Advocacy & Safety - My town hates bikes and here is proof

I have said from time to time on BF that my town is not very bike friendly. The local rummer mill is saying that the city council is actually looking in to what it would take to over ride the CA state law allowing cyclists to ride on public roads with the end goal to out law bike riding across the entire city limits. BTW we are paying over $4.10 for gas. You would think they would be pushing cycling. Also as far as I know there was no public forum to voice an opinion on this.




Council votes to nix ‘wheeled devices' in much of city

Published: May 6, 2008

By Nicholas Grube

Triplicate staff writer

BMX bikers and cyclists lost a little ground Monday.

The Crescent City Council approved an amendment to the municipal code that essentially restricts bicycles, skateboards and any other wheeled devices from operating within much of the city's limits.

"This is to cut down on vandalism and to cut down on the hazardous conditions for pedestrians who walk down the street," Crescent City Police Chief Doug Plack said.

By doing tricks, such as grinding on hand rails or around the edges of the city fountain downtown, Plack said bikers, like skateboarders, do damage to city property.

He also said when these individuals are riding near the downtown shops or around other commercial properties, a number of conflicts arise with pedestrians on the sidewalks or with motorists in parking lots.

"This is not just riding down the street," Plack said. "This is for the individuals who do not respect other people in the area."

The ordinance is an update to a previous one that only restricted roller skating and skateboarding in commercially zoned areas and open space areas in the city. The new wording will add bicycles, scooters and other wheeled devices to the ordinance.

"All this does is enhance it to a more up-to-date version," Plack said, adding that the ordinance will allow law enforcement to restrict these types of wheeled devices throughout the city's limits. "This enables us to be able to enforce the law."

Bicycles can still ride on the streets under the California Vehicle Code, Plack said.

It takes 30 days for the new ordinance to take effect, and new signs will be posted in areas where riding wheeled devices, such as skateboards and bicycles, are prohibited.

"This is a long time coming," Council Member Richard Enea said of the ordinance.

Reach Nicholas Grube at ngrube@triplicate.com.

http://www.triplicate.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=8601

Contact your council member to object and tell everyone you know to do the same. Councillors assume that if they hear from one person, there are dozens or hundreds more who feel the same way but didn't bother to call. As well they will take your concerns most seriously if you write a personal letter. Email is less convincing.

Bicycles can still ride on the streets under the California Vehicle Code, Plack said.

So it's all good, right? Or no?
Couldn't they just make an ordinance against "tricks"?

Fight, fight hard. Go to the city counselors homes to talk to them about it. Go to meetings, find out the procedure for talking at meetings. And contact a bicycle friendly local lawyer, prepare to go to court.

Same old excuse- the cops are to lazy or stupid to put a stop to bad behavior (grinding, sidewalk riding) so make everything illegal. If they are to weak to enforce current laws, what makes people think that the new law would be enforced?

It takes 30 days for the new ordinance to take effect, and new signs will be posted in areas where riding wheeled devices, such as skateboards and bicycles, are prohibited.

Oh brother! They aren't going to outlaw all bikes from the city streets. Did you even read the article you posted?

While you are at it, demand the right to drive your SUV down the stairs of city hall and on the sidewalks too!

In my mind, as long as there are no restrictions to operation of a bicycle in those areas where other vehicles are permitted, I would have no problem with the ordinance. I believe that pedestrians have the right to walk down sidewalks without fear of being run over my vehicular traffic on a pedestrian facility.

The problem is lack of legal space suited for this type of cycling and other non motorized wheeled sports. They are using public pedestrian area property only because its the best facility available - not because there is desire to damage or cause disturbance. I see no problem with further restricting/clarifying use of these areas that are otherwise only open to pedestrians. However the signs and laws won't make the 'problem' go away. For a root cause fix both skate and cycle(BMX) parks need to be built. That has worked well in other localities.

http://www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=727

Al

Heh...

These days, skaters/BMXers seem to be the only segment of the pimpled rebellion not sporting corn syrup bellies and double dipped chocolate chins.

A local ordinance to restrict sidewalk riding in a commercial zone? Sorry, I'm having trouble working up any indignation here.

It takes 30 days for the new ordinance to take effect, and new signs will be posted in areas where riding wheeled devices, such as skateboards and bicycles, are prohibited.

Hey, JDub, be sure to come back in a month and post pics of all the stairways, sidewalks, and plazas where this injustice is being perpetrated.

That's not exactly uncommon. We have such prohibitions in areas of our city... areas you wouldn't want to cycle anyway (such as the legislature grounds). It's not banning bicycles from the streets, it's banning bmx's from bouncing on one wheel down a flight of stairs.

you damn kids and your fancy wheel thingys!

Well, from what I read, bicycle-wise it's nothing that hasn't been law in Little Rock for quite some time. The good thing is that now, when people tell you to get off the street and on the sidewalk, you can tell them that IT'S ILLEGAL!. ( Then see if they believe you.) I've had cops busted for ordering me onto the sidewalk because of such laws.

No Fufanus for You!

I'm usually in favor of it being against the law to ride on the sidewalk. It's not fun, it's not safe, and it puts pedestrians at risk. (no, I'm not a BMX type *g*) The city can't override CA's road use laws and have the ordinance stand.

This new law is not going to just cover sidewalks, it also covers all business parking lots, parks, and anything else that is not a road in the city business areas. So its fine if all you want to do is ride threw town and not stop for any reason. But lets say you want to take your bike out and pay bills or go shopping, get something to eat.

Your not allowed to have your bike in a parking lot or on a side walk. So I'm guessing the people that tried to make me look dumb for thinking this was bad would be happy to slap on a kickstand (if you don't already have one) and park your bike on the side of the roadway like a motorcycle?

The way the laws are enforced here already is your not allowed to have a bike in a no bike area even if your pushing it to a place to lock it up.

As far as fighting the city it won't happen. These people have been in power for ever and no one successfully overturns any thing they do. About a month ago they took away the ability for disabled vets to ride there ATV's down 3 miles of nearly abandoned beach to a designated surf fishing area. No one got hurt, no one complained. But now a 60 year old man with one leg from fighting for this country is told if he wants to continue fishing he needs to walk his gear to the fishing grounds.

You might just have to do your normal routine, take the ticket and fight it in court. Ride a junker.

Critical Mass: Parking Edition?

The newspaper writes: "The ordinance is an update to a previous one that only restricted roller skating and skateboarding in commercially zoned areas and open space areas in the city. The new wording will add bicycles, scooters and other wheeled devices to the ordinance."

If the update is only adding bicycles to this ordinance, then the prohibited area is zoned commercial areas zoned C-1 limited commercial, C-2 general commercial, HS highway service, CM commercial manufacturing, CW waterfront commercial, manufacturing or O open space zones and must be posted.

http://municipalcodes.lexisnexis.com/codes/crescentcity/_DATA/TITLE12/Chapter_12_32_PROHIBITION_OF_R.html

Al

This new law is not going to just cover sidewalks, it also covers all business parking lots, parks, and anything else that is not a road in the city business areas. So its fine if all you want to do is ride threw town and not stop for any reason. But lets say you want to take your bike out and pay bills or go shopping, get something to eat.

Your not allowed to have your bike in a parking lot or on a side walk. So I'm guessing the people that tried to make me look dumb for thinking this was bad would be happy to slap on a kickstand (if you don't already have one) and park your bike on the side of the roadway like a motorcycle?

The way the laws are enforced here already is your not allowed to have a bike in a no bike area even if your pushing it to a place to lock it up.

As far as fighting the city it won't happen. These people have been in power for ever and no one successfully overturns any thing they do. About a month ago they took away the ability for disabled vets to ride there ATV's down 3 miles of nearly abandoned beach to a designated surf fishing area. No one got hurt, no one complained. But now a 60 year old man with one leg from fighting for this country is told if he wants to continue fishing he needs to walk his gear to the fishing grounds.

Also see (from noisebeam's link)



12.32.020 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the terms “rollerskate” and “skateboard” mean any person propelling himself or being propelled while on rollerskates or skateboards

Seems to me simple "possession of a bicycle in a prohibited area" would not be illegal if they are just adding bicycling to the list of activities prohibited in posted areas...you'd have to be using the bicycle to propel yourself (or have a friend pushing you while you ride the bicycle?). Same with somebody holding a skateboard in an area skateboarding is prohibited...there wouldn't be a problem unless a peace officer witnessed the person actually riding the skateboard in the prohibited area.

I have said from time to time on BF that my town is not very bike friendly. The local rummer mill is saying that the city council is actually looking in to what it would take to over ride the CA state law allowing cyclists to ride on public roads with the end goal to out law bike riding across the entire city limits. BTW we are paying over $4.10 for gas. You would think they would be pushing cycling. Also as far as I know there was no public forum to voice an opinion on this.




http://www.triplicate.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=8601

Bicycles can still ride on the streets under the California Vehicle Code, Plack said.



It isn't anti bike at all. In fact its pro bike, by restricting behavior of the 'dirtbike/dirtbag sk8trdudes' who ruin it for everyone else by charging on the streets, sidewalks, railings, staircases, pedestrian only areas, ad infinitum.

For years cyclists have patiently and courteously ridden on the roadways, followed the spirit and letter of local laws, set an example as athletes, as citizens, and as roadway users. All of this effort is for naught when drivers see riders weave in and out (and against) traffic; and when pedestrians are zoomed and intimidated by gangs of riders on sidewalks.

As a cyclist I have as much in common with these morons, as I do with Hells Angels as a motorcyclist. I have no more solidaity with idiot bikers than I do idiot drivers.


roughstuff

If the extent of your sidewalk/parking lot riding runs from the driveway apron to the bike rack and back, you should probably be ok. I still know a guy who got ticketed for that (in dayton, OH), though. All it takes is the wrong cop on the wrong day.

Bicycles can still ride on the streets under the California Vehicle Code, Plack said.

I fail to see the problem here. Or is this just another case of the AnS brigade finding something to whine about.

Your town doesn't hate bikes, they hate riders who are disrespectful and/or dangerous to others. In general, lawmakers don't make laws for no reason. If something was so taboo that no one would even think of doing that action, then there wouldn't be a law against it, because there wouldn't be a problem with it.

Sometimes lawmakers are flawed in their reasoning or best solutions to a problem, but that doesn't mean there isn't a problem.

Technically, bicycles are banned from the campus I work on. But that ban is aimed at those who do tricks on rails and stairs and make a general nuisance of themselves while damaging property. The ban isn't enforced against legitimate commuters. I sincerely doubt the ordinance at issue would be enforced against responsible cyclists, such as those walking their bikes across a parking lot.

The problem is lack of legal space suited for this type of cycling and other non motorized wheeled sports. They are using public pedestrian area property only because its the best facility available - not because there is desire to damage or cause disturbance. I see no problem with further restricting/clarifying use of these areas that are otherwise only open to pedestrians. However the signs and laws won't make the 'problem' go away. For a root cause fix both skate and cycle(BMX) parks need to be built. That has worked well in other localities.

http://www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=727

Al
Your exactly right.

If the city were smart enough to build a skate/BMX park, they would not have a problem or need these laws. We build public facilities for other interest like tennis, swimming, walking, baseball, football, soccer, etc. So why not build the skate/BMX park.

The council should go to a skate/BMX park in another area and see how well the kids work/play together.

I have said from time to time on BF that my town is not very bike friendly. The local rummer mill is saying that the city council is actually looking in to what it would take to over ride the CA state law allowing cyclists to ride on public roads with the end goal to out law bike riding across the entire city limits. BTW we are paying over $4.10 for gas. You would think they would be pushing cycling. Also as far as I know there was no public forum to voice an opinion on this.

http://www.triplicate.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=8601

There's a NATIONAL STRATEGY TO KEEP BIKES OFF THE ROADS, but it's not based on regular laws --just on the Law of the Jungle (the Big Fish eats the Little Fish). The little fish (bikes) fear for their own survival, and usually stay off shark territory.

It's very effective, and there's no need to pass embarrasing laws. :eek:

And sometimes works in other countries too...

http://webspawner.com/users/donquijote91

If the city were smart enough to build a skate/BMX park, they would not have a problem or need these laws. We build public facilities for other interest like tennis, swimming, walking, baseball, football, soccer, etc. So why not build the skate/BMX park.

The council should go to a skate/BMX park in another area and see how well the kids work/play together.

We already have a skate park but it too has an interesting story: The local youth spent several years doing fund raisers and earning money because the city wouldn't pay for the build cost but agreed to pay for the up keep once it was built. The park was designed with BMX in mind as well. The city dragged their feet for nearly 7 years once the money was raised and handed over. Finally a spot was chosen right next to the county jail. After it was built a fence was put up around it and signs with the rules where put up one of them being no bikes inside the fence - even for storing while you skate. It is said that 60% or 70% of the money was raised by BMXers. As you can guess they aren't happy and so they continued to ride where ever they could get away with it.

Then there where cameras put up on the jail property monitoring the skate park. If at any time someone is seen breaking even the smallest of the rules an officer walks over and passes out tickets then locks the park for the rest of the day. So now very few people use it and the city honestly says they don't understand.

The attitude around here toward the skaters is terrible. They are all treated poorly by the cops; granted some probably deserve it. Now I'm afraid I will be put in the same group. I know that most cops will see my Allez and figure I'm not going to be grinding on curbs or jumping park benches but what happens when I take my MTB out?

A local ordinance to restrict sidewalk riding in a commercial zone? Sorry, I'm having trouble working up any indignation here.

Apparently they are trying to ban bicycles from parking lots, as well. If so, then I do have a major issue with the law, although I would probably simply ignore the prohibition and continue to ride through parking lots in a responsible, vehicular style.

I fail to see the problem here. Or is this just another case of the AnS brigade finding something to whine about.Exactly. Guess what, dobber? When I was an adolescent skate boarder, I distinctly remember causing a lot of property damage through vandalism, etc. I have no problem with this law, as it was implied by the OP and thread title that it was to outlaw all biking period within city limits, but here we find out it's to crack down on 13 year old BMX/skater idiots, the parents of some of these cretins would probably be glad to sue whoever owned the property little Johnny tried to recreate a scene from "Jackass" on. A&S is stupid.

Two thoughts for ya:
a.) the city where I live, it's illegal to ride on the sidewalk in a business district (further defined by the city as no residences in a 500' span on one block), and one area downtown prohibits bikes on their property. The city gov't building has A bike rack outside, and won't allow bikes in the building for any reason (found that out the day I went to pay a bill while my 15-y-o nephew had my lock).

b.) a lot of cities (and a few states, too) ban the use of loud car stereos, but the way THAT law is enforced, what are you worried about? You'll be retired by the time they catch you!

I guess no one can get passed the sidewalk part of the new law. No one is disputing that people should not ride on the sidewalk. In fact that is already against the law.

What I am talking about is that I will no longer be able to ride around the local parks. I can not take my bike on any property zoned for business uses. This also covers any of the historic sights of the town that a lot of cycling tourists like to visit. I can't bring my bike onto a store property to go shopping or grab a snack. A touring bike will not be allowed to go onto any hotel property.

I guess that these are things that every one agrees with. The way the laws are enforced here is that even if you are carrying a skate board in an area where they are prohibited the police WILL harass you and run you off, and now bikes are added to this. I know that in most places there are checks and balances that keep cops in line but here they interpret and enforce the law as they see fit and no one will stop them. And I'm saying this when I have a few very close friends in law enforcement.

Here is the law they are adding bikes to. Dose this sound like just sidewalks?


12.32.010 Prohibited locations.
No person shall rollerskate or skateboard upon public places within the commercial areas zoned C-1 limited commercial, C-2 general commercial, HS highway service, CM commercial manufacturing, CW waterfront commercial, manufacturing or O open space zones, where the activities are posted by the city as a prohibited use. (Ord. 642 § 5 (part), 1990).

Bicycles can still ride on the streets under the California Vehicle Code, Plack said.

So it's all good, right? Or no?
Couldn't they just make an ordinance against "tricks"?

that's obviously largely subjective. The LAST thing an officer needs is a degree of subjectivity. They aren't qualified to be subjective, only judges are. A court judge spends years learning to INTERPRET the law and often a lifetime of experience as a lawyer (ever notice how old most of them are?)

The letter of the law must be as clear as possible to minimize court congestion.

Banning tricks is silly. We already have ordinance against vandalism. Use that. The last thing ANY city needs is MORE laws.

Here is the law they are adding bikes to. Dose this sound like just sidewalks?

It's not clear to me. Define 'public places'? If it includes roads then it's absurd but if they are talking about walkways through your historical district parks or that sort of thing then it could be for a good reason.

BTW that story is a riot about the skate park OMG! If I was a young punk where ever you are I would most certainly rebel against that. How could you not? My town just built a skate park that allows bikes in it and the local kids seem to really like it.

Depending on the site design, entrances to retail and other popular destinations can often be a long distance from the public roadway, accessible only by private vehicular use areas (driveways and parking lots). Consider shopping malls with setbacks of 1/4 mile or more, surrounded by long private driveway networks. If the ordinance prohibits traveling by bicycle on these vehicular use areas, it places an unreasonable burden on those who travel by bicycle, compared to those who use motor vehicles to access the same destinations.

It seems to me that since the city already has an ordinance that addresses sidewalk cycling, this ordinance likely applies to private vehicular use areas.

A better ordinance that would protect bicycle transportation access to these sites would be worded to prohibit bicycling "outside the traveled way of vehicular use areas" on such properties. Local bicycle transportation advocates should request such a clarification/amendment.

It sounds more like Crescent City hates kids, is low on cash, uses it’s 9 cops to generate revenue with traffic stops and something happened in 2002 to start the vandalism trend upward. I would suggest a bike rodeo in the poorer part of town to actually make their job easier.

Demographic data says that there are 1,578 households out of which 35.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them. I bet they also want to raise revenue. Only 9 cops it must be hard for them to keep track of all that private property vandalism.

Police data shows a huge jump in vandalism starting in 2002. (pg15).
http://www.crescentcity.org/CCPD/annualreport2006.pdf

I agree that building a skate/BMX park is one of the better responses. Ironically, our town built one next to a supermarket, then a few months later posted the supermarket parking lot off-limits to boards, blades, AND bikes! Seems they were seeing a little increase in shoplifting due to the skate park. Meanwhile, there's still a bike rack in front of the store, and I continue to ride my bike there to shop without hassle. I guess that means common sense is still in effect despite the signs.