.34, 5-11-95)

 

Secs. 7-5—7-10.  Reserved.

 

 


                                                  ARTICLE II.  REGISTRATION

 

Sec. 7-11.  Registration requirements.

 

         (a)     Every owner of a bicycle, before the same shall be operated on any of the streets, alleys, sidewalks or public highways in the city, shall register the bicycle with an authorized agent of the city.

 

         (b)     This article shall apply to every bicycle owner who has resided in the city for thirty (30) days or longer regardless of whether they are a part-time or full-time resident.  In the event that Arizona State University requires registration of bicycles, any bicycle so registered shall be exempt from the registration requirements of this article.

 

         (c)     It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle requiring registration and not registered pursuant to this article on any street, alley, sidewalk or public highway in the city.

 

         (d)    Every authorized agent shall, prior to selling a new or secondhand bicycle to anyone residing within the city, ensure that the bicycle is registered pursuant to this chapter.  Dealers of new or secondhand bicycles who have not been designated as "authorized agents" shall, prior to selling same to anyone residing within the city, inform the purchaser of the requirements of this chapter.

 

         (e)     This article shall in no way interfere with the secondhand dealer's responsibility pursuant to chapter 16, Tempe City Code.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88; Ord. No. 88.42, § 2, 6-30-88; Ord. No. 94.34, 5-11-95)

 

Sec. 7-12.  Bicycle registration cards—Required information.

 

         The bicycle registration cards will contain the following information:

 

         (a)     Name and address of owner;

 

         (b)     Make, model, serial number, license tag number, color and general description of bicycle;

 

         (c)     Date issued;

 

         (d)    Change of address and new owner information.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88; Ord. No. 94.34, 5-11-95)

 

Sec. 7-13.  Same—Distribution.

 

         Repealed. 

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88; Ord. No. 94.34, 5-11-95)

 

Sec. 7-14.  Fees.

 

         The fee for registration of each bicycle shall be set by council (See Appendix A) and be collected and retained by the authorized agent of the city to defray the costs of registration.  This fee may be waived by the police or fire chief or their designees for registrations made pursuant to a city-sponsored bicycle registration program.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88; Ord. No. 92.38, 8-20-92; Ord. No. 94.34, 5-11-95)

 

Sec. 7-15.  Duration.

 

         (a)     The registration provided for in this article shall be valid for the life of the bicycle.  All bicycle registrations shall be appurtenant to the specific bicycle for which issued, and no other, and shall not be transferred to or used on any other bicycle.

 

         (b)     It shall be the duty of every person who sells or transfers ownership of any bicycle to report such sale or transfer by returning to the police department the registration card issued to such person, together with the name and address of the person to whom the bicycle was sold or transferred.  Such report shall be made within five (5) days of the date of the sale or transfer.  It shall be the duty of the purchaser or transferee of such bicycle to apply for a transfer of registration therefor within five (5) days of the sale or transfer.  The original registration tag, which has no expiration date, shall remain on the bicycle and the number reassigned to the new registered owner.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88)

 

Sec. 7-16.  Applications for registration.

 

         Application for bicycle registration shall be made by the owner of the bicycle, or upon his written authorization, to the authorized agent.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88; Ord. No. 94.34, 5-11-95)

Sec. 7-17.  Registration tags and cards.

 

         (a)     The city shall provide to authorized agents the registration tags or dies for use in registering bicycles, together with registration cards.

 

         (b)     It shall be the duty of the authorized agents to maintain, repair or replace damaged dies as necessary.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88; Ord. No. 94.34, 5-11-95)

 

Sec. 7-18.  Destruction.

 

         No person shall remove, destroy, mutilate or alter any registration tag, seal or registration card.  Nothing in this section shall prohibit the authorized agent from stamping identifying symbols, letters or numbers on the frame or removable parts of licensed bicycle as in their discretion is practicable.  The police chief or his designee may authorize an applicant's engraving of the frame in lieu of a stamp.  Such engraving must be approved by the chief or his designee.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88; Ord. No. 94.34, 5-11-95)

 

Sec. 7-19.  Removal, etc., of frame numbers.

 

         No person shall willfully or maliciously remove, destroy, mutilate or alter the number of any bicycle frame.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88)

Sec. 7-20.  Reissuing tags.

 

         In the event any bicycle registration tag is lost, destroyed or mutilated so as not to be legible, the owner of such registration tag shall immediately make application to an authorized agent, and shall be issued another tag upon approval of such application by the police chief or his designee upon payment of a fee, if any, set by the council (Appendix A Fee Schedule).

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88; Ord. No. 94.34, 5-11-95)

 

Secs. 7-21—7-30.  Reserved.

 


ARTICLE III.  BICYCLE DEALERS

 

Sec. 7-31.  Report of purchase by secondhand dealers.

 

         Persons engaged in the business of buying or trading secondhand bicycles are hereby required to make a weekly report to the police department:

 

         (1)     A complete description of the property, including brand name, serial number and registration tag, if any.

 

         (2)     The date and time when the property was received.

 

         (3)     The signature of the person from whom the property was received.

 

         (4)     The name (printed), address and date of birth of such person.  The reporting party shall require each person to show proof of his name, address and age by exhibiting a valid driver's license, State of Arizona identification card, armed forces identification card or selective services registration certificate, and the number of such identification certificate shall be recorded.

 

         (5)     The dealer's name and the name of the person receiving the property.

 

         (6)     A description of such person, consisting of height, sex, weight, race, complexion, hair color and identifying marks, scars or tattoos.

 

         The report shall be made upon sheets furnished by the police department.  Each sheet shall contain the above-listed information for each bicycle received.  Sheets will be available through the police department pawn detail, located within the criminal investigations bureau.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88)

 

Secs. 7-32—7-40.  Reserved.

 

 


                                        ARTICLE IV.  ABANDONED BICYCLES

 

Sec. 7-41.  Duty of police to take possession.

 

         It shall be the duty of the police department to take possession of all bicycles that have been abandoned on any street, alley or on any other public place in the city.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88)

 

Sec. 7-42.  Notice to owner.

 

         Upon taking possession of any abandoned bicycle, it shall be the duty of the police department to ascertain, if possible, the owner thereof and to notify such owner that such bicycle is in the possession of the police department.  This notice may be given to the owner in person, by phone or by ordinary mail.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88)

 

Sec. 7-43.  Sales.

 

         (a)     In the event that the owner of an abandoned bicycle cannot be found or does not claim such bicycle, the chief of police shall proceed to sell such bicycle at public auction; and such sale shall be held in the manner set forth in this chapter.  However, the finder of such bicycle shall be notified prior to the auction and allowed to make claim to said bicycle.

 

         (b)     From time to time the city council may decide to exempt certain bicycles from the above sale procedure and give such exempted bicycles to nonprofit organizations, as approved by the city council, for disbursement.  The nonprofit organizations shall request the bicycles in writing directed to the city council.  The organization shall provide a specific statement as to the proposed use of the bicycles in its request.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88)

 

Sec. 7-44.  Notice of sale.

 

         After no less than twenty (20) days from the date of the taking of possession of an abandoned bicycle, the police department shall publish in the official newspaper of the city a notice of sale of such bicycle and shall post a copy of such notice in three (3) public places in the city.  A copy of such notice shall be mailed to the owner, if known, at his last known address.  This copy may be mailed by ordinary mail.  Such notice shall be published, posted and mailed at least thirty (30) days before the date of the sale.  Such notice shall contain a brief description of the bicycle, if known; its number, if known; and its last registration number, if known; and shall also state the hour, date and place of sale and the place where the bicycle may be seen.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88; Ord. No. 97.09, 2-13-97)

 

Sec. 7-45.  Auction, disposition of funds.

 

         The sale shall be a public auction to the highest bidder for cash, but in no event shall any bicycle be sold to any person for less than the cost of advertising and sale.  All money received from such sale over and above the cost of advertising and sale shall be paid over to the financial services manager and retained in a separate fund for at least six (6) months.  Upon the expiration of such time, unless sooner claimed as provided in this article, such money shall be paid over into the general fund.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88; Ord. No. 2001.17, 7-26-01)

 

Sec. 7-46.  Claimants.

 

         Should any person, within six (6) months after the date of the sale of a bicycle, make claim to such bicycle, such sum of money as may be in the hands of the city financial services manager, less the sales and advertising costs which has been derived from the sale, shall be paid over to such claimant upon proof of his right to receive the same.  In no event shall any claim be considered unless it is presented to the financial services manager, in writing, under oath, and before the expiration of six (6) months from the date of the sale.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88; Ord. No. 2001.17, 7-26-01)

 

Sec. 7-47.  Certificates of sale.

 

         On delivery to any purchaser of any bicycle sold under the provisions of this chapter, the chief of police shall execute to such purchaser a certificate of sale of such bicycle, which certificate shall describe the bicycle in the same manner as in the advertisement of sale and shall recite the date of possession of the police department and the date of sale.  Such certificate shall pass the title to the bicycle to the purchaser.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88)

 

Secs. 7-48—7-50.  Reserved.

 


                                                     ARTICLE V.  OPERATION

 

Sec. 7-51.  Parking of bicycles.

 

         No person shall park a bicycle upon a bikeway, or upon the sidewalk, except in such manner as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrians and bicycles.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88)

 

Sec. 7-52.  Riding on sidewalks or bicycle lanes.

 

         (a)     The city traffic engineer is authorized to erect or place signs on any sidewalk or roadway, prohibiting the riding of bicycle thereon by any person; and when such signs are in place no person shall disobey same.

 

         (b)     Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and should give audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.

 

         (c)     No person shall ride or operate a bicycle in any direction except that permitted by vehicular traffic on the same side of the roadway where the sidewalk or bicycle lane exists; provided, that bicycles may proceed either way where signs or pavement markings on the sidewalk, bikeway or bicycle lane appear designating two-way traffic.

 

         (d)    Any person riding a bicycle on a bikeway, sidewalk or bicycle path that is about to enter or cross a roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all traffic on such roadway. (Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88)

 

Sec. 7-53.  Driving vehicles across sidewalks.

 

         No person shall drive a vehicle upon or across a sidewalk except to enter or leave the roadway and only after giving the right-of-way to all bicycles or pedestrians lawfully upon the sidewalk.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88)

 

Sec. 7-54.  Bikeways—establishment and signs.

 

         The city traffic engineer is authorized to erect or place signs upon any street in the city indicating the existence of a bikeway and otherwise regulating the operation and use of vehicles and bicycles with respect thereto, so long as the same are consistent with this chapter. When such signs are in place, no person shall disobey the same.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88)

 

Sec. 7-55.  Pedal bicycle with helper motors (mopeds).

 

         (a)     Upon a roadway where motor vehicles are permitted, a person may drive a moped in any lane designated for use of bicycles.

 

        


         (b)     Pedal bicycles with helper motors shall be prohibited on bicycle paths, trails and on sidewalks designated for use by nonmotorized pedal bicycles, except when propelled by human power with helper motor disengaged.

(Ord. No. 87.24, 1-14-88)

 

Secs. 7-56—7-60.  Reserved.

 


                              ARTICLE VI.  BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

Sec. 7-61.  Repealed.

(Ord. No. 88.05, 2-11-88; Ord. No. 91.22, 6-27-91; Ord. No. 2004.52, 12-9-04)

 

Sec. 7-62.  Repealed.

(Ord. No. 88.05, 2-11-88; Ord. No. 91.22, 6-27-91; Ord. No. 2004.52, 12-9-04)

 

Sec. 7-63.  Repealed. 

(Ord. No. 88.05, 2-11-88; Ord. No. 91.22, 6-27-91; Ord. No. 2001.17, 7-26-01; Ord. No. 2004.52, 12-9-04)

 

Sec. 7-64.  Repealed.

(Ord. No. 88.05, 2-11-88; Ord. No. 91.22, 6-27-91; Ord. No. 2004.52, 12-9-04)

 

Sec. 7-65.  Repealed.

(Ord. No. 88.05, 2-11-88; Ord. No. 91.22, 6-27-91; Ord. No. 2001.17, 7-26-01; Ord. No. 2004.52, 12-9-04)

 

Editor’s note—See transportation commission, §§ 2-2452-250.  Provisions of the bicycle advisory committee were incorporated into a single advisory board to plan balanced transportation systems.