Sidewalk Riding in Business Districts
At a glance
Based on auto-generated captions; names and details may be misheard.
- What: whether bicycles and pedestrian conveyances should be allowed on sidewalks, and whether to ban them in business districts.
- Where it stands: the draft allows careful riding on sidewalks unless signed otherwise, yielding to pedestrians. Several council members asked to restrict it in business districts; state law already permits that. Raised 2026-10-19 as part of Micromobility Ordinance Update.
- Next: staff to work business district language and signage or markings into the revised ordinance.
Discussion
- A member found it hard to understand bicycles on sidewalks where bike lanes exist and asked whether they can be banned; staff said policy allows either. Ingersoll Avenue's colored bike lane beside the walking area was discussed as confusing.
- Another member wanted bikes and skateboards barred in areas such as East Village, Beaverdale, Court Avenue, Locust Street and the Roosevelt shopping area, citing outward-swinging shop doors and liability, and showed a pedestrian zone sign from Independence, Iowa; stencils or signs would mark districts.
- Staff noted the original draft language on sidewalks reflected AARP and League of American Bicyclists recommendations.
Status and next steps
- Open; who installs signage is unresolved.
Sources
- 2026-10-19 - City Council Work Session (video and auto-generated transcript)
Discussion time
About 6 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-19 - City Council Work Session | 6 |
Log
- 2026-10-19 - City Council Work Session — council members asked to bar sidewalk riding in business districts; staff to add language (about 6 minutes).