BICYCLE REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES

Philadelphia Code tit. 12, ch. 12-800

in effect

Philadelphia Code § 12-801 Persons Riding Bicycles.

§ 12-801. Persons Riding Bicycles. (1) Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway shall have all the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to an operator under the provisions of this Title and The Vehicle Code.

Philadelphia Code § 12-802 Obedience to Traffic-Control Devices.

§ 12-802. Obedience to Traffic-Control Devices. (1) Whenever signs are erected indicating that no right or left turn is permitted, or that a turn in the opposite direction is permitted only between certain hours, no person operating a bicycle shall disobey the direction of any such signs except where such person dismounts from the bicycle to make such turn, in which event such person shall have the privileges and responsibilities of a pedestrian.

Philadelphia Code § 12-803 Riding on Bicycles.

§ 12-803. Riding on Bicycles. (1) A person operating a bicycle shall not ride other than astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto. (2) No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number of seats permanently affixed to such bicycle.

Philadelphia Code § 12-804 Riding on Roadways and Bicycle Paths.

§ 12-804. Riding on Roadways and Bicycle Paths. (1) Persons riding bicycles 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. Persons riding two abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic. Notes 59 | Amended, Bill No. 120532 (approved January 8, 2013).

Philadelphia Code § 12-805 Emerging from a Driveway or Building.

§ 12-805. Emerging from a Driveway or Building. (1) The operator of a bicycle emerging from a driveway or building shall upon approaching a sidewalk or the sidewalk area extending across any alleyway or driveway, 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 and street cars approaching on said roadway.

Philadelphia Code § 12-806 Carrying Articles.

§ 12-806. Carrying Articles. (1) No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle, or article which prevents the rider from keeping at least one hand upon the handle bars.

Philadelphia Code § 12-807 Parking.

§ 12-807. Parking. (1) No person shall park a bicycle or other Small Vehicle, as defined in Section 9-209 of the Code ("Small Vehicle Sharing Businesses"), upon a street other than (a) against the curb, upon the sidewalk, or in an area on the street designated by the department for bicycle parking, in a rack to support the bicycle; or (b) against a building or at the curb, in such a manner as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic. 60 (2) Any person violating this Section shall be liable for payment of fines, costs and additional fees prescribed and assessed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 12-2800 of this Title. 61 (3) The owner of a Small Vehicle shall, in addition to the person who parked the vehicle in violation of this Section 12-807, be responsible for such fines or penalties imposed under this Section, except as may otherwise be provided in connection with regulations established under Section 9-209 of the Code. 62 Notes 60 | Amended, Bill No. 120532 (approved January 8, 2013); amended, Bill No. 180429 (approved July 10, 2018). 61 | Added, 1989 Ordinances, p. 72. 62 | Added, Bill No. 180429 (approved July 10, 2018).

Philadelphia Code § 12-808 Riding on Sidewalks.

§ 12-808. Riding on Sidewalks. (1) No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk, except as follows: (a) Children under the age of twelve may ride on the sidewalk, other than in a business district as defined in the Vehicle Code. (b) Riding a bicycle on the sidewalk is permitted where appropriate signs are posted for shared pedestrian and bicycling use by the Department of Streets at locations determined by the Department by regulation. The Department shall not adopt any such regulation or post such signs without first receiving a recommendation from the Philadelphia City Planning Commission and considering factors such as pedestrian safety and comfort, bicycle rider safety, existing and expected density of use by pedestrians and bicyclists, motorist safety, traffic flow, and the free ingress and egress to and from surrounding buildings. A sidewalk designated pursuant to this subsection shall not be considered a path for purposes of subsection 12-804(2), relating to Riding on Roadway. (2) Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian. (3) In areas under the jurisdiction of the Fairmount Park Commission, riding bicycles on sidewalks and foot paths may be permitted when authorized by regulations of the commission. 64 (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 12-811 of this Chapter, the penalty for violation of this Section shall be a fine of fifty dollars ($50), together with the costs of prosecution. The amount required to be remitted in response to a notice of violation, pursuant to Section 1-112, shall be twenty dollars ($20). 65 Notes 63 | Amended, Bill No. 090444 (approved June 24, 2009). 64 | Amended, 1960 Ordinances, p. 912. 65 | Added, Bill No. 970715 (approved March 20, 1998).

Philadelphia Code § 12-809 Warning Devices and Brakes on Bicycles.

§ 12-809. Warning Devices and Brakes on Bicycles. (1) No person shall operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with a bell or other device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least 100 feet, except that a bicycle shall not be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a bicycle any siren or whistle. (2) Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheel skid on a dry, level, clean pavement.

Philadelphia Code § 12-810 Bicycle Regulations and Penalties.

§ 12-810. Bicycle Regulations and Penalties. (1) The parent of any child, the guardian of any ward or any person standing in loco parentis with respect to any child shall not authorize or knowingly permit such child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this Chapter.

Philadelphia Code § 12-811 Penalty.

§ 12-811. Penalty. (1) Any person violating any of the provisions of Chapter 12-800 shall, upon summary conviction before a Magistrate, pay a fine of seventy-five dollars ($75) together with costs of prosecution, except as otherwise provided by Section 12-807 or 75 Pa. C.S. § 6301. Notes 66 | Amended, 1989 Ordinances, p. 72; amended, Bill No. 758 (approved July 24, 1995), 1995 Ordinances, p. 1081; amended, Bill No. 120532 (approved January 8, 2013).

Philadelphia Code § 12-812 Use of Audio Headphones.

§ 12-812. Use of Audio Headphones. (1) No person shall operate a bicycle on a street or highway while wearing headphones connected to an audio device. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 12-811 of this Chapter, the penalty for violation of this Section shall be a minimum fine of fifty dollars ($50) and no more than one hundred dollars ($100) for each violation, together with the costs of prosecution, or, in default thereof, imprisonment of not more than ten (10) days. Notes 67 | Added, 1982 Ordinances, p. 1656.

Philadelphia Code § 12-813 Removal of Abandoned Inoperable Bicycles.

§ 12-813. Removal of Abandoned Inoperable Bicycles. (1) No person shall leave an Inoperable Bicycle in the public right-of-way for more than ten days. (2) An Inoperable Bicycle left in the public right-of-way for more than ten days shall be deemed an Abandoned Inoperable Bicycle. (3) An Abandoned Inoperable Bicycle may be removed from the right-of-way and treated as abandoned property or refuse pursuant to the following procedure: (a) An Inoperable Bicycle shall be identified by any officer authorized to enforce ordinances with a tag of a bright color stating that the bicycle: has been determined to be an Inoperable Bicycle pursuant to the City Traffic Code; will be deemed an Abandoned Inoperable Bicycle on the 11th day after it has been tagged; and will be removed and discarded by the City any time thereafter. (b) The tag shall also state that the bicycle owner may contest the determination that the bicycle is inoperable and shall provide a telephone number for a City officer the owner may call in that regard. (c) If no call is received by the 11th day after it has been tagged, or a call has been made but the Officer has affirmed the determination that the bicycle is inoperable, the bicycle may be removed and treated as abandoned property or refuse. (d) If the City Officer called determines that the determination of inoperability was in error, the owner may remove the tag and the bicycle shall not be removed by the City. Notes 68 | Added, Bill No. 150287 (approved June 2, 2015).

Source: City of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Code and Home Rule Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/philadelphia/latest/philadelphia_pa/0-0-0-285155Fetched: 10/27/2026