City of Mapleton ORDINANCE NO. 490 ORDINANCE AMENDING SCOPE OF BICYCLE REGULATIONS IN THE MAPLETON CITY CODE TO INCLUDE ELECTRICAL BICYCLES AND PEDESTRIAN CONVEYANCES WHEREAS, the City of Mapleton regulates bicycle use on City streets and public paths set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, WHEREAS, the scope of the City of Mapleton’s bicycle regulations codified at City Ordinance 76.01, does not currently include electrical bicycles or pedestrian conveyances, WHEREAS, the City of Mapleton has determined that electrical bicycles and pedestrian conveyances are substantially similar to standard bicycles and should be regulated under the same Code Chapter of the Mapleton Bicycle Ordinances, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED, by the City Council, City of Mapleton, Iowa Chapter 76, Sections 76.01-76.13 is amended to read as follows: Section 76.01 SCOPE OF REGULATIONS. These regulations shall apply whenever a bicycle or pedestrian conveyance is operated upon any street or upon any public path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles or pedestrian conveyances, subject to those exceptions stated herein. When used in this Code Chapter, the term bicycle shall include “bicycle” and “low-speed electric bicycle” as defined below. The term “pedestrian conveyance” shall have the definition as defined below. A “bicycle” which shall be a device having two or three wheels and having at least one saddle or seat for the use of a rider which is propelled by human power; A “low-speed electric bicycle,” which shall have the same meaning as it defined by Iowa Code § 321.1(36A), or any successor statute, as may be amended by the Iowa Legislature from time-to-time; A “pedestrian conveyance,” which shall have the same meaning as it is defined by Iowa Code § 321.1(51A), or any successor statute, as may be amended by the Iowa Legislature from time-to-time. Section 76.02 TRAFFIC CODE APPLIES. Every person riding a bicycle or pedestrian conveyance upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by the laws of the State declaring rules of the road applicable to vehicles or by the Traffic Code of the City applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except as to those provisions that by their nature can have no application. Whenever such person dismounts from a bicycle or pedestrian conveyance, the person shall be subject to all regulations applicable to pedestrians. 76.03 DOUBLE RIDING RESTRICTED. A person propelling a bicycle or pedestrian conveyance shall not ride other than astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto. No bicycle or pedestrian conveyance shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped. 76.04 TWO ABREAST LIMIT. Persons riding bicycles or pedestrian conveyances upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles or pedestrian conveyances. All bicycles or pedestrian conveyances ridden on the roadway shall be kept to the right and shall be operated as near as practicable to the right-hand edge of the roadway. 76.05 SPEED. No person shall operate a bicycle or pedestrian conveyance at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing. 76.06 EMERGING FROM ALLEY OR DRIVEWAY. The operator of a bicycle or pedestrian conveyance emerging from an alley, driveway or building shall, upon approaching a sidewalk or the sidewalk area extending across any alleyway, yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians approaching on said sidewalk or sidewalk area, and upon entering the roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on said roadway. 76.07 CARRYING ARTICLES. No person operating a bicycle or pedestrian conveyance shall carry any package, bundle or article that prevents the rider from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars or steer control of a pedestrian conveyance. 76.08 RIDING ON SIDEWALKS. The following provisions apply to riding bicycles or pedestrian conveyance on sidewalks: 1. Business District. No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within the Business District, as defined in Section 60.02(1) of this Code of Ordinances. 2. Other Locations. When signs are erected on any sidewalk or roadway prohibiting the riding of bicycles or pedestrian conveyances thereon by any person, no person shall disobey the signs. 3. Yield Right-of-Way. Whenever any person is riding a bicycle or pedestrian conveyance upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing. 76.09 TOWING. It is unlawful for any person riding a bicycle or pedestrian conveyance to be towed or to tow any other vehicle upon the streets of the City unless the vehicle is manufactured for such use. 76.10 IMPROPER RIDING. No person shall ride a bicycle or pedestrian conveyance in an irregular or reckless manner such as zigzagging, stunting, speeding, or otherwise so as to disregard the safety of the operator or others. 76.11 PARKING. No person shall park a bicycle or pedestrian conveyance upon a street other than upon the roadway against the curb or upon the sidewalk in a rack to support the bicycle or pedestrian conveyance or against a building or at the curb, in such a manner as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic. 76.12 EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS. Every person riding a bicycle or pedestrian conveyance shall be responsible for providing and using equipment as provided herein: 1. Lamps Required. Every bicycle or pedestrian conveyance when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a lamp on the front emitting a white light visible from a distance of at least three hundred (300) feet to the front and with a lamp on the rear exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of 300 feet to the rear, except that a red reflector on the rear, of a type that is visible from all distances from fifty (50) feet to 300 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle, may be used in lieu of a rear light. 2. Brakes Required. Every bicycle or pedestrian conveyance shall be equipped with a brake that will enable the operator to make the braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement. 76.13 SPECIAL PENALTY. Any person violating the provisions of this chapter may, in lieu of the scheduled fine for bicyclists or persons using pedestrian conveyances standard penalty provided for violations of this Code of Ordinances, allow the person’s bicycle or pedestrian conveyance to be impounded by the City for not less than five (5) days for the first offense, ten (10) days for a second offense and thirty (30) days for a third offense. * * * * Councilperson Benita Uhl introduced on October 8, 2025, caused to be read for the first time and move the consideration on the second reading of the foregoing proposed ordinance. Councilperson Joe Hogan seconded the motion to consider the ordinance on the first reading, and upon roll being called, the vote was: Ayes: Benita Uhl, Abby Koenigs, Zach Schrader, Jacob Zawodny Absent: Joe Hogan Nayes: None WHEREUPON, the Mayor declared the foregoing ordinance to be passed on its first reading on October 8, 2025. Brent Streck, Mayor ATTEST: Karla Uhl, City Clerk ***** Councilperson Benita Uhl introduced on November 12, 2025, caused to be read for the second and third time and adoption of the foregoing proposed ordinance. Councilperson Abby Koenigs seconded the motion to consider the ordinance on the second and third reading and adoption, and upon roll being called, the vote was: Ayes: Benita Uhl, Abby Koenigs, Zach Schrader, Jacob Zawodny Absent: Joe Hogan Nayes: None WHEREUPON, the Mayor declared the foregoing ordinance to be passed on its second reading on November 12, 2025. Brent Streck, Mayor ATTEST: Karla Uhl, City Clerk ***** ATTEST: Karla Uhl, City Clerk ***** MP11-20-25
