HUMAN-POWERED AND ANIMAL-DRAWN VEHICLES

Las Vegas Municipal Code tit. 11, ch. 11.39

in effect

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 11.39.010 Legislative determination.

11.39.010 - Legislative determination. The City Council declares as a matter of legislative determination that: (A) The growth of Las Vegas and the continuing expansion of hotels, casinos and other businesses in downtown Las Vegas are drawing increasing numbers of pedestrians and vehicles to the downtown area. (B) Because of the influx of pedestrians and motor vehicles, the streets are becoming more congested. In this context, the introduction of slower-moving vehicles such as animal-drawn vehicles, pedicabs, and pedalbuses into downtown traffic poses unacceptable hazards to those persons using the streets downtown. (C) In hearings conducted regarding the use of such vehicles, the predecessor to the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada acknowledged the authority of the City to regulate the use of its streets for the public safety and welfare. (D) The regulations contained in this Chapter are necessary for the public safety and welfare. (Ord. No. 6555, § 3, 11-2-16; Ord. No. 6326, § 25, 6-18-14; Ord. 3317 §§ 1 (part), 2, 1987)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 11.39.020 Definitions.

11.39.020 - Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms and words used in this chapter shall have the meaning ascribed to them in Chapter 11.02 of this Title and in this Section: (A) "Bicycle" means a device propelled by human power upon which a person may ride, having two tandem wheels, either of which is over fourteen inches in diameter, or every such device generally recognized as a bicycle, though equipped with two front or two rear wheels, except a moped. (B) "Pedicab" means a three-wheeled bicycle that is: (1) Moved solely by the muscle power of the operator or with the assistance of an electric motor; and (2) Capable of transporting up to four passengers plus the operator. (C) "Pedalbus" means a four-wheeled bicycle that is: (1) Capable of transporting five or more passengers; (2) Steered by an operator who is not a passenger; and (3) Powered by more than one person, whether operator or passenger, and with the optional assistance of an electric motor. (Ord. No. 6803, § 5, 1-19-22; Ord. No. 6555, § 4, 11-2-16; Ord. 3317 §§ 1 (part), 3—6, 1987)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 11.39.030 Restricted area—Designated.

11.39.030 - Restricted area—Designated. It is unlawful for any person, unless exempted by Section 11.39.040 or by specific action of the City Council, to operate, drive or propel an animal-drawn vehicle, pedicab or pedalbus on public streets beyond the boundaries of the area designated as the Central Traffic District. (Ord. No. 6555, § 5, 11-2-16; Ord. 5972 § 12, 2008: Ord. 3317 §§ 1 (part), 7, 1987)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 11.39.040 Restricted area—Exemptions.

11.39.040 - Restricted area—Exemptions. The following persons are exempt from the restriction of Section 11.39.030: (A) Persons riding bicycles and not carrying passengers for hire; and (B) Persons operating, driving or propelling animal-drawn vehicles in any parade for which a permit has been issued pursuant to this Title. (Ord. No. 6555, § 3, 11-2-16; Ord. 3317 §§ 1 (part), 8, 1987)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 11.39.050 Routes.

11.39.050 - Routes. Routes for the operation of animal-drawn vehicles may be established on public streets subject to the provisions of Section 11.39.030 of this Chapter and the following restrictions: (A) A vehicle subject to this Chapter shall be operated only upon the routes approved by the City Council upon the recommendation of the Traffic and Parking Commission and pursuant to time schedules approved by the Traffic and Parking Commission. (B) The City Traffic Engineer may reject any proposed route or time schedule that would present a hazard to the public health, safety or welfare, or interfere with the safe and efficient operation of vehicular traffic on any public street. (C) The Traffic and Parking Commission shall review annually all routes approved pursuant to this Section in light of changed conditions on those routes that affect the public health, safety or welfare, or the safe and efficient operation of vehicular traffic on the affected public streets. (1) If the operating conditions on a given route have not changed so as to adversely affect the public health, safety or welfare, or the safe and efficient operation of vehicular traffic on the affected public streets, the Commission shall recommend that the City Council approve the licensee's use of those routes for the following year. (2) If the operating conditions on a given route have changed to as to adversely affect the public health, safety or welfare, or the safe and efficient operation of vehicular traffic on the affected public streets on a continuing basis, the Commission shall recommend that the City Council prohibit the licensee's use of that portion of the route so affected. (D) Any route or time schedule approved pursuant to this Chapter shall be subject to the right of the City to prohibit or suspend the use of the City streets by the licensee when such operation would pose an immediate hazard to the safety requirements of the public or interfere with special events approved by the City. (E) Modifications to the approved route and time schedule may be issued by the Traffic Engineer to the licensee for special purposes for a period not to exceed ten days. Permanent modifications to the approved route and time schedule must be approved by the Traffic and Parking Commission. Said modifications shall be subject to approval by any other regulatory agency having jurisdiction over the licensee, such as the Public Service Commission. (Ord. No. 6555, § 7, 11-2-16; Ord. 3317 §§ 1 (part), 9, 1987)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 11.39.055 Pedicabs and pedalbuses.

11.39.055 - Pedicabs and pedalbuses. A person may operate a pedicab or pedalbus on any public street within the Central Traffic District, except as otherwise follows: (A) Pedicabs and pedalbuses shall only operate upon those streets, and during the days and times as indicated by the appropriate restrictions map produced by the Department of Public Works. The restrictions indicated by such maps shall conform initially with the Pedicab Restrictions Map and Pedalbus Restrictions Map provided as attachments to Ordinance No. 6555. Such maps, and the restrictions indicated may be amended by resolution of the City Council, after receiving a recommendation from the Traffic and Parking Commission to take such actions, in conformance with Subsection B of this Section. (B) Upon the request of the Traffic Engineer, the Traffic and Parking Commission shall review the boundaries of the Central Traffic District, the prohibited streets, the restricted streets, or hours of restriction in light of changed conditions on those routes that affect the public health, safety or welfare, or the safe and efficient operation of vehicular traffic on the affected public streets. If the operating conditions within the Central Traffic District have changed as to adversely affect the public health, safety or welfare, or the safe and efficient operation of vehicular traffic on a continuing basis, the Commission shall recommend to the City Council modifications to the Central Traffic District boundaries, the prohibited streets, the restricted streets or hours of restriction. (C) The City may prohibit or suspend the use of the public streets by an operator of a pedicab or pedalbus when such operation would pose a hazard to the public or interfere with special events approved by the City. Except for emergency declarations, the Traffic Engineer shall endeavor to provide seventy-two hours' notice of a prohibition or suspension to such operators, and such prohibition or modification shall not exceed sixty days without another notice of prohibition or suspension from the Traffic Engineer. (Ord. No. 6555, § 8, 11-2-16)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 11.39.060 Operation restrictions.

11.39.060 - Operation restrictions. Pedicabs, pedalbuses and animal-drawn vehicles may be operated within the Central Traffic District, subject to the following restrictions: (A) Animal-Drawn Vehicles. (1) The vehicles shall pick up, and discharge passengers only at designated stands approved by the Traffic and Parking Commission. (2) The vehicles shall park only in designated stands approved by the Traffic and Parking Commission. (3) Except when making left turns, the vehicles shall be operated only in the traffic lane nearest the curb on any public street and the driver shall obey all applicable State and local traffic laws, ordinances and regulations. (B) Pedicabs. (1) Loading and Unloading Passengers. A pedicab shall only remain standing upon a public street provided that such pedicab is located within a legal, metered parking space and only for the time required to load or unload passengers not to exceed three minutes, or if parked in conformance with this Section as provided herein. Notwithstanding any provision of the Code to the contrary, if the operator of a pedicab is actively loading or unloading passengers as provided above within a legal, metered parking space, activation of the parking meter for such space pursuant to LVMC Chapter 11.54 not required. Pedicabs shall not stand in any designated loading zone at any time for any reason. (2) Parking. (a) If a pedicab is standing in a legal, metered parking space, but not actively loading or unloading passengers, the operator of that pedicab shall immediately activate the meter for such space as required by LVMC Chapter 11.54, unless that specific pedicab is the subject of a space rental agreement with the Parking Services Division for that specified parking space. (b) A pedicab shall not park in a designated loading zone at any time for any reason. (c) Notwithstanding Subparagraph (a), above, a pedicab is prohibited from parking or standing for any amount of time in specially-designated spaces by the City, such as designated spaces for animal-drawn carriages, taxicabs, busses, and handicapped individuals, except and unless the pedicab operator has executed a space rental agreement designating a specific parking space or spaces for specified pedicabs with the Parking Services Division. (C) Pedalbuses. Pedalbuses shall not park or remain standing upon any public street for any reason, unless the pedalbus is wholly-contained within an activated, metered parking space or spaces, or is parking or standing in a parking space that is the subject of a space rental agreement with the Parking Services Division for that specified pedalbus. (D) Pedicabs and Pedalbuses. Pedicabs and pedalbuses that are moved with the assistance of an electric motor on any public street within the Central Traffic District shall not operate at a speed exceeding the speed limit posted on that street for motor vehicle traffic. (Ord. No. 6803, § 6, 1-19-22; Ord. No. 6555, § 9, 11-2-16; Ord. 3317 §§ 1 (part), 10, 1987)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 11.39.070 Council authority over Commission actions.

11.39.070 - Council authority over Commission actions. There is reserved to the City Council the power to reverse, modify or confirm any action of the Traffic and Parking Commission under this Chapter if any member of the City Council makes a request to review the decision to the Secretary of the Traffic and Parking Commission within fourteen days of the date of the decision of the Traffic and Parking Commission. If any member of the City Council makes such a request, the matter shall be placed on the agenda for the next meeting of the City Council and the decision of the Traffic and Parking Commission shall be stayed until the City Council has acted on the matter. (Ord. 3317 §§ 1 (part), 11, 1987)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 11.39.080 Requirements.

11.39.080 - Requirements. Before operating any pedicab or pedalbus, whether or not equipped with motorized assistance, the operator must: (A) Comply with applicable licensing requirements under LVMC Chapter 6.63; and (B) Obtain the approval of all State agencies, if any, which may have jurisdiction over the operation of pedicabs or pedalbuses on public streets, including but not necessarily limited to, the Nevada Transportation Authority. (Ord. No. 6803, § 7, 1-19-22)

Source: City of Las Vegas, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nv/las_vegas/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT11VETR_CH11.39HUWEANAWVEFetched: 10/28/2026