Oak Harbor is rolling ahead with lifting ban on sidewalk riding downtown

Published 3:59 pm Friday, January 9, 2015

Members of the public and Oak Harbor City Council agreed Tuesday that a ban on bicycling, skateboarding and skating on downtown sidewalks must end.

However, a proposal by Councilman Bob Severns’ to encourage bicyclists, skateboarders and skaters to safely use sidewalks failed to pass.

City staff and the council said they will discuss the issue at a workshop later in the year and bring it back to the public.

Meanwhile, people can continue to bike and skate on downtown sidewalks because the old ordinance is unenforceable, according to Police Chief Ed Green.

A discussion over the issue started last summer when a couple of merchants asked an officer to enforce the prohibition on skateboarding and bicycling on sidewalks downtown on Pioneer Way, he said.

The problem was that the 1987 ordinance was outdated and included a street name that no longer exists. Also, the ordinance makes it a crime to skate on the banned sidewalks, a provision Green wasn’t keen on.

“Is it really appropriate to take a 13-, 14-year-old who is skateboarding on a sidewalks and say, ‘You committed a crime?’” he asked during an interview.

Green presented a revision that corrected the street names and turned a violation into a citation.

Neither the public nor the elected officials were happy with it.

Councilman Joel Servatius wasn’t able to attend the meeting, but Councilwoman Tara Hizon read his detailed statement against the ban on sidewalk riding. He argued that, for example, the ban doesn’t foster a family-friendly environment that city leaders are striving for.

Servatius’ wife and two children spoke in favor of bicycling on the sidewalks.

“I do not think this is a good idea because I like to ride downtown with my family and visit local businesses downtown, mainly Popsies,” Apple Servatius, 8, said, “but I don’t feel comfortable riding in the street,” she said.

Bicycling enthusiasts also argued that forcing bicyclists, especially children, onto the street may decrease safety.

“Don’t create a new conflict by sending them out into the roads,” said Brian Wood of Whidbey Island Bicycle Club.

A collision between a bicyclist and pedestrian would likely cause minimum harm while one between a bicyclist and car could be catastrophic, Wood said, adding he was hit by a car and seriously injured last year.

Hizon said she is in favor of allowing sidewalk riding. Citizens commenting on her social media page were overwhelmingly against any restrictions, she said.

“I think if Seattle can manage without these restrictions than our little downtown can probably manage as well,” she said.

Councilman Rick Almberg suggested that the council hold a workshop on the issue to come up with a comprehensive ordinance. He suggested creating a zone in which bikers and skateboarders must walk their equipment on sidewalks.

Severns suggested a change that would remove the ban and encourage the safe use of sidewalks. That proposal didn’t pass because it didn’t get the necessary four votes; Councilman Danny Paggao voted against the proposal.