BICYCLES

New Orleans City Code ch. 154, art. XII

in effect

New Orleans City Code § 154-1401 Purpose and effect of regulations.

Sec. 154-1401. - Purpose and effect of regulations. The purpose of this article is to facilitate the recovery of lost and stolen bicycles through a system of identification numbers and also to govern the rental and use of bicycles. (Code 1956, § 38-190; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27900, § 1, 10-18-18; M.C.S., Ord. No. 29169, § 2, 10-6-22)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1402 Responsibility of parent or guardian.

Sec. 154-1402. - Responsibility of parent or guardian. No parent of a child or tutor or curator of a minor or incompetent person shall authorize or knowingly permit any such child, minor or incompetent person to violate any of the provisions of this article. (Code 1956, § 38-191)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1403 Registration permitted.

Sec. 154-1403. - Registration permitted. Any person who resides in the City of New Orleans and who owns a bicycle and rides it upon a public right-of-way may register the bicycle with the department of safety and permits to receive a specific identification number for each bicycle he or she owns. The director of the department of safety and permits and his or her designee (hereafter department) is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations as may be required to carry out the purpose of this article. (Code 1956, § 38-192; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27900, § 1, 10-18-18)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1404 Registration application and fee.

Sec. 154-1404. - Registration application and fee. (a) Applications to register bicycles shall be made upon a form provided by the department. There shall be a $5.00 application fee for each registered bicycle. (b) It shall be a violation of this article for any person to register a bicycle when they know or have reasonable grounds to believe that they are not the owner or authorized by the owner to possess and register the bicycle. (Code 1956, § 38-193; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27900, § 1, 10-18-18)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1405 Issuance of registration; record.

Sec. 154-1405. - Issuance of registration; record. (a) Upon the department's receipt of a proper application and fee, the department shall register the bicycle, assign it a registration number, and issue to the applicant a bicycle certificate sticker, as provided in section 154-1406. (b) The department shall keep a record of each issued registration number, the date issued, the name and address of the person to whom a bicycle certificate sticker was issued, the manufacturer's identification number that is printed on the frame of the bicycle, if applicable, and all fees collected relative thereto. (c) Upon the department's receipt of a written request, it shall be the duty of the department to provide the superintendent of police and/or the superintendent of fire with a copy of the record of each registration. (Code 1956, § 38-194; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27900, § 1, 10-18-18)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1406 Attachment of registration certificate.

Sec. 154-1406. - Attachment of registration certificate. The department upon registering a bicycle shall issue to the applicant a bicycle certificate sticker bearing a unique city registration number, specifically assigned to the bicycle. The department shall instruct the applicant to firmly attach the bicycle certificate sticker on the frame of the bicycle in such a position that it is plainly visible. It shall be a violation of this article for any person to remove a bicycle certificate sticker from a bicycle without express permission of the owner. (Code 1956, § 38-195; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27900, § 1, 10-18-18)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1407 Inspection of bicycles.

Sec. 154-1407. - Inspection of bicycles. The department shall receive from each applicant a written and signed certification that their bicycle is in a safe, sound condition as required by law, prior to any issuance of a bicycle certificate sticker. Nothing contained herein shall preclude the department from requesting to inspect the condition of a bicycle prior to issuance if deemed necessary by the department. The department may authorize satellite inspection stations to perform bicycle inspection and issue bicycle certificate stickers on behalf of the department, subject to the rules outlined in this chapter. (Code 1956, § 38-196; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27900, § 1, 10-18-18)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1408 Transfer of ownership.

Sec. 154-1408. - Transfer of ownership. Upon the sale or other transfer of a bicycle, the new owner may obtain a new registration as provided herein, or may continue to use the existing registration number, but should update contact information with the department. (Code 1956, § 38-197; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27900, § 1, 10-18-18)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1409 Rental of bicycles.

Sec. 154-1409. - Rental of bicycles. Any person, natural or juridical, that offers for rent bicycles shall not rent or offer for rent any bicycle unless each bicycle is registered with the department and has received a correlating bicycle certificate sticker, which shall be prominently attached to each individual bicycle. (Code 1956, § 38-198; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27900, § 1, 10-18-18; M.C.S., Ord. No. 29169, § 2, 10-6-22)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1410 Reserved.

New Orleans City Code § 154-1411 Traffic laws applicable to persons riding bicycles.

Sec. 154-1411. - Traffic laws applicable to persons riding bicycles. Every person riding a bicycle 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 this state declaring rules of the road applicable to vehicles or by the traffic laws of the city applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except as otherwise provided in this article and except as to those provisions of law which by their nature, can have no application. (Code 1956, § 38-200)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1412 Obedience to traffic control devices.

Sec. 154-1412. - Obedience to traffic control devices. Any person operating a bicycle shall obey the instructions of official traffic control signals, signs, and other traffic control devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer. Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right, left, or "U" turn is permitted, no person operating a bicycle shall disobey the direction of any such signs, except when such person dismounts from the bicycle to make any such turn, such person shall then obey the regulations applicable to pedestrians. (Code 1956, § 38-201)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1413 Failure to stop in event of accident.

Sec. 154-1413. - Failure to stop in event of accident. Any person who, while riding or propelling a bicycle or other vehicle or instrument of that general character, shall run against, upon or over any person upon the public highways or the property of any person in his personal possession or use in such a manner as might do an injury or cause damage to such person or property and shall not stop at once to ascertain the extent of such injury and to render such assistance as may be needed or shall refuse to give his name and residence when asked for by the person so injured or by any other person in his behalf shall be guilty of an offense. (Code 1956, § 38-202)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1414 One-handed steering.

Sec. 154-1414. - One-handed steering. Every rider of a bicycle, tricycle or other vehicle propelled by hand or foot must keep at least one hand on the handlebars of his machine when riding it. (Code 1956, § 38-203)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1415 Riding on roadways and bicycle paths.

Sec. 154-1415. - Riding on roadways and bicycle paths. (a) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction, except under any of the following circumstances: (1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction. (2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway. (3) When reasonably necessary to avoid fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lane or any other conditions that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. For the purposes of this paragraph, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane. (4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized. (b) 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. (c) Persons riding bicycles shall be allowed to operate on the shoulder of a roadway. (d) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway or a highway, where there are two or more marked traffic lanes and traffic travels in only one direction, may ride as near the left-hand curb or shoulder of that roadway as practicable when preparing for a left turn. (Code 1956, § 38-204; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27365, § 5, 4-20-17)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1416 Riding on sidewalks.

Sec. 154-1416. - Riding on sidewalks. No person 15 or more years of age shall ride a bicycle upon any sidewalk in the city nor will bicycles be allowed on sidewalks in the business district. (Code 1956, § 38-205)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1417 Speeding.

Sec. 154-1417. - Speeding. No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing. (Code 1956, § 38-206)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1418 Right-of-way at alley or driveway.

Sec. 154-1418. - Right-of-way at alley or driveway. The operator of a bicycle emerging from an alley, driveway or building shall, upon approaching a sidewalk or the sidewalk extending across any alleyway, stop and yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians approaching upon such sidewalk area and upon entering the roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on such roadway. (Code 1956, § 38-207; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27365, § 6, 4-20-17)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1419 Manner of riding.

Sec. 154-1419. - Manner of riding. A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto. No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped. (Code 1956, § 38-208)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1420 Carrying articles.

Sec. 154-1420. - Carrying articles. No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the rider from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars or which interferes with the stability of the bicycle or the rider's vision. (Code 1956, § 38-209)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1421 Parking of bicycles.

Sec. 154-1421. - Parking of bicycles. No person shall deposit, place, or store a bicycle or similar device upon the right-of-way other than at or on a proper bike rack or other designated storage area. Any bicycle or similar device that is improperly deposited, placed, or stored on the right-of-way shall be deemed an encumbrance or obstruction, pursuant to section 146-493, and subject to immediate removal. (Code 1956, § 38-210; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27849, § 1, 9-6-18; M.C.S., Ord. No. 29169, § 2, 10-6-22)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1422 Necessary bicycle equipment.

Sec. 154-1422. - Necessary bicycle equipment. (a) Every bicycle when in use between sunrise and sunset or when persons and vehicles on the street are not clearly discernable at a distance of 500 feet ahead shall be equipped with the following: (1) A lamp mounted on the front that shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front. A generator-powered lamp that emits light only when the bicycle is moving may be used to meet this requirement. (2) A lamp mounted on the rear that shall emit either a flashing or steady red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear. (3) A red reflector mounted on the rear and a reflector on each side facing outward at a right angle to the bicycle frame that shall be visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. (b) A bicycle or its operator may be equipped with lights or reflectors in addition to those required by subsection (a) of this section, except that red lamps and red reflectors shall not be used on the front of the bicycle and white lamps and white reflectors shall not be used on the rear of the bicycle. (c) A lamp or lamps worn by the operator of a bicycle shall comply with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, if the lamp or lamps can be seen at the distances specified. (d) 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. (e) Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement. (Code 1956, § 38-211; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27365, § 7, 4-20-17)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1423 Disposition of unclaimed bicycles.

Sec. 154-1423. - Disposition of unclaimed bicycles. All unclaimed, unidentified, or abandoned bicycles in the possession or custody of the department shall be held for a period of not less than 45 days. Storage fees may be assessed at a rate of up to $100.00 per day. Thereafter, such bicycles may be sold at a fair price or may be donated to a nonprofit organization or agency serving the children of the parish, as permitted by law. (Code 1956, § 38-212; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27900, § 1, 10-18-18; M.C.S., Ord. No. 29169, § 2, 10-6-22)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1424 Penalties.

Sec. 154-1424. - Penalties. Penalties for violations of this article shall be as provided in section 1-13 of the City Code. (Code 1956, § 38-213; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27900, § 1, 10-18-18)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1425 Rights and duties of electric-assisted bicycles.

Sec. 154-1425. - Rights and duties of electric-assisted bicycles. Except as otherwise provided in this Article, an electric-assisted bicycle or an operator of an electric-assisted bicycle shall be afforded all the rights and privileges, and be subject to all of the duties, of a bicycle or the operator of a bicycle. An electric-assisted bicycle is a vehicle to the same extent as a bicycle. (M.C.S., Ord. No. 28180, § 2, 9-5-19)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1426 Insurance, licensing, and registration.

Sec. 154-1426. - Insurance, licensing, and registration. An electric-assisted bicycle or a person operating an electric-assisted bicycle is not subject to the provisions of this Code relating to financial responsibility, driver's licenses, registration, certificates of title, off-highway vehicles and license plates. An electric-assisted bicycle is not a motor vehicle. (M.C.S., Ord. No. 28180, § 2, 9-5-19)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1427 Reserved.

New Orleans City Code § 154-1428 Tampering restriction.

Sec. 154-1428. - Tampering restriction. A person shall not tamper with or modify an electric-assisted bicycle so as to change the classification of an electric-assisted bicycle, unless they appropriately replace the manufacturer's label indicating the classification. (M.C.S., Ord. No. 28180, § 2, 9-5-19)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1429 CPSC compliance.

Sec. 154-1429. - CPSC compliance. An electric-assisted bicycle shall comply with the equipment and manufacturing requirements for bicycles adopted by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (16 C.F.R. part 1512). (M.C.S., Ord. No. 28180, § 2, 9-5-19)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1430 Motor disengagement.

Sec. 154-1430. - Motor disengagement. An electric-assisted bicycle shall operate in a manner so that the electric motor is disengaged or ceases to function when the rider stops pedaling or when the brakes are applied. (M.C.S., Ord. No. 28180, § 2, 9-5-19)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1431 Trail use by class 1 electric-assisted bicycles.

Sec. 154-1431. - Trail use by class 1 electric-assisted bicycles. A class 1 electric-assisted bicycle may be ridden on a bicycle or shared use trail where bicycles are permitted. (M.C.S., Ord. No. 28180, § 2, 9-5-19)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1432 Trail use by class 3 electric-assisted bicycles.

Sec. 154-1432. - Trail use by class 3 electric-assisted bicycles. A class 3 electric-assisted bicycle shall not be ridden on a bicycle or shared use trail. (M.C.S., Ord. No. 28180, § 2, 9-5-19)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1433 Age restriction.

Sec. 154-1433. - Age restriction. No person under the age of 16 may operate a class 3 electric-assisted bicycle. A person under the age of 16 may ride as a passenger on a class 3 electric-assisted bicycle that is designed to accommodate passengers. (M.C.S., Ord. No. 28180, § 2, 9-5-19)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1434 Helmet requirement.

Sec. 154-1434. - Helmet requirement. All operators and passengers of class 3 electric-assisted bicycles shall wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards provided by either the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission or the American Society for Testing and Materials, or standards subsequently established by those entities. (M.C.S., Ord. No. 28180, § 2, 9-5-19)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1435 Speedometer requirement.

Sec. 154-1435. - Speedometer requirement. All class 3 electric-assisted bicycles must be equipped with a speedometer that displays the speed the bicycle is traveling in miles per hour. (M.C.S., Ord. No. 28180, § 2, 9-5-19)

Source: City of New Orleans, Code of Ordinances and Home Rule Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/la/new_orleans/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH154TRVE_ARTXIIBIFetched: 10/28/2026