It’s full speed ahead for enforcement of an existing ordinance that forbids riding bicycles or skateboards on sidewalks in historic downtown McMinnville. Signs warning the public of the rules will be placed as instructed by city officials.
Safety Committee members met and voted unanimously to put the signs up and begin enforcement. Voting in favor of the measure were Aldermen Mike Neal, chairman, Rick Barnes and Ken Smith.
“I’m opposed to this, but I’m not on your committee,” said Alderman Ben Newman.
Specifically, the ordinance forbids riding bicycles or skateboards on the sidewalks in a business district. McMinnville Public Works has the signs and will be in charge of putting them up.
Prior to the vote, Neal said the signs were an effort to raise awareness about the existing ordinance.
“The ordinance is already there. This is just making the public aware of the ordinance,” said Neal.
Newman questioned, “So are they just supposed to be in the street?”
“It’s my understanding that bicyclers are supposed to ride with the flow of traffic,” said Neal. “I don’t think skateboards are supposed to be in the street or anywhere.”
Neal has spearheaded enforcement as a safety issue since he has seen patrons walking out of downtown businesses almost get run over by children riding bicycles and skateboards on the sidewalk.
“People step out of shops and nearly get run over by a bicycle,” said Neal. “To me, we either need to put the signs up or we need some enforcement. We need one of the two.”
Mayor Jimmy Haley says enforcement will effect an elderly man who rides his bicycle from either Spangler Tower or Beersheba Heights on East Main Street to Super Rama Foods on West Morford Street to purchase groceries.
“There is an elderly man who rides from a high-rise building down to the grocery store,” said Haley. “He rides on the sidewalk. I saw him this morning.”
Newman voiced his dislike for so many signs being placed downtown.
“I’m not on your committee, but I don’t like the signs,” Newman said. “I think if we put more signs up, it will just look tacky. That’s my thought on it.”
When asked how many signs will be placed, McMinnville Public Works director Bill Brock stated, “We have maybe 18 to 20.”
 To the shocked expressions, Brock added, “I could put one sign at Chancery Street and one at the Fire Hall, but you have a lot of people coming in on Spring Street, Sparta Street, up from Depot Bottom, off Morford Street. If we don’t hit every intersection with a sign, then they are going to say they did know they couldn’t.”
 City attorney Tim Pirtle says the city is not legally required to put up 20 signs and a couple would work.
“It’s like the speed limit,” said Pirtle. “You don’t have to put a speed limit sign every block to remind people what the speed limit is. You just have to post it. The public is legally charged with knowing the law. Your suggestion about putting one at Chancery and the Fire Hall would certainly satisfy putting people on notice.”
Slated for placement are four to five signs at different intersections, initially.
After the vote, Smith jokily requested Public Works place one of the signs in front of the Law Offices of Galligan & Newman on Main Street.
“Put one up, please, in front of Galligan and Newman’s law office,” said Smith. The statement was followed by laughter.
While McMinnville Public Works will be charged with placing the signs, McMinnville Police Department will handle enforcement. Violators could be ticketed with convictions punishable by fines no less than $2 but no more than $50.