MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Puyallup considers prohibiting cyclists from sidewalks

Feb 6, 2019, 2:09 PM

bicycles sidewalks...

(KIRO 7)

(KIRO 7)

You hear plenty of stories about new laws and lanes to accompany cyclists, that it’s a bit surprising when the opposite occurs. Puyallup is looking it into banning bicycles from numerous sidewalks in the downtown area.

If passed, the ordinance would prohibit bicycles from all sorts of surfaces, including sidewalks, alleys, public paths, public parking lots, basically anywhere you’d have to ring your bell so you don’t hit pedestrians, reports The News Tribune. It wouldn’t apply to bicycle cops, medical personnel, and kids 12 and under, who will now rule the sidewalks.

RELATED: SDOT reports 20 percent decrease in cyclists, blames weather

Bicyclists aren’t getting banned from the city altogether, as they’ll still be allowed a few feet over on the street, and they can still walk alongside their bicycles in humiliation on the sidewalk.

While Bellingham also has a similar sidewalk bike ban, cyclists are by no means being hounded off sidewalks all over. State law allows bicycle riding on sidewalks, but does allow individual municipalities to make their own laws, as Puyallup and Bellingham clearly have.

In Seattle, cyclists can careen down sidewalks just as long as they do so in “careful and prudent manner,” making sure to always yield the right of way to pedestrians like cars must do on the road. Whether that actually happens is up to pedestrians to determine.

RELATED: A case arguing for Seattle’s controversial bike lanes

This isn’t the first time that Puyallup has made sidewalk cycling illegal. Up until 2014 it was banned, but the Puyallup City Council voted to change it because cyclists said they felt safer on sidewalks than roadways. But now that pedestrians don’t feel as safe with them there, it’s back to the streets.

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

3 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

4 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

5 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

5 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

6 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

9 hours ago

Puyallup considers prohibiting cyclists from sidewalks