One Town's Crackdown on Sidewalk Bikers

Jack Witthaus reports on efforts in the college town of Columbia, Missouri, to keep bikers off the sidewalks in the city's central business district. Mounted signs on sidewalks in the area informing potential scofflaws of a city ordinance banning bikes from the sidewalk aren't working.

"This week, Columbia police plan to hand out tickets to people who illegally ride bicycles on sidewalks within Columbia’s business district. Police spokeswoman Bryana Maupin said tickets start at about $50 depending on the offense, and violators could be sent to municipal court," reports Witthaus.

Witthaus quotes Janet Godon, from GetAbout Columbia, who is concerned that bike riders do not have enough warning to warrant such a steep penalty. Witthaus also quotes Josh Wright, marketing coordinator for the Downtown Community Improvement District, which undertook a "guerilla" signage campaign to warn bikers to walk their bikes on sidewalks. There is no description of the state of the bike infrastructure or auto-orientation of the street through the business district.