Charlotte City Code - Bicycles (selected sections) Traffic
and Streets Applications
Sec 14-1.
Definitions.
Vehicle. Every device in, upon, or by which any person or
property is or may be transported or drawn upon a street or highway, except
devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary tracks;
provided that, for the purposes of this chapter bicycles shall be deemed
vehicles and every rider of a bicycle upon a highway shall be subject to the
provisions of this chapter applicable to the driver of a vehicle except those that
by their nature can have no application.
Sec. 14-102. Riding on the handle bars prohibited.
The operator of a motorcycle or bicycle when upon a street
shall not carry any other person upon the handle bars, frame or tank of any
such vehicle, nor shall any person so ride upon any vehicle.
Sec. 14-103. Brakes required.
It shall be unlawful to operate a bicycle on a street,
alley, sidewalk or public highway of the City, unless it is equipped with a
braking system in sufficient working order to control and stop the movement of
the bicycle.
Sec. 14-104. Lamps required if used at night.
Every bicycle shall be equipped with a lamp on the front
exhibiting a white light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a
distance of at least three hundred (300) feet to the front, and with a reflex
mirror or lamp on the rear exhibiting a light visible under like conditions
from a distance of two hundred (200) feet to the rear.
Sec 14-107. Pedicabs.
(Note: this section
addresses the use of pedicabs, defining them as devices with three or more
wheels, pedaled by one individual, and used for transporting passengers on
seats or a platform. Since the code doesn't have a wide application, it will
not be quoted here except to note that a paragraph does state that "It
shall be unlawful to operate a pedicab upon public sidewalks in the city."
It is stressed that bicycles may be operated on sidewalks in the city except
where expressly prohibited by posted signs.)
PARKS APPLICATIONS
Sec. 15-134. Traffic. No person shall:
(9) Ride a bicycle on
other than the right-hand side of a paved vehicular road or path designated for
that purpose; or fail to keep in single file when two (2) or more bicycles are
operating in a group. A bicyclist shall be permitted to wheel or push a bicycle
by hand over any grassy area or wooded trail or on any paved area for pedestrian
use
(10) Ride any person
over the age of six (6) years on a single passenger bicycle in any park;
(11) Leave a bicycle
unattended in a place other than a bicycle rack when such is provided and there
is space available;
(12) Leave a bicycle lying
on the ground or paving, or set against trees, or in any place or position
where other persons may trip over or be injured by it;
(13) Ride a bicycle
on any road between thirty (30) minutes after sunset and thirty (30) minutes
before sunrise without an attached headlight plainly visible at least two
hundred (200) feet from the front, and with a red tail light or red reflector
plainly visible from at least one hundred (100) feet from the rear of such
bicycle.
RAILROAD APPLICATION
Sec. 17-16. Bicycle riding, walking restricted.
It shall be unlawful
for any person to ride a bicycle or any other vehicle or to walk along the
right-of-way of any railroad tracks at any time within the City.