02/27/1989 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e bicyclist without riding on sidewalks, detouring an unreasonable distance, or using 10th Avenue which he described as dangerous. Mr. Wright asked councilors not to restrict access to downtown and to support diverse types of transportation. There being no further requests to speak, Mayor Miller closed the public hearing. Regarding mall use permit fees, Ms. Bohman indicated that staff recommended a minimal annual fee to recoup some administrative and maintenance costs. Ms. Bohman proposed deleting reference to registration of bicycles and skateboards from the ordinance. Ms. Bohman reported that impounding is used only in extreme cases of violation of the law. She noted that the skateboard park issue is addressed in the draft Parks Master Plan which the council will y'eview later this year. Ms. Bohman explained that the area affected by the ordinance is one where bicycles are already prohibited on sidewalks and where hazardous conditions exist because of heavy use by pedestrians. She said Lane Transit District (LTD) originally requested that something be done about skateboarding on sidewalks adjacent to the mall. Ms. Ehrman suggested that Oak Street would be a more logical eastern boundary than Pearl Street. ( Ms. Bascom requested more information from Downtown Eugene, Incorporated, regarding the areas of greatest concern and suggested that the boundaries could be reduced. e Mayor Miller asked whether skateboarders can use bike lanes. Lieutenant Vic Mann responded that skateboards are not considered vehicles so skateboarders cannot use the roadway (including bike lanes). Mr. Holmer asked if any other ordinances would penalize a skateboarder or bicyclist for not being polite and failing to exercise due care on the sidewalk. Ms. Bohman indicated that provisions in the motor vehicle code are applicable to bicyclists but not skateboarders. Lieutenant Mann added that special rules apply to bicyclists both on sidewalks and roads. He said skateboards are not defined in the motor vehicle code, so pedestrian rules are applied. Answering Ms. Ehrman's inquiry about enforcement, Ms. Bohman said the ordinance will allow notice of a skateboard and bicycle prohibition to be posted, which she expected would decrease the incidence of those activities on the affected sidewalks and streets. Mr. Green suggested exploring the possibility of creating special skateboard paths through the area in question. Mr. Gleason noted that skateboarding is allowed on bike paths and on sidewalks in other areas of the city. He said the idea of a skateboard park is an issue that should be addressed in the context of capital improvements in the update of the Parks Master Plan and not as part of the discussion of transportation through the mall. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 27, 1989 Page 7