Anyone who rides a bicycle along the sidewalk in Clarkston’s downtown business area could be faced with a fine in the not too distant future.
Clarkston officials recently rewrote and passed an ordinance requiring folks to walk bicycles in the city’s downtown area, but the issue was back on the agenda and tabled at Monday’s meeting as city council members debated over how and when to actually issue citations.
‘It’s not likely anyone who complies with a request to walk their bike through the downtown area will actually be fined,? said City Manager Art Pappas.
But, he said, those who refuse, talk back to officers or continually ignore the ordinance could end up with a ticket.
As it currently stands, a person 17 years old or younger would pay $10 for a first offense, $20 for a second offense and $40 for a third offense.
A person older than 17 would shell out $10 for a first offense, $30 for a second offense and $50 for a third offense.
The bike walking rule applies only in the city’s downtown business area, which Pappas said could be defined by the physical businesses on the north and south ends of Main Street.
Clarkston DPW Supervisor Bob Pursley said his crew would get to work stenciling ‘Walk Bike? signs on city sidewalks as a reminder.
‘We used to do it years ago,? said Pursley. ‘When we tore up all the sidewalks along Main Street (for the water and sewer project) we didn’t repaint the signs after it was finished.?
The ordinance also prohibits the use of any motorized vehicles on all city sidewalks, business or residential, with the exception of those required for a disability.