Definitions.
Omaha Municipal Code § 36-2
in effectSec. 36-2. - Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them, as follows:
Access aisle: That portion of a designated handicap parking area marked by horizontal, vertical, or diagonal striping or in any other conspicuous manner to allow the egress and ingress to a motor vehicle parked in the handicap parking area.
Alley: A highway intended to provide access to the rear or side of lots or buildings in urban districts and not intended for the purpose of through vehicular traffic.
Authorized emergency vehicle: Such fire department vehicles, police vehicles, and ambulances as are publicly owned.
Bicycle: Every device propelled solely by human power upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels either of which is more than 14 inches in diameter.
Bicycle lane: A bicycle lane is a portion of the roadway that has been designated by striping, signage, and/or pavement markings for the preferential or exclusive use of bicyclists.
Boulevard: A street for noncommercial traffic, with full or partial control of access, usually located within a park or a ribbon of park-like development.
Bus: A passenger-carrying motor vehicle licensed as a bus.
Bus stop: A space adjacent to the curb reserved for the use of buses during the loading and unloading of passengers.
Congested traffic district: All that portion of the city lying east of the west curbline of 24th Street between the north curbline of Cuming Street and the south curbline of Leavenworth Street; Military Avenue from the west curbline of 56th Street, west to the intersection with Maple Street, then northwest on Military Avenue to the north curb of Bedford Avenue; Maple Street from the intersection with Military Avenue at 61st Street west to the west curbline of 63rd Street; all that portion of the city lying south of the north curbline of L Street, east of the west curbline of 27th Street, west of the east curbline of 24th Street; and 24th Street from L Street south to the north curbline of Z Street.
Connecting link: The roads, streets and highways designated as part of the highway system and which are within the corporate limits of the city.
Cross walk:
(a) That part of a roadway at an intersection included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of such roadway measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edge of the roadway; or
(b) Any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly designated by competent authority and marked for pedestrian crossing by lines, signs, or other devices.
Daytime: That period of time between sunrise and sunset.
Divided highway: A highway with separated roadways for traffic in opposite directions.
Expressway: Any street having full or limited control of access and designated by official traffic signs as an expressway, a freeway or an interstate highway.
Freeway: A divided highway designed primarily for through traffic with full control of access and with grade separations at all intersecting road crossings, including all interchanges and approach and exit roads thereto.
Freight loading zone: A space adjacent to the curb for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of merchandise, materials or passengers.
Highway: The entire width between the boundary limits of any street, road, avenue, boulevard or way which is publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
Intersection: The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curblines or, if there are no lateral curblines, then the lateral boundary lines of the roadways, of two or more roadways which join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the area within which vehicles traveling upon different roadways joining at any other angle may come in conflict; provided that, where a highway includes two roadways 30 feet or more apart, then every crossing of each roadway of such divided highway by an intersecting highway shall be regarded as a separate intersection. In the event such intersecting highway also includes two roadways 30 feet or more apart, then every crossing of two roadways of such highways shall be regarded as a separate intersection. The junction of an alley with a highway shall not constitute an intersection.
Laned roadway: A roadway which is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.
Median: That part of a divided highway, such as a physical barrier or clearly indicated dividing section or space, so constructed as to impede vehicular traffic across or within such barrier, section, or space, or to divide such highway into two roadways for vehicular travel in opposite directions.
Median crossover: A connection between roadways of a divided highway the use of which may permit a vehicle to reverse its direction by continuously moving forward.
Median opening: A gap in a median provided for crossing and turning traffic.
Motor vehicle: Every self-propelled land vehicle not operated upon rails, except mopeds and self-propelled invalid chairs.
Motor-driven cycle: Every motorcycle, including every motor scooter, with a motor which produces not to exceed five brake horsepower, as measured at the drive shaft, mopeds, and every bicycle with motor attached.
Motorized scooter: A device with an electric motor designed to transport only one person with at least two wheels in contact with the ground, propelled or with the capability to propel exclusively or in combination with the application of human power and which cannot attain a speed of more than 15 miles per hour on a paved level surface without the application of human power.
Nighttime: That period of time between sunset and sunrise.
Official time standard: Whenever certain hours are named in this chapter, they shall mean standard time or daylight saving time as may be in current use in this city.
Official traffic control devices: All signs, signals, markings and devices, not inconsistent with this chapter, placed or erected by authority of the city for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic.
One-way street: A street on which official traffic control devices are posted to indicate that vehicles are permitted to move in one direction only.
Operator or driver: Any person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
Park or parking: The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers.
Parking limit zones: A space adjacent to a curb in which vehicles may be parked for a period no longer than the time indicated on the sign.
Parking meter: A mechanical device located at or near the curb or curbline, alongside of a parking space in the street or public way, or located alongside a parking space in an off-street parking area as designated in section 36-211, with a coin receptacle and so constructed as to register the time a vehicle is parked in such space.
Passenger car: Any motor vehicle, except motorcycles and motor-driven cycles, designed for carrying ten passengers or less and used primarily for the transportation of persons.
Passenger loading zone: A space adjacent to the curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the expeditious loading or unloading of passengers.
Pedestrian: Any person afoot.
Period of insufficient light: Nighttime and all other times when atmospheric conditions are such that there is insufficient light to reveal a person or an object of comparable size or larger at a distance of 1,000 feet.
Person: Every natural person, firm, partnership, association or corporation.
Police officer: Any officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations.
Private road or driveway: Every way or place in private ownership and used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other persons.
Public works director: The director of the public works department of the city.
Right-of-way: The right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful manner in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian approaching under such circumstances of direction, speed and proximity as to give rise to danger of collision unless one grants precedence to the other.
Roadway: That portion of a highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder. If a highway includes two or more separate roadways, the term "roadway" shall refer to any such roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively.
Sidewalk: That part of the street right-of-way between the curb and the adjacent property line, or, where no curb exists, that part of the street right-of-way between the lateral line of the right-of-way improved for vehicle use and the adjacent property line.
Snowmobile: A self-propelled motor vehicle designed to travel on snow or ice or a natural terrain steered by wheels, skis or runners and propelled by a belt-driven track with or without steel cleats.
Stop: When required, a complete cessation of movement.
Stop or stopping: When prohibited, any halting even momentarily of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-control device.
Street: A public way for the purpose of vehicular and pedestrian travel in the city, and shall include the entire area within the right-of-way.
Taxicab: A motor vehicle with a permit from the state railway commission to operate as a taxicab, and which complies with chapter 38 of this Code.
Taxicab stand: A space adjacent to the curb or a street or elsewhere, which has been designated and reserved exclusively for the use of taxicabs.
Traffic: Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, and vehicles and other conveyances either singly or together while using any highway for purposes of travel.
Traffic control device: Any sign, signal, marking or other device not inconsistent with R.R.S. 1943, §§ 39-601—39-6,122, placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic.
Traffic control signal: Any signal, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and permitted to proceed.
Trailer: Any vehicle, with or without motive power, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.
Truck: Any motor vehicle designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.
Truck loading zone: A space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of trucks during the loading or unloading of freight, materials, goods, wares, merchandise or things.
Truck-tractor: Any motor vehicle designed and primarily used for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn.
Vehicle: Every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices moved solely by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
(Code 1980, § 36-2; Ord. No. 33786, § 1, 1-9-96; Ord. No. 34461, § 1, 1-27-98; Ord. No. 42051, § 1, 11-26-19; Ord. No. 42240, § 2, 6-9-20)
Source: City of Omaha, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ne/omaha/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIMUCO_CH36TR_ARTIINGE_S36-2DEFetched: 10/28/2026