Important Safety Reminders

All bicyclists should wear properly fitted bicycle helmets every time they ride. A helmet is the single most effective way to prevent head injury resulting from a bicycle crash.  Be certain that your helmet meets the uniform safety standard by looking for a label or sticker on the helmet. The helmet will not protect your head if it is not properly fitted. Never ride a bicycle without wearing a helmet, even on short trips.

Bicyclists are considered vehicle operators; they are required to obey the same rules of the road as other vehicle operators, including obeying traffic signs, signals, and lane markings. When cycling in the street, cyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic.

Drivers of motor vehicles need to share the road with bicyclists. Be courteous – allow at least three feet clearance when passing a bicyclist on the road, look for cyclists before opening a car door or pulling out from a parking space, and yield to cyclists at intersections and as directed by signs and signals. Be especially watchful for cyclists when making turns, either left or right.

Bicyclists should increase their visibility to drivers by wearing fluorescent or brightly colored clothing during the day, dawn, and dusk. To be noticed when riding at night, use a front light and a red reflector or flashing rear light, and use retro-reflective tape or markings on equipment or clothing.

Ranson Bicycle Ordinances -

• • ARTICLE VI. - BICYCLES; TOY VEHICLES

  • Sec. 18-150. - Traffic laws to persons riding bicycles.

    Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to special regulations in this article and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.

    (Code 1983, § 14-601)

    State law reference— Similar provisions, W. Va. Code, § 17C-11-1 et seq.

  • Sec. 18-151. - Manner of riding on bicycles.

    (a)

    A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.

    (b)

    No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.

    (Code 1983, § 14-602)

  • Sec. 18-152. - Riding bicycle on sidewalk.

    No person shall ride any bicycle upon any sidewalk within the city, except where, by ordinance, the council has designated such sidewalk as an official bicycle route and has marked such sidewalk with appropriate signs to that effect. Notwithstanding, riders of bicycles when dismounted may lead their bicycles along the sidewalk to stand on the sidewalk, provided they are securely placed against a building or other fixed structure and cause no obstruction.

    (Code 1983, § 14-605)

  • Sec. 18-153. - Riding bicycle without feet on pedals.

    No bicycle shall be allowed to proceed in any street of the city by inertia, or momentum, with the feet of the rider removed from the pedals.

    (Code 1983, § 14-606)

  • Sec. 18-154. - Bicycle signal device.

    (a)

    No person shall operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with a suitable signal bell, horn or other warning 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; and the use of such signaling device for purposes other than to give warning of the approach or presence of such bicycle or as a warning of danger is hereby expressly prohibited.

    (b)

    When approaching or passing other vehicles or pedestrians, a bicycle rider may sound a short signal of such rider's intention to approach or pass.

    (Code 1983, § 14-608)

  • Sec. 18-155. - Clinging to vehicles.

    No person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, rollerskates, sled or toy vehicle shall attach any such conveyance or such person's self to any vehicle upon a roadway.

    (Code 1983, § 14-603)

  • Sec. 18-156. - Riding bicycles on roadways and paths.

    (a)

    Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.

    (b)

    Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

    (c)

    Whenever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway.

    (Code 1983, § 14-604)

  • Sec. 18-157. - Bicycle headlamp and rear reflector.

    (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 500 feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the state, which shall be visible from all distances from 50 feet to 300 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 500 feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.

    (b)

    All lights required in this section shall be kept lighted from one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise on every bicycle while operated on any street or bicycle path or other public way in the city.

    (Code 1983, § 14-607)

  • Sec. 18-158. - Bicycle brakes.

    Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.

    (Code 1983, § 14-609)

  • Sec. 18-159. - Requirements for helmet use.

    (a)

    It is unlawful for any person under 15 years of age to operate or be a passenger on a bicycle or any attachment to a bicycle used on a public roadway, public bicycle path or other public right of way unless at all times when the person is so engaged he or she wears a protective bicycle helmet of good fit, fastened securely upon the head with the straps of the helmet.

    (b)

    It is unlawful for any parent or legal guardian of a person under 15 years of age to knowingly permit such person to operate or be a passenger on a bicycle or on any attachment to a bicycle used on a public roadway, public bicycle path or other public right-of-way unless at all times when the person is so engaged he or she wears a protective bicycle helmet of good fit, fastened securely upon the head with the straps of the helmet.

    (c)

    For the purposes of this section, the following words and phrases have the following meanings:

    Bicycle: A human-powered vehicle with wheels designed to transport, by the action of pedaling, one or more persons seated on one or more saddle seats on its frame. Such term also includes a human-powered vehicle, and any attachment to such vehicle designed to transport by pedaling when the vehicle is used on a public roadway, public bicycle path or other public right-of-way, but does not include a tricycle.

    Operator: A person who travels on a bicycle seated on a saddle seat from which that person is intended to and can pedal the bicycle.

    Other public right-of-way: Any right-of-way other than a public roadway or public bicycle path that is under the jurisdiction and control of this state or a local political subdivision thereof and is designed for use by vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

    Passenger: Any person who travels on a bicycle in any manner except as an operator.

    Protective bicycle helmet: A piece of headgear which meets or exceeds the impact standards for protective bicycle helmets set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the Snell Memorial Foundations's standards for protective headgear or American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) for use in bicycling.

    Public bicycle path: A right-of-way under the jurisdiction and control of this state or a local political subdivision thereof for use primarily by bicycles and pedestrians.

    Public roadway: Means a right-of-way under the jurisdiction and control of this state or a local political subdivision thereof for use primarily by motor vehicles.

    Tricycle: A three-wheeled human-powered vehicle designed for use as a toy by a single child under the age of six years, the seat of which is no more than two feet from ground level.

    (d)

    Penalties.

    (1)

    Any parent or legal guardian violating any requirements set forth in this section shall be fined $10.00 or be required to perform two hours in community service related to a child safety program which includes prevention education or both fined and required to perform such community service.

    (2)

    In the case of a first violation of this section, the court may waive the fine upon receipt of satisfactory proof that the person has a helmet or within a reasonable time from the date of the violation, purchased or otherwise obtained, a protective bicycle helmet.

    (3)

    It is an absolute defense to a charge for a violation of this section that a parent or legal guardian is unable to pay for the protective bicycle helmet. Inability to pay may be demonstrated by the filing of a financial affidavit. Any person who demonstrates inability to pay shall be referred to the governor's highway safety program for assistance in obtaining the appropriate helmet or helmets.

    (Ord. No. 114, 7-2-96)

    State law reference— Similar provisions, W. Va. Code, § 17C-11A-4.