Bike signage, laws explained

You may have seen white bicycle signs painted on the roads and additional signage regarding bikes posted around town. The A-T reached out to Tiffin City Engineer Matt Watson and Tiffin City Law Director Brent Howard for an explanation of the signs, as well as the bike and scooter laws in Tiffin. White bike signs and additional signage "All signs and pavement markings were installed in accordance with the guidelines and requirements specified within the Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and the Guide for Development of Bicycle Facilities," said City Engineer Matt Watson. "We utilized these guidelines to determine location, spacing and types of signage and pavement markings." "This project was developed as a result of the Seneca County Active Transportation Plan," he said. "The Seneca County Active Transportation Plan's vision was to improve the quality of life and promote safety, recreation, environmental sustainability, health, equity/inclusion, and economic development through the development of high quality, integrated surface transportation infrastructure that increases active transportation options for people of all ages and abilities. This plan was officially approved and endorsed by Tiffin City Council per Resolution 19-8 on April 15, 2019." He then provided the goals for implementing the Seneca County Active Transportation Plan. They are as follows: Step 1: Create a connected trail system that utilizes our roadways to connect our existing trail legs and park trails. Step 2: Analyze usage and potential safety issues and further develop the system given observations. The A-T also asked Watson about bikes being ridden on streets in Tiffin. "Bikes can be ridden on City of Tiffin streets regardless if there (are) signage or pavement markings associated with the City of Tiffin's Active Transportation Plan," he said. "The objective of the markings and signage, in addition to assisting with wayfinding, was to promote bicyclists to utilize certain roadways/routes to provide a safer network by bringing attention to motorists that there could be an increased amount of bicycle users on certain streets." Bike laws The A-T was provided Tiffin Codified Ordinances addressing electric scooters, like the Bird scooters, and bikes by Howard. He added that Tiffin's code follows state laws. In the ordinances, scooters are referred to as low-speed micro-mobility devices. According to Tiffin Codified Ordinance 371.14 these are the rules for the operation of scooters. A. may be operated on public streets, highways, sidewalks, and shared-use paths, and may be operated on any portions of the roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles (bike lanes). B. no operator shall do any of the following: 1. fail to yield the right of way to all pedestrians 2. fail to give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian 3. or ride at night unless the device or operator is equipped with A. a lamp pointing to the front that emits a white light visible from a distance of not less than 500 ft B. a red reflector facing the rear that is visible from all distances from 100 – 600 ft when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps of a motor vehicle C 1. no person under 16 shall rent 2. no person shall knowingly rent to someone under 16 3. no person shall knowingly rent on behalf of someone under 16 D. No person shall operate a scooter at a speed greater than 20 mph E. Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor F. Notwithstanding subsection A1 of this section, the municipality, may do any of the following 1. Regulate or prohibit the operation of scooters on public streets, highways, sidewalks, shared-use paths, and portions of the roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bikes, under its jurisdiction 2. Include scooters that are adapted to expand access for people with various physical limitations into a shared bicycle, shared electric bicycle, or similar vehicle-sharing program, under its jurisdiction 3. require the owner or operator of a scooters rental service or scooter sharing program to maintain commercial general liability insurance related to the operation of devices with limits of up to 1 million dollars per occurrence and 2 million dollars per aggregate. 373.07 riding (a) bicycle on the right side of the roadway; obedience to traffic rules; passing A. Every person operating a bicycle or electric bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable obeying all traffic rules applicable to vehicles and exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. B. This section does not require a person operating a bicycle or electric bicycle to ride at the edge of the roadway when it is unreasonable or unsafe to do so. Conditions that may require riding away from the edge of the roadway include when necessary to avoid fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, surface hazards, or if it is otherwise unsafe or impracticable to do so, including if the lane is too narrow for the bicycle or electric bicycle and an overtaking vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane. C. whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. 373.11 riding on sidewalks No person, except police officers in the performance of their duties, shall operate a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business district or upon a sidewalk where signs are erected prohibiting such operation. 373.19 paths exclusively for bicycles A. No person shall operate a motor vehicle, snowmobile, or all-purpose vehicle upon any path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles when an appropriate sign giving notice of such use is posted on the path. B. Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.