The Santa Maria City Council considered an ordinance at its meeting on Sept. 2, requiring bicyclists to wear protective equipment while riding in a city bike park.
In 2008, City Council approved an ordinance that laid down rules for the use of city-operated skate parks to ensure safety and comply with state law. It required that skate park users wear protective equipment: helmets, elbow pads, and knee pads. In the meantime, the city has found that youth and adult bicycle riders have been violating the ordinance, as well as using ramps designed only for skateboarders to use.
The city’s Recreation and Parks Department bought and installed a modular bicycle-training track—also known as a pump track—at Fletcher Park because of the violations at the skate park. To keep up with what was established in 2008, and to stay in line with state laws, Recreation and Parks wants a bicycle safety ordinance put into place.
In the council agenda report, Recreation and Parks said it expects the ordinance to reduce skate ramp ordinance violations and improve opportunities for the public to ride their bicycles.
The Sun went to press before a decision was made in the hearing.
This article appears in Sep 4-11, 2014.
