Skateboarding commuters? Committee says let's wait [Archive]

Casey

10-10-2002, 12:32 PM

quote:Skateboarding commuters? Committee says let's wait By Ray Huard
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

October 10, 2002

A proposal that would allow commuters to ride skateboards to work on business district sidewalks was put on hold yesterday for further review by a San Diego City Council committee.

Councilman George Stevens said he feared that pedestrians would be run down by skateboarders sharing the sidewalks.

"This is not going to work, it's just not going to work. Get serious," Stevens said.

Currently, skateboards and skates are prohibited on sidewalks in business districts. Skateboarding commuters complained that they were given traffic tickets when they rode in the street.

The proposed rules would allow skateboards and skaters over the age of 18 to use the sidewalks downtown and in other business areas.

Stevens said the only safe way to allow skateboard commuting would be for the city to provide special skateboard lanes in the street similar to bike lanes.

The proposed rules also would apply to a new type of motorized scooter made by the Segway Co. and known formally as "electric personal assistive mobility devices." They are sold with the brand name Segway Human Transporter.

The Segway transporters can go up to 17 miles per hour, transportation officials said. The officials feared that the transporters could pose a hazard to people on foot sharing space on narrow sidewalks.

The proposed rules would allow transporter use in business districts only on sidewalks that were at least 12 feet wide. The restriction would not apply outside of business districts.

The council Land Use and Housing Committee instructed transportation officials to return in 60 days with a revised proposal governing the use of skateboards, in-line skates, scooters and Segway devices in business districts and elsewhere in the city.

Ray Huard: (619) 542-4597; ray.huard@uniontrib.com