Stupid Law Bans Bicycles from Parks and Playgrounds
As other cities across the globe are progressing in awareness, recognition and access of bicycle riding for transportation and recreation, the city of Alameda is has come up with a flat tire. Their proposed municipal code states:
23-1.3 Riding of Bicycles and Skateboards in Parks, Etc. It shall be unlawful unless otherwise posted for any person to operate or ride a bicycle, or skateboard, propelled wholly or in part by muscular power within or upon any public park, playground, or school property in the City or parking lot, parking structure owned or leased by the City, except that a person may ride a bicycle to and from bicycle racks or lockers provided within any City parking lot or parking structure.
The current code isn't much better, though,
It shall be unlawful when and where posted for any person to operate or ride a bicycle, or skateboard, propelled wholly or in part by muscular power, in or upon any public park, playground or school property in the City.
The proposed one states it is unlawful across the board unless there is a sign that says it's ok, but allows for leniency for riding your bike to the bike rack. The old one says that if there is anti-bicycle sign then you can't ride there for sure. It sounds like these laws just based on insurance liability issues, as it goes on to regulate the use of protective gear while riding your bike, in-line skating and skateboarding.
How much money do you think the city is going to spend putting up signs that say it is ok for you and your kids to ride your bike here, and here and here? My guess is none, and if so, couldn't the money be better spent actually building a better bike plan? How much money will be spent on enforcement? Way more than on making streets safer for bikes. Where are your kids safer learning how to ride their bike, in the street with traffic, or in a public park or playground?
Sounds like this ordinance might have been dashed off in a hurry to keep the kids with skateboards away from a parking garage, but to try lump all the issues together into one broad ordinance is not going to cut it. It seems like a lazy way of dealing with an issue the City of Alameda doesn't care about very much. And if this ordinance goes off without a hitch, then what's next? Back to the drawing board. You must absolutely read this blog to see the frameset of mind these people are in. In the city council meeting they went as far as to talk about deputizing teenagers to give them the authority to go and write tickets on fellow citizens breaking the ordinance!
The squeaky wheel gets the grease:
Alameda city council members, Send an email to: lstoker@ci.alameda.ca.us
Write letters to the Alameda Journal
Alameda council needs to backtrack on bike, skateboard ordinance >>
Alameda Journal Blog >>
Labels: alameda, bicycle, legislation
posted by René @ 8:47 AM
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