Request for Ordinance Modification- City Code 7-7-6 Bicycle Lighting RequirementsCity of Dubuque
City Council
ACTION ITEMS # 5.
Copyrighted
November 17, 2025
ITEM TITLE: Request for Ordinance Modification- City Code 7-7-6 Bicycle
Lighting Requirements
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council approve the
amendment to City of Dubuque Code 7-7-6, which currently
limits bicycle lighting requirements to use on public streets.
The proposed change seeks to extend these requirements to
include sidewalks, parks, and trails to enhance public safety
for both bicyclists and pedestrians.
ORDINANCE Amending City Of Dubuque Code Of
Ordinances Title 7 Police, Fire, And Public Safety, Chapter 7
Bicycles, Section 6 Equipment
SUGGUESTED Receive and File; Motion B; Motion A
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. MVM Memo
2. Staff Memo Request for Ordinance Modification City Code 7-7-6 Bicycle Lighting
Requirements
3. Ordinance
Page 711 of 750
Dubuque
THE CITY OF
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Request for Ordinance Modification- City Code 7-7-6 Bicycle Lighting
Requirements
DATE: November 7, 2025
Chief of Police Jeremy Jensen is recommending City Council approve the amendment
to City of Dubuque Code 7-7-6, which currently limits bicycle lighting requirements to
use on public streets. The proposed change seeks to extend these requirements to
include sidewalks, parks, and trails to enhance public safety for both bicyclists and
pedestrians.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
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Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Jeremy Jensen, Chief of Police
Page 712 of 750
Police Department
Dubuque
Dubuque Law Enforcement Center
THE CF
770 Iowa Street
All -America City
E 1 I 1
DUjB
P.O. Box 875
Dubuque, 5
I 11.
9-4410875
Office (563) 589-4410
3)
2007-2012.2013
Fax (563) 589-4497
Masterpiece On the MISSISSippi 2017*2019
TTY (563) 583-1711
E-mail: police@cityofdubuque.org
www.cityofdubuque.org
November 5, 2025
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
FR: Jeremy Jensen
Chief of Police
RE: Request for Ordinance Modification- City Code 7-7-6 Bicycle Lighting
Requirements
Purpose
This memo outlines the rationale for a proposed amendment to City of Dubuque Code
7-7-6, which currently limits bicycle lighting requirements to use on public streets. The
proposed change seeks to extend these requirements to include sidewalks, parks, and
trails to enhance public safety for both bicyclists and pedestrians.
Background
The current language in City Code 7-7-6 mandates lighting on bicycles only when
operated on public roadways. This provision was originally intended to ensure visibility
of bicyclists to motor vehicles. However, this limitation has created a safety gap in areas
where bicycles are commonly used off -street —such as sidewalks, multi -use trails, and
park paths —especially during low -light conditions.
Following an inquiry by Cpl. Jordan Waddick and a review by City Legal, it was
confirmed that the City has the authority to expand the ordinance. Research also
indicates that many peer cities in Iowa have broader lighting requirements for bicycles in
non -roadway environments.
Discussion
Pedestrian Safety: Unlit bicycles on sidewalks and trails pose a collision risk to
pedestrians, particularly at night or in low -visibility conditions.
Consistency: Aligning lighting requirements across all public spaces ensures
uniform enforcement and public understanding.
Legal Support: The City Attorney's Office has reviewed and approved the
proposed ordinance language for Council consideration.
1 of 3
Page 713 of 750
Recommendation
Review and adopt the modification to the ordinance.
Cc Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
2of3
Page 714 of 750
Prepared by: Crenna M. Brumwell, Esq. 300 Main Street Suite 330 Dubuque IA 52001 563 589-4381
ORDINANCE NO. 43 - 25
AMENDING CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF ORDINANCES TITLE 7 POLICE, FIRE,
AND PUBLIC SAFETY, CHAPTER 7 BICYCLES, SECTION 6 EQUIPMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. Section 7-7-6 of the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances is hereby
amended to read as follows:
7-7-6: EQUIPMENT:
A. Each bicycle, when in use on the streets, sidewalks, highways, parks, or multi -use
trails of the city between sunset to sunrise, and at such other times when conditions
such as fog, snow, sleet, or rain provide insufficient lighting to render clearly discernible
persons and vehicles at a distance of five hundred feet (500') ahead, shall be equipped
with a lamp on the front exhibiting a white light visible from at least three hundred feet
(300') to the front and with a lamp on the rear exhibiting a red light visible from a
distance of three hundred feet (300') to the rear; except that a red reflector of a type
approved by the United States consumer products safety commission may be used in
lieu of a rear light. Other lamps are permissible if no red light is directed towards the
front, nor white light to the rear.
B. The use of sirens or whistles on a bicycle is prohibited.
C. No person shall drive a bicycle unless it is equipped with a functional brake.
Unicycles are exempt from the brake requirement.
D. A person propelling a bicycle on the streets, sidewalks, highways, parks, or multi-
use trails of the city shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular
seat attached to the bicycle.
E. Each bicycle driven along the streets, sidewalks, highways, parks, or multi -use
trails of the city shall have such other equipment, and the equipment shall be in such
condition, as will allow it to be operated safely.
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect upon publication.
Passed, approved, and adopted this 1711 day of November, 2025.
Brad M. Cav , Mayor
Attest: f
Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
EFFECT OF AMENDMENT
7-7-6: EQUIPMENT:
A. Each bicycle, when in use on the streets, sidewalks, highways, parks, or multi -use
trails of the city at aRy from sunset to sunrise, and at such other times
when conditions such as fog, snow, sleet, or rain provide insufficient lighting to render
clearly discernible persons and vehicles at a distance of five hundred feet (500') ahead,
shall be equipped with a lamp on the front exhibiting a white light visible from at least
three hundred feet (300') to the front and with a lamp on the rear exhibiting a red light
visible from a distance of three hundred feet (300') to the rear; except that a red reflector
of a type approved by the United States consumer products safety commission may be
used in lieu of a rear light. Other lamps are permissible if no red light is directed towards
the front, nor white light to the rear.
B. The use of sirens or whistles on a bicycle is prohibited.
C. No person shall drive a bicycle unless it is equipped with a functional brake.
Unicycles are exempt from the brake requirement.
D. A person propelling a bicycle on the streets, sidewalks, highways, parks, or multi-
use trails of the city shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular
seat attached to the bicycle.
E. Each bicycle driven along the streets, sidewalks, highways, parks, or multi -use
trails of the city shall have such other equipment, and the equipment shall be in such
condition, as will allow it to be operated safely.
Page 717 of 750
STATE OF IOWA SS:
DUBUQUE COUNTY
CERTIFICATE OF PUBLICATION
I, Kathy Goetzinger, a Billing Clerk for Woodward
Communications, Inc., an Iowa corporation, publisher
of the Telegraph Herald, a newspaper of general
circulation published in the City of Dubuque, County
of Dubuque and State of Iowa; hereby certify that the
attached notice was published in said newspaper on the
following dates:
11/21/2025
and for which the charge is 16.21
-6a-4
Subscribed to before me, a Notary Public in and for
Dubuque County, Iowa,
this 21st day of November, 2025
Notary Pubn and for Dubuque County, Iowa.
JAG E1 K. PAP
y Commission Number 199659
My r _
mmission Expires
12/11/2025
Ad text :
CITY OF DUBUQUE
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
ORDINANCE NO. 43 25
SUMMARY
THE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION OF THE ORDINANCE IS A SUMMARY. THE
ORDINANCE IN ITS ENTIRETY IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY
CLERK, 50 W. 13TH STREET, DUBUQUE AND MAY BE VIEWED DURING
NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS OF 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM MONDAY TO FRIDAY.
AMENDING CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF ORDINANCES TITLE 7 POLICE,
FIRE, AND PUBLIC SAFETY, CHAPTER 7 BICYCLES, SECTION 6
EQUIPMENT
The ordinance amends Section 7-7-6 of the City of Dubuque
Code of Ordinances to extend bicycle lighting requirements to
include sidewalks, parks, and trails.
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect upon
publication.
Passed, approved, and adopted this 17th day of November,
2025.
/s/Brad M. Cavanagh, Mayor
Attest: /s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
Published officially in the Telegraph Herald newspaper on
the 21st day of November, 2025.
/s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
It 11/21