Chapter 5 Bicycles and other Similar Devices

Section 5-1. Inspections, permit cards and license tags; fees; expiration.


Every operator of a bicycle within the corporate limits of the Town shall be required to submit his or her machine, on or before the first day of April of each year, for inspection as to brakes, tires, wheels, frame, handlebars, and such other inspection as may be required; said inspection shall be made under the supervision of the Police Department, and if said examination is satisfactory, said operator shall be given a Permit Card, bearing an identifying number, certifying that said bicycle has been satisfactorily inspected. All of said Permit Cards shall expire on the last day of March in each year, after which time all bicycles are subject to the annual examination and issuance of a new Permit Card. No person shall operate any bicycle in the Town without having first obtained such Permit Card. A License Tag, bearing the same number as the permit card, shall be attached to each bicycle, and shall remain thereon constantly. Such operator of a bicycle in the Town shall be required to pay a fee of Twenty-five Cents ($.25) annually, at the time such Permit Card and License Tag are issued. (Ordinance 201, passed 6/24/91.)

Section 5-2. Suspension of registration; removal of license tags.


The Chief of police, or some reliable person or persons designated by him, shall have the authority to suspend the registration of and remove the license tag from any bicycle operated contrary to any applicable State law or town ordinance, such suspension and removal to continue for a period not to exceed ten days. (Ordinance 60 effective 3/1/1965)

Section 5-3. Manner or riding generally.


It shall be unlawful for any person riding on any bicycle on any of the streets of the town to coast upon such bicycle in a negligent manner, and the operator of any such bicycle is required to keep his feet on the pedals and his hands upon the handles of such vehicle so as to have the same under proper control and management to avoid accidents. (Ordinance 519 aka E-34, effective 5/7/1967)

Section 5-4. Riding on sidewalks prohibited.


It shall be unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle upon any of the sidewalks within the limits of the town. (Ordinance 10 effective 1/1/1941)

Section 5-5. Brakes and warning devices.


Every bicycle while in use on the streets of the town shall be provided with effective brakes and with a suitable bell, horn or other device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least one hundred feet; except that no bicycle shall be equipped with any siren or whistle. (Ordinance 519 aka E-34, effective 5/7/1967)

Section 5-6. Lamps required.


(A) Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a type which shall be visible from all distances from fifty to three hundred feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector. (Ordinance 519 aka E-34, effective 5/7/1967)

(B) It shall be unlawful for any person at nighttime to operate a bicycle along the streets of the town unless said bicycle is properly equipped with such lamps and reflectors as require herein. (Ordinance 60, effective 3/1/1965)

Section 5-7. Passengers.


It shall be unlawful for the operator of any bicycle upon the streets of the town to carry any other person or persons upon the said bicycle. (Ordinance 60, effective 3/1/1965)

Section 5-8. Riding abreast.


It shall be unlawful for any person to proceed along the streets of the town abreast of more than one other bicycle proceeding in the same direction. (Ordinance 60, effective 3/1/1965)

Section 5-9. Clinging to Vehicles.


It shall be unlawful for any person while riding a bicycle to hang onto any other vehicle while the same is in motion. (Ordinance 60, effective 3/1/1965)

Section 5-10. Speeding.


No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing. (1967 Code by Ordinance 519 aka E-34, effective 5/7/1967)

Section 5-11. Operation of skateboards and scooters prohibited.


(A) Except as provided in subsection (D) hereof, it shall be unlawful for any person to ride, propel, push, or otherwise operate a skateboard or scooter on any public way, street, alley, sidewalk, parking lot, or other public property (except for public skateboard or scooter facilities and publicly sponsored or authorized skateboard or scooter events) within the corporate boundaries of the town.

(B) Any person violating the provisions of subsection (A) hereof shall be guilty of a municipal infraction and, any provision of this code to the contrary notwithstanding, shall be subject to a fine of Five Dollars ($5.00) for a first offense and Ten Dollars ($10.00) for each subsequent offense.

(C) In the event that any law enforcement officer of the Town of Easton observes any minor child operating a skateboard or scooter in violation of the provisions of this section, the law enforcement officer may confiscate the skateboard or scooter operated by that minor child and shall return the skateboard or scooter only to that minor's parent or guardian. The law enforcement officer shall be authorized to confiscate a skateboard or scooter under the provisions of this subsection whether or not he or she issues a citation for a violation of this section.

(D )Nothing in this section shall prohibit any person 12 years or under from operating a non-motorized scooter on the streets, alleys, or sidewalk of the town. (Ordinance 152 effective 7-31-88, historical reference 146)