Stay off the sidewalks! (Comments: 3)
Author: Jason Crane
Date: 19 March, 2008
Category: Albany
Having just moved here to Albany, I’m still trying to figure out this town from a bicyclist’s point of view. One important thing to know is where you’re allowed to ride. I looked up the Albany City Code, and found these rules:
CHAPTER 359: VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
ARTICLE I Bicycles and All Motor Vehicles [Amended 8-7-1995 by L.L. No. 6-1995]§ 359-1. Alarm bells for bicycles.
All persons riding or propelling with the feet a bicycle, tricycle, velocipede or other vehicle of propulsion on the public streets or avenues or in the parks of this City shall attach to and carry on such vehicle an alarm bell, which said bell the persons shall ring or sound on approaching and within 30 feet of the intersection of any street or avenue proposed to be crossed.
§ 359-2. Speed limit for bicycles.
No person using a bicycle, tricycle, velocipede or other vehicle of propulsion on the public streets or avenues or parks of this City shall propel such vehicle at a rate of speed greater than eight miles an hour, and all such persons shall observe the law of the road.
§ 359-3. Number abreast limited.
No greater number of persons than two abreast shall parade or ride in the streets or avenues or parks of this City at any time on such bicycles, tricycles, velocipedes or other vehicles of propulsion.
§ 359-4. Riding on sidewalks prohibited; exceptions.
No person shall ride any bicycle, tricycle, velocipede or other vehicle of propulsion on or over any footpath in any of the parks, or on or over any of the sidewalks of any of the streets or avenues in this City, except if it is to go into a yard, lot or building; provided, however, that the foregoing provision of this section shall not apply to children under 10 years of age; and provided further that this section shall not be so construed as to prohibit the riding of any bicycle, tricycle or similar vehicle upon or over the unpaved portion of the sidewalk of any such street or streets outside of the thickly settled part of the City as shall be designated in writing by the Mayor. Every designation so made as aforesaid shall be filed with the Chief of Police and may be revoked by the Mayor at any time in his discretion.
In a nutshell:
- You need a bell, and you’re supposed to ring it within 30 feet of any intersection. I have a feeling I won’t be doing this, even though I have a bell.
- You can’t ride faster than 8 miles per hour. (I break this law just getting out of the driveway, even on the Packet Boat.)
- You can’t ride more than two abreast.
- No riding on the sidewalks if you’re older than 9.
These laws were obviously written many moons ago (they still use “velocipede,” for Pete’s sake!), and many are no longer applicable to modern cycling. I always think it’s good to stay off the sidewalks except in emergencies, and having a bell is probably smart. But no one will hear you ring it at the intersection when they’re encased in their cars.
What else does the code have to say about bicycles?
Chapter 246 on the subject of “Newsracks” contains the following:
§ 246-7. Sites, location and placement.
A newsrack placed in accordance with this chapter shall not be installed or maintained:
(snip)
J. Near any bicycle rack if such placement interferes with the use of such bicycle rack;
And finally, Chapter 255 (“Peace And Good Order”) has a charming section titled “Unnecessary And Very Unusual Noises.” It also mentions bicycles, thusly:
§ 255-25. Public places.
It shall be unlawful for any person to ring any hand bell, beat or strike any pan, pail or other like article or sound any gong or blow any whistle or horn or other than musical instruments when used as part of a band of music except to give necessary signals upon a street car, motor vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle or similar vehicle or to hawk, cry or call out the sale of goods at auction or otherwise or to gain passengers for any cab, hack, taxi or other vehicle or to make, aid, continue, encourage or assist in making any other or unusual noise upon any street or other public place or in close proximity thereto so as to be distinctly and loudly audible upon any such street or place in the City of Albany.
And there you have it. Enjoy the City of Albany, velocipedists!
3 comments to “Stay off the sidewalks!”