Town of Easton

Bicycles and Similar Devices

S 5-1. Inspections, permit card and license tags; fees.

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

S 5-3. Manner of riding generally.

S 5-4. Riding on sidewalks prohibited.

S 5-5. Brakes and warning devices.

S 5-6. Lamps required.

S 5-7. Passengers.

S 5-8. Riding abreast.

S 5-9. Clinging to vehicles.

S 5-10. Speeding.

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

Sec. 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. (Ord. No. 201, passed 6/24/91.)

Sec. 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. (Code 1941, Art. V, _ 4; Ord. No. 60, _ 3, Lib. No. 7, 3-1-65)

Sec. 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.

Sec. 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. (Code 1941, Art. VI, _ lb)

Sec. 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.

Sec. 5-6. Lamps required.

1. 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.
2. 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. (Code 1941, Art. V, _ 4; Ord. No. 60, Lib. No. 7, 3-1-65)

Sec. 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. (Code 1941, Art. V, _ 4; Ord. No. 60, _ 2, Lib. No. 7, 3-1-65)

Sec. 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. (Code 1941, Art. V, _ 4; Ord. No. 60, _ 2, Lib. No. 7, 3-1-65)

Sec. 5-10. Speeding.

No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing.

Motor Vehicles and Traffic

Article I. In General.

Sec. 17-1. Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall, for the purpose of this chapter have the meanings

“Bicycle.” Every device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels either of which is over twenty inches in diameter, and including any device generally recognized as a bicycle though equipped with two front or two rear wheels.

Sec. 17-4. Persons propelling pushcarts, riding bicycles or animals.

Every person propelling any pushcart or riding an animal or bicycle upon a roadway, and every person driving any animal shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter applicable to the driver of any vehicle, except those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.

Charter and Code of Easton, Maryland

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