In the face of unanimous advice against it by bicycle advocates, the Charleston City Council last night approved a measure that would allow bicyclists to use sidewalks adjacent to roads with speed limits above 35mph. The measure also allows children 12 and under to use the sidewalks in most areas of the city (not the commercial and tourism portions of the peninsula).
Charleston Moves, The Palmetto Cycling Coalition, the City's own Bike and Pedestrian Committee as well as Coastal Cyclists all argued strenuously against the measure.
It had been sponsored by City Councilman Gary White. White had been approached by parents on Daniel Island seeking to "decriminalize" their children's bicycle use.
The discussion among members of the council was lively. "It just showed how confusing a measure like this actually is," said Tom Bradford of Charleston Moves. "The best law is the law that keeps people off sidewalks and is totally consistent," he added.
However, at the urging of Mayor Riley, the measure comes up for review automatically on May 1 of 2010.
At that time, the composition of the City Council will have shifted somewhat. Hopefully, new accident statistics won't prove the case against it, and, when it is reconsideered, it can be defeated by clearer heads.
HERE, IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED, IS ABC 4'S ADVANCE COVERAGE OF THE STORY (BEFORE THE VOTE WAS TAKEN)
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T H I S is a link to The Digitel's coverage.
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1 comment:
This woud appear to be good news for kids on Daniel Island - but did enforcement officers ever issue a 12yr old a ticket ??
It is a short sighted step backwards for adult commuters, who can expect more aggro on the roads again. It still doesn't make the sidewalk on the Ashley river bridges legal to ride on (which was the one plus point I was thinking of) as they aren't 8 feet wide !!!
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