Introduced by:
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASADENA AMENDING TITLE 10
(VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC), CHAPTER 10.60 (BICYCLES) OF THE
PASADENA MUNICIPAL CODE TO DEFINE ELECTRIC BICYCLES,
REMOVE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS, AND UPDATE RIDING
REGULATIONS
The People of the City of Pasadena ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. This ordinance, due to its length and corresponding cost of publication, will be published by title and summary as permitted in Section 508 of the Pasadena City Charter. The approved summary of this ordinance is as follows:
"Summary
This proposed ordinance amends Pasadena Municipal Code Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic), Chapter 10.60 (Bicycles) to define electric bicycles and incorporate regulations of such into the Code, remove bicycle registration requirements that are no longer permitted by California state law, and clean up and update regulations in accordance with the latter amendments.
Ordinance No. _shall take effect upon publication."
SECTION 2. Pasadena Municipal Code, Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic), Chapter
10.60 (Bicycles) is amended as follows:
10.60.010-Short title.
This chapter shall be known as the "bicycle registration ordinance."
10.60.020-Definitions.
A. "Bicycle" means any device upon which a person may ride which is propelled by human power through a system of belts, chains or gears having either two or three one or more wheels as defined by California Vehicle Code section 231. with one of the wheels at least 20 inches in diameter or having a frame the size of at least 14 inches, or having four or more-wheete- An electric bicycle is a type of bicycle eauipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts and as defined by California Vehicle Code section 321.5,
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B. "Person" means a natural person, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, and also includes a firm, partnership, association or corporation, its or their successors or assigns, or the agent of any of the aforesaid.
10.60.030 —Registration - Required —Exceptions.
A. No person shall ride, operate, use, or knowingly permit any other person to ride, operate or use upon any street in the city, any bicycle which is not registered, for which the registration fee has not been paid as required by this chapter, and which does not have attached thereto and displayed thereon a valid registration indicia issued for such bicycles by the city for the current registration period.
B. Every person acquiring ownership of any bicycle which is not registered pursuant to this chapter shall apply for registration within 10 days after such acquisition, EXCEPT a person in the business of buying and selling bicycles or a person acquiring bicycles which are to be sold or transferred before being ridden, operated or used in the erty-
10.60.040 —Registration —Duration FQQ —Issuance.
A. Each registration shall be effective until the expiration of the period for which the registration is issued. The initial period shall be for 3 years.
B. Each registration, and each transfer or replacement or renewal of said license or registration shall require payment of a fee in the maximum amount permitted under state law.
C. The owner of a bicycle shall make application for registration to the chief of police upon forms provided by the chief detailing all information pertinent to the registration and ownership of the bicycle as he deems necessary. Upon receipt of the required fee and properly completed application, the chief shall issue the bicycle registration or license indicia distributed by the State DopartmQnt of Motor VQhiclQG.
10.60.050 —Registration Indicia —RQplacoment.
In the event that any registration indicia issued under the terms of this chapter is lost, destroyed, defaced or stolen, the owner immediately upon the happening of any one of the above events shall apply to the chief of police for a new restriction indicia and a new registration certificate.
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Upon the payment of the fee of $1.00 each a new registration indicia or a new registration certificate shall be issued in the same manner as provided in this chapter and the chief of police shall effect an appropriate cancellation of the lost, destroyed, defaced or stolen rogistrQtion.
10.60.060 - Attachment of indicia.
The chief of police shall cause the registration indicia to be securely attached to the bicycle for which it is issued.
10.60.070 —Requirements of secondhand dealers.
A. All persons engaged in the business of buying secondhand bicycles are required to make a daily report to the chief of police giving the name and address of the person from whom each bicycle is purchased or repossessed, the frame number thereof, and the number of the license plate found thereon, if any.
B. All persons engaged in the business of selling new or secondhand bicycles are required to make a daily report to the chief of police of all sales made by such dealers. Tho report shall includo tho name and address of each porson to whom sold, the kind of bicycle sold, the description thereof, the frame number and the number of the license plate attached thereto, if any.
C. Compliance with this section shall be in lieu of the requirements of Section 6 of Ordinance No. 1585, codified at Chapter 5.56, insofar as dealings in bicycles are concerned. The provisions of Section 11 of said Ordinance No. 1585 shall not apply to a bicycle which is licensed and registered under the provisions of this chapter at the time it is pledged or purchased. As to all other matters the provisions of this chapter are in addition to and not in lieu of the provisions of said Ordinance No.1585.
10.60.080 Purchaser to transfer registration.
It shall be the duty of the purchaser or transferee of such bicycle to apply for a transfer of registration thereof within 5 days of the sale or transfer whenever such bicycle is used, or intended to be used, or caused or permitted to be used upon, in, along or across any public street, alley, highway, park or other public place in the city.
10.60.090 —License - Expiration.
All license plates and registration certificates shall expire in accordance with this chapter or when the license transfers ownership of the bicycle. 3 WIBFUCQOOD2LR1
10.60.100 —Change of address report roquired.
Any person to whom a registration certificate has been issued shall report any change of his address to the chiof of polico within 5 days thereof.
10.60.110 - Frame numbers.
It is unlawful for any person willfully or maliciously to remove, destroy, mutilate or alter the number of any bicycle frame registered pursuant to this chapter. It is also unlawful for any person to remove, destroy, mutilate or alter any license plate, seal or registration certificate during the time in which the plate, seal or registration certificate is operative; provided, however, that nothing Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the chief of police from stamping letters or numbers on the frames of bicycles.
10.60.120 - Delegation of powers and duties of chief.
The chief of police may delegate the powers and duties imposed upon him or her by this chapter to any member of the police force of the city.
10.60.130 - Penalty for violating Sections 10.60.010 through 10.60.120.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine in an amount which shall not exceed that permitted under state law.
10.60.140 - Riding regulations.
A. It is unlawful to ride a bicycle upon any sidewalk in front of any church, school or place of public assembly except where the sidewalk area is designated a bike lane by the director of transportation with official signs and markings. The rider of a bicycle shall yield the riaht-of-wav to pedestrians on a sidewalk and as defined in the California Vehicle Code.
B. In all other areas, the rider of a bicycle shall yield the right of way to pedestrians. The rider of a bicycle shall not ride on a sidewalk at a speed greater than ten f 10) miles per hour, and no more than five (5) miles per hour where pedestrians are eresenLor ata^peed_which endangers the safety of persons or oroDertv.
C. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle in a means violating any existing Pasadena Municipal Code section, the California Vehicle Code, or other applicable law. 4 WIBFUCQOOD2LR1
D. This section shall not apply to a bicycle operated by any law enforcement officer employed by the city while acting within the course and scope of his or her employment as provided under section 10.08.028.
G-E_ Based on demonstrated pedestrian, bicycle and traffic safety needs, the city council may by resolution, regulate or prohibit the use of bicycles on specific sidewalks within high congestion retail shopping districts, and shall direct the posting of such regulations and prohibitions as well as any signs or markings determined appropriate to encourage shared use of the streets.
Dr F^ It is unlawful to operate a bicycle on a sidewalk where it has been posted to regulate or prohibit its use pursuant to subsection G E. of this section or in a manner other prohibited by subsections A, B, orCe<-B of this section. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an infraction, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished as provided in section 1.24.025 of this code.
SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify the adoption of this ordinance and shall cause this ordinance to be published in by title and summary. ///
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SECTION 4. This ordinance shall take effect upon its publication.
Signed and approved this_ day of_, 2025.
Victor M. Gordo
Mayor of the City of Pasadena
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing ordinance was adopted by the City Council of the City of Pasadena at its meeting held this _day of_2025, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT;
ABSTAIN:
Date Published:
Approved as to form:
^dsick ma
As
Mark Jomsky
City Clerk
ity Attorney
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