APPENDIX D – STANDARD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE (2024, as amended by Ord. 3222)APPENDIX D – STANDARD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE (2024, as amended by Ord. 3222)\ARTICLE 16. SPECIAL RULES FOR MOTORCYCLES

Every person operating a motorcycle shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under this ordinance, except as provided in Section 138 to 142, inclusive, and except as to those provisions of this ordinance which by their nature can have no application.

(K.S.A. 8-1593)

(a)   A person operating a motorcycle shall ride only upon the permanent and regular seat attached thereto, and such operator shall not carry any other person nor shall any other person ride on a motorcycle, unless such motorcycle is designed to carry more than one person, in which event a passenger may ride upon the permanent and regular seat if designed for two persons, or upon another seat firmly attached to the motorcycle at the rear or side of the operator.

(b)   A person shall ride upon a motorcycle only while sitting astride the seat, facing forward, with one leg on each side of the motorcycle. This subsection shall not apply to any person riding within an autocycle.

(c)   No person shall operate a motorcycle while carrying any package, bundle or other article which prevents such person from keeping both hands on the handlebars.

(d)   No operator shall carry any person, nor shall any person ride, in a position that will interfere with the operation or control of the motorcycle or the view of the operator.

(K.S.A. 8-1594)

(a)   All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane and no motor vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane. This subsection shall not apply to motorcycles operated two abreast in a single lane.

(b)   The operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken.

(c)   No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.

(d)   Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane.

(e)   Subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply to police officers in the performance of their official duties.

(K.S.A. 8-1595)

No person riding upon a motorcycle shall attach himself, herself or the motorcycle to any other vehicle on a roadway.

(K.S.A. 8-1596)

A motorcycle carrying a passenger, other than in a sidecar or enclosed cab, shall be equipped with a seat and footrests for such passenger.

(K.S.A. Supp. 8-1597)

(a)   No person under the age of 18 years shall operate or ride upon a motorcycle or a motorized bicycle unless wearing a helmet which complies with minimum guidelines established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration pursuant to the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 for helmets designed for use by motorcyclists and other motor vehicle users.

(b)   No person shall allow or permit any person under the age of 18 years to:

(1)   Operate a motorcycle or motorized bicycle or to ride as a passenger upon a motorcycle or motorized bicycle without being in compliance with the provisions of subsection (a); or

(2)   Operate a motorcycle or to ride as a passenger upon a motorcycle without being in compliance with the provisions of subsection (c).

(c)   (1) No person shall operate a motorcycle unless he or she is wearing an eye-protective device which shall consist of protective glasses, goggles or transparent face shields which are shatter proof and impact resistant, except when the motorcycle is equipped with a windscreen which has a minimum height of 10 inches measured from the center of the handlebars.

(2) No person under the age of 18 years shall ride as a passenger on a motorcycle unless such person is wearing an eye-protective device which shall consist of protective glasses, goggles or transparent face shields which are shatter proof and impact resistant.

(d)   This section shall not apply to persons riding within an enclosed cab, an autocycle, or on a golf cart, nor shall it apply to any person operating or riding any industrial or cargo-type vehicle having three wheels and commonly known as a truckster.

(K.S.A. Supp. 8-1598)

Ref.: Motorcycle Equipment, Article 18.