[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Middletown 2-10-1953 by Ord. No.
319, approved 2-10-1953.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Bicycles in parks — See Ch. 195.
Skateboards, roller blades and scooters — See Ch. 229.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 252.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance appeared in Ch. III of
the 1953 Code of Ordinances.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Includes every device propelled by human power upon which
any person may ride, having two tandem wheels, either of which is
over 20 inches in diameter.
Includes any person, firm, association or corporation.
[Amended 5-6-1985 by Ord.
No. 892, approved 5-6-1985]
Every person engaged in the business of buying or selling new
or secondhand bicycles shall make a report to the Chief of Police
of every bicycle purchased or sold by such dealer, giving the name
and address of the person from whom purchased or to whom sold, a description
of such bicycle by name or make and the frame number thereof.
Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall be subject
to the provisions of the traffic ordinances of this Borough applicable
to the driver of a vehicle,[1] except as to special regulations in this chapter and except
as to those provisions of the ordinances which, by their nature, can
have no application.[2]
Any person operating a bicycle shall obey the instructions of
official traffic signals, signs and other control devices applicable
to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
A.
A person operating a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride
the permanent and regular seat attached thereto, nor carry any other
person upon such bicycle other than upon a firmly attached and regular
seat thereon, nor shall any person ride upon a bicycle other than
as above authorized.
B.
No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the
number for which it is designed and equipped.
C.
No person shall operate a bicycle at any time without keeping both
hands upon the handlebars.
No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is
reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing.
Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as
near the right-hand side of the roadway as practicable, exercising
due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the
same direction.
The operator of a bicycle emerging from an alley, driveway or
building shall, upon approaching a sidewalk or the sidewalk area extending
across any alleyway, yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians approaching
on said sidewalk or sidewalk area and, upon entering the roadway,
shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on said roadway.
No person riding upon any bicycle shall attach the same or himself
or herself to any vehicle upon a roadway.
Persons operating bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more
than two abreast, except on paths or parts of roadway set aside for
the exclusive use of bicycles.
No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle
or article which prevents the rider from keeping both hands upon the
handlebars.
No person shall park a bicycle upon a street other than upon
the roadway against the curb or upon a sidewalk in a rack to support
the bicycle or against a building or at the curb in such manner as
to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic.
Whenever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent
to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use the path and shall not use
the roadway.
No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within the Borough
of Middletown, Pennsylvania.
No person shall operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with
a bell or other device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance
of at least 100 feet, except that a bicycle shall not be equipped
with nor shall any person use upon a bicycle any siren or whistle.
Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will enable
the operator to make the braked wheel skid on a dry, level, clean
pavement.
Every bicycle when in use at night shall be equipped with a
lamp on the front exhibiting a headlight visible from a distance of
at least 500 feet to the front and with a lamp on the rear exhibiting
a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear, except
that an approved reflector meeting the minimum requirements of the
State Uniform Highway Traffic Act may be used in lieu of a rear light.
[Amended 4-6-1987 by Ord.
No. 943, approved 4-6-1987]
Any person, firm, association or corporation violating any of
the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be
sentenced to pay a fine of $10.
[Added 4-5-1993 by Ord.
No. 1039, approved 4-5-1993]
No resident of the Borough of Middletown shall operate a bicycle
without first obtaining a bicycle license from the Borough Police
Department. Said license shall be a lifetime license. Fee for said
license is $1.
