City of Charleston Bicycle Laws

ARTICLE V. BICYCLES, MOTORCYCLES AND
TOY VEHICLES

DIVISION 1. GENERALLY

Sec. 19-91. Use of coasters or toy vehicles on roadways.



No person riding in, or by means of, any coaster, toy vehicle or similar device, shall go upon any roadway except when crossing a street on a crosswalk.

(Code 1975, § 33-169)

Sec. 19-92. Skating on roadway and sidewalk.



No person shall skate on any roadway or sidewalk, except those areas designated as skating zones by the department of traffic and transportation.

(Code 1975, § 33-170)

DIVISION 2. BICYCLE REGISTRATION

Sec. 19-101. Registration required.



The owner or operator of every bicycle operated or furnished for operation or use, or which is used by either the owner or any other person on the streets or public places in the city shall cause such bicycle to be registered at the police department, giving the make, model, number and such other description as may be feasible, on a form to be furnished by the police department, which shall be kept on file.

(Code 1975, § 33-157)

Sec. 19-102. License tags; issuance; attachment to bicycle.



There shall be issued for each such bicycle registered, as provided in this division, a paper decal license tag containing a number and other appropriate identification information. This paper decal license tag shall be attached to the bicycle for which it was issued.

(Code 1975, § 33-158)

Sec. 19-103. Fee for registration and issuance of license tag.



The fee for registration and issuance of the license tag, as provided in this division, shall be the sum of one dollar ($1.00), which sum shall be collected by the city police department.

(Code 1975, § 33-159)

Sec. 19-104. Disposition of fees collected; report of license tags issued.



Fees collected under section 19-103 shall be turned over to the city treasurer daily, together with a record of license tags issued under such section.

(Code 1975, § 33-160)

Sec. 19-105. Term of registration.



Registration, as required in section 19-101, shall be for the usable life of the bicycle in the city so long as it remains in the same ownership.

(Code 1975, § 33-161)

Sec. 19-106. Transfer of ownership; report of possession.



(a) Whenever there shall be a transfer of the ownership of a bicycle, such transfer shall be reported to the police department by the seller within twenty-four (24) hours and information shall be furnished in regard thereto setting forth the name of the transferor and the transferee, which information shall be recorded in the police department along with the original application for registration, and the purchaser shall immediately register such bicycle in his name and shall pay a fee therefor in the sum of twenty-five cents ($0.25).
(b) Any person purchasing or coming into possession of a bicycle shall within twenty-four (24) hours report the same to the police department and effect the transfer provided for in this section.

(Code 1975, § 33-162)

Sec. 19-107. Forfeiture, sale and redemption of unlicensed or improperly licensed bicycles.



Any bicycle found on the streets of the city and any bicycle operated on the streets of the city without bearing a license tag as provided in this article, or bearing a license tag which was not legally issued for such bicycle, shall be seized by the police department and forfeited to the city. It shall be the duty of the police department from time to time to advertise and sell any and all bicycles so seized, upon giving the usual notice of sale and publication in a newspaper published in the city, as in the case of other personal property seized and forfeited; but the owner of such bicycle may, upon satisfactory proof of his ownership before the time of sale, redeem the bicycle by the payment of any costs or disbursements incurred in the seizure, advertisement and sale.

(Code 1975, § 33-163)

Sec. 19-108. Operation of unlicensed or improperly licensed bicycle.



It shall be unlawful to use or operate a bicycle without a license tag as above provided, or with a license tag that has been issued for a bicycle other than the one to which it is attached.

(Code 1975, § 33-164)

Sec. 19-109. Possession of unlicensed bicycle as evidence of violation of chapter.



The possession or custody of a bicycle without the license tag required by this division shall be prima facie evidence that the same was used or intended to be used in violation of the terms of this division. However, this shall not apply to any bona fide dealer in or salesman of bicycles, unless such vehicle is in use.

(Code 1975, § 33-165)

DIVISION 3. REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO BICYCLES

Sec. 19-121. Manner of parking.



No person shall park a bicycle upon a street other than upon the roadway against the curb or upon the sidewalk in a rack to support the bicycle or against a building or at the curb, in such manner as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic.

(Code 1975, § 33-176)

Sec. 19-122. Riding on sidewalks.
No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk, unless the sidewalk is designated for bicycle use by proper sign and markings by the department of traffic and transportation.

(Code 1975, § 33-177)