Title
Ordinance amending and supplementing the Pittsburgh City Code, Title Four: Public Places and Property, Article XI: Parks and Playgrounds, Chapter 473: Use Regulations, Section 473.03: Traffic.
Body
Whereas, many of the roads that go through the major and regional parks in the City of Pittsburgh lack sidewalks and are shared by both pedestrians and vehicles; and
Whereas, the current speed limit on these park roads is 25 miles per hour; and
Whereas, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the average risk of a severe injury for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle is 25% at 23 miles per hour and 50% at 31 miles per hour, but drops down to 10% at an impact speed of 16 miles per hour; and
Whereas, under Section 6109(a)(5) of Title 75 of the Consolidated Statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 75 Pa.C.S. § 6109(a)(5), the City of Pittsburgh is empowered through its police powers to enact an ordinance that reduces the speed limit on roads within a public park in order to enhance the safety of the citizens of Pittsburgh; and
Whereas, under 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 3362-3363, the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure has the authority to determine the maximum speed limit within a public park, upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation, if it determines that the new speed limit is reasonable and safe under the conditions found to exist upon the park road(s).
Now, therefore, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Pittsburgh City Code, Title Four: Public Places and Property, Article XI: Parks and Playgrounds, Chapter 473: Use Regulations, Section 473.03: Traffic, is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:
§ 473.03 - TRAFFIC.
a) Speed of vehicles. No person in a park shall ride or drive a vehicle at a rate of speed exceeding fifteen (15) miles per hour, except upon the roads as the Director of Mobility and Infrastructure may designate by posted signs.
a. When no speed limit is posted for a park road, no person in a park shall ride or drive a vehicle at a rate of speed exceeding fifteen (15) miles per hour.
b. Subject to 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 3362-3363, the Director of Mobility and Infrastructure may determine speed limits within a park, upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation.
b) Vehicles confined to roads. No person in a park or in a greenway shall drive any vehicle on any area except the paved park roads or paved greenway roads or parking areas, or such other areas as may on occasion be specifically designated as temporary parking areas by the Director. For purposes of this Section, the definition of vehicle shall include but not be limited to an automobile, truck, all-terrain vehicle ("ATV"), quad, motorcycle, motorbike, or motorized dirt bike.
c) Weight restrictions. No operator of any vehicle with a registered gross weight in excess of nine thousand (9,000) pounds shall pass through the parks except on such roads or highways as are designated by the Director.
d) Commercial vehicles. No operator of any vehicle bearing commercial advertisement or business designation shall pass through the parks except on such roads or highways as are designated by the Director.
e) Bicycles. No person in a park shall ride a bicycle on other than a paved vehicular road, wooded trail, or path designated for that purpose. A bicyclist is permitted to wheel or push a bicycle by hand over any grassy area or on any paved area reserved for pedestrian use.
Parking lots in City parks. Unless otherwise marked or metered, parking lots in City parks are reserved for the sole use of park patrons during open park hours; parking during closed park hours, overnight parking, residential, and commuter parking in such lots is otherwise prohibited. Time limits on the duration of parking for patrons shall be posted where applicable. Permission for emergency parking for non-park purposes must be granted in writing by the Director of Parks and Recreation.