You can ride a bike on a sidewalk in Bay Village unless there are signs prohibiting it. Pedestrians have the right of way and when cyclists pass them, cyclist should give an audible signal. Section (f) is problematic and impractical, requiring a cyclist to ride at an ordinary walk speed when approaching or entering a crosswalk or when crossing a driveway. This flat-out doesn’t generally happen when riding a bike.
My advice, ride on the road if you are an adult unless you can follow these hard-to-comply-with Ordinances. Bay Village bike laws are generally up to date. The section on sidewalk riding is as follows:
377.06 RIDING ON SIDEWALKS.
It shall be legal to ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk or public way, or upon any path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, subject to the following:
(a) Except as provided in section (b) below, it shall be legal to operate a bicycle upon a sidewalk when sidewalks are available and not congested with pedestrian traffic. If the sidewalk is congested with pedestrian traffic, any bicycle operator using the sidewalk shall walk the bicycle.
(b) No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk along which signs have been erected by authority of the Mayor or Director of Public Safety prohibiting such bicycle riding.
(c) A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian. This audible signal may be given by the voice or by a bell or other warning device capable of giving an audible signal and shall be given at a distance and in such a manner as not to startle a person being overtaken and passed.
(d) A person operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk, before overtaking and passing a blind person carrying a white cane or guided by a dog, shall dismount and overtake or pass on foot, if necessary for safety.
(e) A person shall not operate a bicycle from a sidewalk so as to suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and move into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.
(f) No person shall operate a bicycle on a sidewalk at a speed greater than an ordinary walk when approaching or entering a crosswalk or approaching or crossing a driveway if a vehicle is approaching the crosswalk or driveway.
(Ord. 14-11. Passed 3-3-14.)
