Town of Littleton

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Littleton, New Hampshire

EFFECTIVE:

BICYCLE AND PEOPLE POWERED VEHICLE ORDINANCE

PREPARED BY:


APPROVED ON:

June 24, 1996



Be it ordained by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Littleton New Hampshire as follows:

Purpose
The purpose of this ordinance is to promote pedestrian safety on all public walkways and sidewalks in the down town business area of Littleton.

All provisions of the New Hampshire Revised Statute Annotated shall apply.

Scope
The scope of this ordinance restricts the operation of in-line skates, skateboards, bicycles and other person powered vehicles on public walkways, sidewalks and parking lots in the downtown area of Littleton.



SECTION 1 – DEFINITIONS:

  1. Bicycle - Every device propelled by human power upon which any person(s) may ride, having two tandem wheels.

  2. Person powered Vehicles - Shall include, but not be limited to in-line skates, skateboards, scooters, adult driven tricycles and roller skates.

  3. Party - Shall mean person(s) regardless of age.

  4. Chief of Police - Shall mean the Chief of Police of the Town of Littleton.

  5. Downtown area - Shall mean the area of Main Street between the Town building and Elm Street, between the Cottage Street railroad crossing and the Town building, municipal parking lot off Pleasant Street and the Community House parking Lot.

  6. Operation - Riding on Sidewalks, Walkways and Parking Lots in downtown area.



SECTION 2 - ENFORCEMENT:

  1. No person shall operate a bicycle or person powered vehicle on any sidewalk, public walkway and municipal parking area, in the downtown area of Littleton.

  2. Bicycles and people powered vehicles shall yield to the right of way to pedestrians and to motor vehicles at all times.

  3. Persons propelling a bicycle or in-line skating shall always be with the flow of vehicular traffic.

  4. Bicycles and People powered vehicles shall follow all state and local traffic regulations.

  5. Persons being 16 years of age and older shall be allowed to use the travel portion of the street in the downtown area for the purpose of in-line skating. All other persons shall remove said skates in the downtown area.

  6. Because of danger to the rider of a skateboarder, the drivers of motor vehicles and pedestrians, skateboards are hereby prohibited from using any portion of the downtown area of Littleton.

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

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

    2. No person, riding upon any people powered vehicle including but not limited to 2bicycle, coaster, roller skates, in-line skates, skateboard, sled or toy vehicle shall attach the same or himself to any vehicle on the roadway.

    3. No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the driver/rider from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars.

    4. Persons riding bicycles two (2) or more abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single line.

    5. Bicyclists intending to turn right or left shall be required to give a continuous hand or arm signal unless the hand is needed to control the operation of the bicycle.

    6. A person propelling a bicycle may pass a slower moving vehicle in the same lane provided such movement can be made with reasonable safety.

    7. Any bicyclist shall stop upon the demand of a police officer and permit his/her bicycle to be inspected.

    8. No bicycle shall be operated unless steering, brakes, tires and other required equipment are in safe condition.



SECTION 3 – REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

  1. Bicycles

    1. Headlamp
      Every bicycle operated upon any public way during darkness, shall be suitably equipped with front lamp and rear reflector, sufficient to meet the requirements as set forth in NH RSA 266:86.

    2. Peddle Reflector
      No person shall operate any bicycle unless it is equipped with suitable pedal reflectors as set forth in NH RSA 266:87.

    3. Brakes
      No person shall operate any bicycle which is incapable of meeting the standard stopping distance as set forth in NH RSA 266:87.

  2. In-line Skaters and Skateboarders
    In-line skaters and skateboarders are STRONGLY URGED but not required to wear the following safety equipment.

    1. Helmet

    2. Hard shell knee pads

    3. Hard shell elbow pads

    4. Hard shell wrist pads

This equipment should meet the standards of the Snell Memorial Foundation and/or the American Natural Standards Institute.

SECTION 4. EXCEPTIONS

POLICE BICYCLE UNITS ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS ORDINANCE

  1. Any vehicle designed for and operated by a person considered to be handicapped, and needed for the purpose for providing mobility to said individual.

  2. Tricycles operated by pre-school aged children under supervision of responsible adult, strollers, carriages and wagons used by individuals for carrying children or daily necessities.

  3. Bicycles, skateboards, scooters and adult driven tricycles are permitted on sidewalks only when dismounted, or in the case of in-line skates or roller skates, not being worn by the operator.


SECTION 5. ERECTION OF SIGNS

After these regulations have been placed in effect, the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager shall authorize the Chief of Police to erect signs in the Town of Littleton for the control of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic and officially designate any such sign or signs by an authorization in writing to the Chief of Police, recorded in the ffice of the Town Clerk, said authorization containing a description of said sign and the location or position of the same. Sign(s) shall become effective upon said recording.


SECTION 6. VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES:

    1. Any person found violating this chapter shall be guilty of a violation, and shall be fined no more than fifty dollars ($50.00).

    2. Any person, who violates any provision of this ordinance, may have his/her bicycle, skateboard or in-line skates impounded by a police officer for a period of time not to exceed thirty (30) days.

    3. In the case of a minor (under the age of sixteen) the release from impoundment shall be accomplished by the parent or legal guardian of child.

    4. A summons may be issued to those persons, 16 years of age and older, for any offense under the ordinance, payable with a fine up to $50.00.


Section 7. Repealer

This ordinance supersedes Ordinances, Chapter 1, Section 11 entitled Bicycles. Chapter 2, entitled Skateboards.

The above described ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption by the Board of Selectmen. Signed this day in the month of in the year of .



Revised June 24, 1996 at the board of Selectmen’s Meeting