Description

The following ordinance is not being enforced and the use of bicycles, skateboards and rollerblades has increased dramatically on the downtown sidewalks, specifically, Michigan Avenue. The city needs to install signage in each of the downtown blocks and in both directions. Notices should then be made available and published in the AdVisor as well as in the monthly city newsletter. Not against bicycle riding, rollerblading or skateboarding. However, shoppers and pedestrians on Michigan Ave. are at risk of being hit and injured because a large majority of those using bicycles, etc., are also concentrating more on what they are doing on their cell phones than paying attention to pedestrian traffic.

Bookmark§ 70.013 BICYCLES.
(A) The hands of the operator of a bicycle shall be on the handle bars at all times, except when he or she is in the act of signaling. (Prior Code, § 75.30)
(B) No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing. (Prior Code, § 75.31)
(C) Riding on Sidewalks or Certain Streets Generally.
(1) No person shall ride any bicycle upon any sidewalk, part of sidewalk or street where signs have been erected prohibiting bicycle riding. Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, the person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian.
(2) No person shall ride a bicycle, unicycle, tricycle, skateboard , roller blades, roller skates or similar device upon any sidewalk adjacent to Michigan Avenue between Grand Street and Exchange Street at any time, nor on any sidewalk in any city park adjacent to Michigan Avenue including, but not limited to Carver and Brooks Memorial Parks, at any time, nor shall any person under the age of 12 years of age ride a bicycle in the street on Michigan Avenue between Grand Street and Exchange Street; provided, however, that, the person may ride across Michigan Avenue where it intersects with Grand, Eagle, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton, High or Exchange Streets; nor shall any person ride a skateboard or other similar device on city-owned parking Lot No. 2 (also called Myers' Lot) or city-owned parking Lot No. 10 (also called Schuler's Lot) or city owned alleyways, at any time; nor shall any person, except on Sundays and legal holidays, ride a skateboard or similar device on any other city-owned parking lot between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. daily, except Fridays, which activity is prohibited between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. (Prior Code, § 75.35)