The ban on riding bicycles on the sidewalk in Crawfordsville may be coming to an end, but not in the downtown business district.
A citizen’s panel reviewing city bicycle laws will recommend the change as part of a list of proposed ordinance updates being sent to the city council. Crawfordsville’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Citizen’s Advisory Council will also seek to make mandatory bike registration optional.
The proposed changes seek to clean up the code of ordinances while making the city more bicycle and pedestrian friendly.
Current city law prohibits riding a bicycle on the sidewalk unless the operator is crossing the sidewalk or the street is undergoing repairs or being obstructed.
An ordinance was later passed barring bicycles and skateboards on sidewalks in the central business district following safety issues. The law does not apply to children under 13 accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The citizen’s council will recommend keeping the downtown business district off limits to riders.
“It’s dangerous to businesses and people coming out of businesses or getting out of cars,” member Shirley Hudson said during the council’s meeting earlier this week at the City Building.
Riders would be allowed on the future downtown loop trail, which will include part of the central business district.
Cyclists are required under city code to register their bicycles and obtain a sticker from the Crawfordsville Police Department. Police Chief Mike Norman said officers generally do not issue citations for unregistered bicycles, but registration information is used to track down stolen or misplaced bikes.
In 2019, three people registered a bicycle in the city, Norman said.
Under the changes recommended by the citizen’s council, the ordinance would no longer require bicycle registration.
“I think voluntary registration might be a useful tool,” said chairman Aaron Spolarich, noting the process for handling stolen or missing bicycles.
Motorized bicycle or motor scooter owners would still be required to obtain a license from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles before operating their vehicles on a public street.
“We are a bicycle and pedestrian coalition, I don’t think we have any jurisdiction over motorized items in the first place,” member Martin Ruhl said.
