<div>Thank you for your reply.</div>
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<div>Given the definition of "highway" (49-109 H. (5) "Highway") to include sidewalks, all bicycles in operation on sidewalks in Moscow require a front light (and back reflector) between sunset and sunrise, as the code(s) you reference indicates, with exceptions for dim lighting conditions during the day (fog, dust, Mt. St. Helens eruption...)</div>
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<div>It seems wise for pedestrians, skateboarders (Amazingly, I passed one on the Latah Trail tonight miles from Moscow well past sundown, where the trail is quite dark, though there was some moonlight, who did have a light, as did I), roller skaters, rollerbladers, baby stroller runners, and just plain runners, to also carry lights on sidewalks and otherwise at night, given the potential for an accident. A fit runner can run 10-20 mph, even faster for sprinters, and thus may be moving faster than a slow bicyclist; thus for a runner the potential for an accident at a "drive-in," as those areas on sidewalks where motorized vehicles cross, to enter commercial establishments or residential locations, is in some cases just as great as for a bicyclist.</div>
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<div>Regarding twilight conditions, the code is clear that a front light and back reflector for bicyclists is required between sunset and sunrise. Thus technically, I assume, even if a great amount of daylight is present, immediately after sunset or before sunrise, not having a front light and back reflector on a bicycle in operation is a violation. </div>
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<div>But what if at twilight after sunrise or before sunset, a streetlight is clearly illuminating a sidewalk across a drive-in, making the activity at that location highly visible?</div>
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<div>Perhaps the law allows a driver of a motor vehicle in this "twilight" illuminated by a streetlight, to legally be exonerated regarding the clearly visible occupant(s) of a sidewalk/drive-in area, if an accident occurs involving a <strong><em>bicyclist</em></strong> without a front light and back reflector being struck crossing this sidewalk/drive-in area, as the vehicle is turning to cross the drive-in. How would this same situation apply to pedestrians and runners, skateboarders or rollerbladers? Would a driver of a motor vehicle at twilight but with streetlight illumination who struck a <em><strong>pedestrian or runner, crossing on a sidewalk drive-in, not carrying lights</strong>,</em> be legally responsible? Given my understanding, they would. In fact, unless I misunderstand the law, any motor vehicle entering a sidewalk/drive-in area must yield to any pedestrian or runner in the sidewalk/drive-in area, night or day, streetlight or not, whether the pedestrian or runner is carrying a light or not. Correct, or not? If correct, bicyclists are required to follow law regarding lighting at night that should, but does not apply to other forms of human transport.</div>
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<div>Perhaps the best assumption given the physics of motorized vehicles and bicycles and other non-motorized human transport, is to assume motorists cannot be trusted, period. The bicyclist should <strong><em>always</em></strong> yield to the motor vehicle, for maximum safety. Regardless of who is legally right or wrong, in the letter or the spirit of the law, the motorized vehicle will "win" in the infliction of injuries, when an accident occurs, given the laws of physics. </div>
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<div>How often is the cause of death on the highways a pedestrian, runner or bicyclist, skateboarder, rollerblader or roller skater?</div>
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<div>Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett <br> </div>
<div><span class="gmail_quote">On 1/22/10, <b class="gmail_sendername">Dan Weaver</b> <<a href="mailto:dweaver@ci.moscow.id.us">dweaver@ci.moscow.id.us</a>> wrote:</span>
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<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ted;</span></font></b></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Thank you for writing and bringing this issue to my attention. I will look into the situation and see if this is a communication breakdown between you and the officer or if the officer was in error in his advice to you. Either way I will address the situation to prevent further inaccuracies from occurring. I will attempt to address your questions below.</span></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">There is no provision in Moscow City Code to have lights on bicycles 24 hours a day. </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Generally officers use the Idaho State Code except in those cases where it is not applicable or is specific to City Code issues. State Codes which may be applicable are listed below and are noted in the last web site you posted below. Idaho Code 49-723 states that lights are required on bicycles as noted in Idaho Code 49-903. Idaho Code 49-903 states that lights are required from sunset to sunrise or at any other time when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet. The code tends to indicate if the lighting conditions are dim from anything which may include fog, smog, dust or smoke, or at twilight a person should have a light on. Therefore if conditions are not such that objects or persons can be discernible at 500 feet, a light is required which may mean anytime of the 24 hour clock. </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Your question regarding if lights are required on a sidewalk are addressed in Idaho Code 49-109 (H) (5) which is the definition of “Highway”. Since highway includes sidewalks, and since lights are required on highways, bicycles are required to have lights on sidewalks. Applicable codes are noted below. </span></font></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">49-723. LIGHT AND REFLECTOR REQUIRED AT NIGHT.</span></font></b><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br>
Every bicycle in use at the times described in section 49-903, Idaho Code, shall be operated with a light emitting device visible from a distance of at least five hundred (500) feet to the front, attached to the bicycle or the rider, and with a reflector clearly visible from the rear of the bicycle. </span></font></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">49-903. WHEN LIGHTED LAMPS ARE REQUIRED. </span></font></b><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br>
Every vehicle upon a highway at any time from sunset to sunrise and at any other time when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of five hundred (500) feet ahead shall display lighted lamps and illuminating devices as here respectively required for different classes of vehicles, subject to exceptions with respect to parked vehicles as stated herein. </span></font></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">49-109 H. (5) “Highway”</span></font></b></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">49-109 H.(5) “Highway” means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part is open to the use of the public for vehicular travel, with jurisdiction extending to the adjacent property line, including sidewalks, shoulders, berms and rights-of-way not intended for motorized traffic. The term “street” is interchangeable with highway. </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Please let me know if you have further questions and or suggestions regarding this situation.</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Thanks</span></font></p>
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<p><font face="Lucida Handwriting" color="navy" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Handwriting'">Dan Weaver</span></font></p>
<p><font face="Lucida Handwriting" color="navy" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Handwriting'">Chief of Police</span></font></p>
<p><font face="Lucida Handwriting" color="navy" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Handwriting'">City of Moscow</span></font></p>
<p><font face="Lucida Handwriting" color="navy" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Handwriting'">118 East 4th Street</span></font><font face="Lucida Handwriting" color="navy" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Handwriting'"></span></font></p>
<p><font face="Lucida Handwriting" color="navy" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Handwriting'">Moscow</span></font><font face="Lucida Handwriting" color="navy" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Handwriting'"> Idaho 83843</span></font><font face="Lucida Handwriting" color="navy" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Handwriting'"></span></font></p>
<p><font face="Lucida Handwriting" color="navy" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Handwriting'">(208) 882-2677</span></font></p></div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</span></font></b><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com" target="_blank">vision2020-bounces@moscow.com</a> [mailto:<a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com" target="_blank">vision2020-bounces@moscow.com</a>] <b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of </span></b>Ted Moffett<br>
<b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</span></b> Friday, January 22, 2010 1:44 PM<br><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</span></b> roger hayes; Dan Carscallen; Nancy Chaney; <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:pa@latah.id.us" target="_blank">pa@latah.id.us</a>; Lindsay McIntosh<br>
<b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Cc:</span></b> Moscow Vision 2020<br><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</span></b> [Vision2020] Moscow City Code Requires Bicycles In Operation ToHave Lights 24 Hours A Day?</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I was told today by a Moscow police officer that Moscow city code requires bicycles in operation to have lights 24 hours a day. I have never heard of this requirement, and so far, when checking Moscow city code that is available online, have not located such a code rule at the following websites, though it was updated 12/31/09, and if new code was adopted since then, the code showing may be inaccurate. If I missed where in the city code at the following websites it is stated that bicycles in operation must have lights 24 hours a day, perhaps someone can indicate where:</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.ci.moscow.id.us/citycode/index.asp" target="_blank">http://www.ci.moscow.id.us/citycode/index.asp</a></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.ci.moscow.id.us/citycode/TITLE11/toc.asp" target="_blank">http://www.ci.moscow.id.us/citycode/TITLE11/toc.asp</a></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.ci.moscow.id.us/citycode/TITLE11/chapter3.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.ci.moscow.id.us/citycode/TITLE11/chapter3.pdf</a></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.ci.moscow.id.us/citycode/TITLE11/chapter2.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.ci.moscow.id.us/citycode/TITLE11/chapter2.pdf</a></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Otherwise, does anyone have information regarding other websites that might contain the Moscow city code for bicycles regarding a requirement that bicycles in operation must have lights 24 hours a day. Or is this particular Moscow code rule not on the Internet?</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The Idaho code for bicycles, at the website below, states bicycles on the highway must have a front light from sunset to sunrise, with some exceptions. It does not appear to specifically address, as far as I could determine, whether bicycles operated on sidewalks must have a light in front at night:</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.lostrivercycling.org/idcode.html" target="_blank">http://www.lostrivercycling.org/idcode.html</a></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett</span></font></p></div></span></div></div></div></blockquote></div><br>