Chippewa Falls, WI
Council to take a spin regulating motorized bikes
By ROD STETZER
[email protected]
Monday, January 18, 2010 12:06 PM
It may be too cold to ride a motorized bicycle but the temperature is apparently right for Chippewa Falls to regulate them.
An ordinance to regulate motorized bikes will have its first reading at Tuesday’s city council meeting, which starts at 6:30 p.m. The council will meet in its chambers at City Hall, 30 W. Central St.
City Attorney Robert Ferg drafted the proposed ordinance after the police department complained the motorized bicycles were becoming a traffic hazard.
Motorized bicycles differ from mopeds, which more resemble motorcycles and usually don’t have pedals. A motorized bike uses a motor to either assist the rider in pedaling or to power the bicycle.
Under the proposed ordinance:
- Owners of motorized bicycles would need to register them with the city.
- The registration fee is $20 a year, beginning March 1. Duplicate registration tags would cost $5. If the motorized bike is soled, the new owner has to pay the registration fee.
- “It shall be unlawful to do any trick riding on any highway or bicycle-only lane, or to operate a motor bicycle with no hand on the handle bars.”
- Only one person may ride the motorized bicycle at any one time.
- Motorized bicycles must have brake lights, mirrors and mufflers.
Failure to do any of these things could result in a forfeiture ranging from $75 to $500.
Usually ordinances get readings over two separate meetings before the council votes on them. If that happens, the council would vote on passing the ordinance Feb. 2. Although it is less likely, the council could have both readings Tuesday night and vote on the proposed ordinance then.
Chippewa.com
