CHAPTER 2 - BICYCLES (Added by O-367; Amended by O-446; O-730; O-1231; O-1440)

Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway or sidewalk shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 1 of this Division applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except as otherwise provided in this Chapter and except as to those provisions which, by their nature, can have no application.

SECTION 62.1.3. RIDING IN A GROUP.

Persons operating bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two (2) abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

SECTION 62.1.4. RIDING ON SIDEWALKS.

a) No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within any business district or upon the sidewalk adjacent to any public school building, church, recreation center or playground.

b) Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian, and when overtaking or passing a pedestrian, after giving an audible signal, shall at all times, pass to the left of such pedestrian.

SECTION 62.1.5. BICYCLE PATHS.

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.

SECTION 62.1.6. AUDIBLE SIGNAL.

No person shall operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with a bell or oher device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least one hundred (100) feet, except that a bicycle shall not be equipped with, nor shall any person use upon a bicycle, any siren or whistle.

SECTION 62.1.7. DISMOUNT IN CROSSWALK.

Every bicycle operator using a crosswalk to cross an intersection shall dismount to cross.

SECTION 62.1.8. PARKING.

a) No person shall park a bicycle upon a public street or roadway.

b) It is permissible to park upon a sidewalk in a rack to support the bicycle or against a building or upon a sidewalk in such a manner as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic.

SECTION 62.1.9. APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTIES.

(Amended by O-2590)

a) The Chief of Police is hereby empowered to appoint a limited number of persons to act as his deputies for the sole purpose of issuing bicycle registrations and license plates at designated places.

b) All persons acting as deputies shall make such necessary reports and accountings as required by the Finance Department on forms to be provided by said Department.

SECTION 62.1.10. BICYCLES DEALERS’ REPORTS.

(Amended by O-1481)
Every person engaged in the business of buying or trading or selling secondhand bicycles shall make a weekly written report to the Chief of Police upon forms provided for that purpose by the Police Department of every bicycle purchased, traded or sold by such dealer during the past week, giving the name and address of the person from whom purchased or traded, or to whom sold, a description of such bicycle by name and make, the frame number thereof and the number of the license plate, if any, found thereon.

SECTION 62.1.11. RENTAL AGENCIES.

A rental agency shall not rent or offer for rent any bicycle unless it is registered and licensed, and a license plate is attached thereto as provided for herein, and such bicycle must be equipped with the lamps and other equipment required by this Chapter, by other ordinances of the City, or by law of the State.

SECTION 62.1.12. BICYCLE PATH SIGNS.

(Added by O-2602)

a) The Director of Transportation may cause signs to be posted prohibiting use of bicycle paths by pedestrians and animals, where the public safety so requires.

b) In determining whether bicycle paths should be so posted, and what signs should be posted, the Director of Transportation shall consider the following:

1) Whether the conditions in the immediate vicinity of the bicycle path create a safety hazard to bicyclists, pedestrians, automobiles or animals.

2) The location of the bicycle path.

3) The extent and nature of uses surrounding the bicycle path.

4) The extent and nature of use of the bicycle path.

SECTION 62.1.13. RIGHT OF APPEAL.

(Added by O-2602; Amended by O-2822)

a) The decision of the Director of Transportation to post signs along any portion of a bicycle path may be appealed to the Traffic Commission within fifteen (15) days of the decision of the Director of Transportation.

b) The decision of the Traffic Commission may be appealed pursuant to the provisions of Article 5, Chapter 1, Division 1 of this Code, commencing at Section 11.5.1.

ARTICLE 2 - LICENSE - REGISTRATION (Amended by O-2590)

SECTION 62.2.1. LICENSE REQUIRED.

a) No resident of Torrance shall ride or propel any bicycle upon any street, alley, park or bicycle path or other public place in the City without first obtaining from the Police Department or deputy, a license therefor.

b) For the purposes of this Article, the term “bicycle” shall mean any device upon which a person may ride, which is propelled by human power through a system of belts, chains, or gears and which has wheels at least twenty (20) inches in diameter and a frame size of at least fourteen (14) inches.

c) Any bicycle not subject to the provisions of this Article may be licensed upon request of the owner.

SECTION 62.2.2. REGISTRATION AND LICENSING.

(Amended by O-2369)

a) Application for registration and licensing of a bicycle shall be made by the owner of the bicycle, to the Police Department or person deputized to issue bicycle licenses pursuant to Section 62.1.9. of this Code. Such applications shall be upon appropriate forms as approved by the Department of Justice, and furnished by the License Supervisor and shall contain:

1) The full name, address, telephone number and age of the owner;

2) The full name, address and telephone number of the parent or guardian, if the owner is a minor;

3) A description of the bicycle, including the make, type and model and its frame and license number.

b) Whenever the owner of a bicycle, registered under this Article changes his place of residence, such owner shall notify the Police Department within ten (10) days.

c) A license is not assignable and shall be valid only for the person in whose name it is issued.

SECTION 62.2.3. INSPECTION OF BICYCLES.

(Amended by O-1481)
Any City employee authorized or deputized to register and license pursuant to this Chapter may refuse to register or license any bicycle which is determined to be in an unsafe mechanical condition.

SECTION 62.2.4. REGISTRATION FEE AND LICENSE DURATION.

(Amended by O-2369)

a) All bicycle owners shall obtain a bicycle license within ten (10) days of acquiring possession of any bicycle.

b) When a license is obtained, a non-refundable registration fee shall be charged at the rate of One Dollar ($1.00) per year or any fraction thereof. All revenues derived therefrom shall be deposited into the City’s Bicycle Fund.

c) Any person not employed by the City of Torrance who issues a bicycle license pursuant to the provisions of Section 62.1.9. of this Chapter may in addition to the registration fee described in paragraph b) of this Section charge and retain a service fee of fifty cents ($0.50) per license issued.

d) All bicycle licenses shall be valid for a time commencing on the date of issuance and terminating on December 31, 1978. Renewals of said licenses shall be for such duration as is or shall be provided by regulation of the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

SECTION 62.2.5. SALES OR TRANSFERS.

a) Every purchaser or transferee of any bicycle which has previously been registered and licensed in accordance with the provisions of this Article shall within ten (10) days of obtaining Title or possession inform the Police Department of such purchase or transfer and shall make application for a change of registration for such bicycle and shall present the registration card which has previously been issued for such bicycle, or a duplicate thereof issued in accordance with the provisions of this Article.

b) The Police Department shall make a record of the name and address of the new owner of such bicycle and shall issue a registration card to the new owner. Such registration card shall bear the same license number currently assigned to such bicycle and the serial number of said bicycle.

SECTION 62.2.6. LICENSE PLATES.

Upon the registration of any bicycle, a license plate of the type supplied by the California Department of Motor Vehicles shall be issued to the owner thereof.

SECTION 62.2.7. RETAIL SALES; INFORMATION REQUIRED.

a) Each bicycle retailer shall supply to each purchaser a record of the name and address of the retailer, and the year, make and serial number of the bicycle.

b) No bicycle retailer shall sell any new bicycle unless such bicycle has permanently stamped or cast on its frame a serial number unique to the particular bicycle of each manufacturer. Serial numbers shall be stamped or cast in the head of the frame, either side of the seat down post tube, or the bottom sprocket bracket.

SECTION 62.2.8. DISPLAY OF LICENSE PLATES.

a) Every bicycle license plate issued pursuant to this Article shall be firmly attached to the frame of the bicycle for which issued, in such a position as to be plainly visible at all times.

b) Every license plate shall at all times be securely fastened to the bicycle for which it is issued and shall be maintained, free from foreign material, and in a condition to be clearly legible.

c) Every license plate shall remain attached to the bicycle for which it is issued.

SECTION 62.2.9. REGISTRATION OF BICYCLES.

Upon issuing any bicycle license as herein provided, a registration certificate shall be issued to the owner thereof. The registration shall contain upon the face thereof the date issued, the name and address of the owner of the bicycle, and a description of such bicycle and such other information as is required in the application for registration of such bicycle.

SECTION 62.2.10. RECORDS TO BE KEPT.

a) The Police Department shall keep a record of all bicycle registrations, including date of issuance of each license, the license number, the serial number of the bicycle, the make, type, and model of the bicycle, and the name and address of the licensee.

b) Bicycle registration records shall be maintained during the validity of the license or upon notification that the bicycle no longer is to be operated.

SECTION 62.2.11. STOLEN, LOST OR DAMAGED CERTIFICATE CARD OR PLATE.

a) In the event any license plate or registration card is stolen, lost, mutilated or illegible, the owner of the bicycle for which same was issued shall immediately make application to the Police Department or the Fire Department for a duplicate registration card or license plate. Thereupon the Police Department, upon satisfactory proof that the original registration or license plate is stolen, lost, mutilated or illegible, and upon the payment of a fee of twenty-five (25) cents shall issue such plate or registration card.

SECTION 62.2.12. REMOVAL, DESTRUCTION OR ALTERATION OF LICENSE PLATES.

No person shall willfully or maliciously remove, destroy, mutilate or alter the serial number on any bicycle licensed and registered hereunder, or remove, destroy, mutilate or alter any license plate or registration card while the same is in effect as such, except in the event that the bicycle is dismantled and no longer operated upon any streets in this City. Provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit the person issuing the license from numbering frames of bicycles on which no serial number is legible or which serial number is insufficient for identification purposes in accordance with the system therefor prescribed by the Chief of Police.

ARTICLE 3 - LOST AND UNCLAIMED PROPERTY (Added by O-1573; Amended by O-2002)

SECTION 62.3.1. DUTIES OF FINDER.

Any person who finds a thing lost is not bound to take charge of it, but if he does so, he is thence forward a depositary for hire. Any person who finds and takes possession of any money, goods, things in action, or other personal property, or saves any domestic animal from drowning or starvation, shall, within a reasonable time, inform the owner, if known, and make restitution without compensation, except a reasonable charge for saving and taking care of the property.

SECTION 62.3.2. DELIVERY TO POLICE; AFFIDAVIT; CHARGES.

a) If the owner is unknown or has not claimed the property, the person saving or finding the property shall, if such property is of the value of ten (10) dollars or more, within a reasonable time, turn the property over to the Police Department of the City and make an affidavit, stating when and where he found or saved the property, particularly describing it. If the property was saved, he shall state:

1) From what and how it was saved;

2) Whether the owner of the property is known to him:

3) That he has not secreted, withheld, or disposed of any part of the property.

b) The Police Department shall notify the owner, if his identity is reasonably ascertainable, that it possesses the property and where it may be claimed. The Police Department may require payment by the owner of a reasonable charge to defray costs of storage and care of the property.

SECTION 62.3.3. RESTORATION TO OWNER.

If the owner appears within ninety (90) days, after receipt of the property by the Police Department, proves his ownership of the property and pays all reasonable charges, the Police Department shall restore the property to him.

SECTION 62.3.4. Repealed by O-2387.

SECTION 62.3.5. SALE OF UNCLAIMED PROPERTY.

(Amended by O-2688)

a) Such unclaimed property, except unclaimed bicycles, shall be held by the Police Department for a period of at least four (4) months, and unclaimed bicycles shall be held for a period of at least three (3) months; thereafter, such property shall be sold at public auction to the highest bidder, with notice of such sale being given by the Chief of Police at least five (5) days before the time fixed therefor, by publication once in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county in which it was found. Any property remaining unsold after being offered at such public auction may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of by the Chief of Police.

b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, any unclaimed property which has been held by the Police Department for the period described in paragraph a) of this Section and which is determined by the City Manager to be needed for public use, may be retained by the City and need not be sold.

SECTION 62.3.6. AUTHORITY TO SELL.

When the unclaimed property is in danger of perishing, or of losing the greater part of its value, or when the lawful charges provided in Section 62.3.1. and Section 62.3.2. amount to two-thirds (2/3) of its value, the Chief of Police may sell such property upon the notice of sale of personal property under execution:

a) When the property is commonly the object of sale, and

b) When the owner cannot, with reasonable diligence, be found, or being found, refuses to pay the lawful charges as provided in Section 62.3.1. and Section 62.3.2. herein.

SECTION 62.3.7. ABANDONED PROPERTY.

The provisions of this Article have no application to things which have been intentionally abandoned by their owner.

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