Some new disk-type signage “Walk Your Wheels” are being installed in sidewalks in the downtown area. The new signage clarifies where people skateboarding and people biking must walk and not ride on the sidewalk in a designated area downtown. The walk zone protects people walking in the more congested area that extends from Pearl in the west, Lincoln in the east, 13th in the south, and 8th Avenue in the north.
Previously, there was a boundary for people biking that differed from the boundaries for people skateboarding. The new zone makes it easier for people to know they’re in a walk zone Riding skateboards or bicycles on sidewalks inside the zone is a violation of Eugene Code 5.450(2), and violators are subject to a maximum $50 fine. Note: 5.450(2) is prohibition for people skateboarding and 5.400(1) is for people bicycling. It is illegal to ride a skateboard in the road anytime in Eugene except when crossing a street in a crosswalk or at a right angle. A skateboard by ORS definition is not a vehicle and therefore never allowed to be used in the roadway other than crossing at a right angle within the City of Eugene. Violators skating in the road would be subject to citations for being a pedestrian in the roadway or portions of the roadway restricted to vehicular traffic.
During their July 28 meeting, the Eugene City Council approved the new skateboard and bicycle downtown no-sidewalk riding zone that went into effect on Aug. 29, 2014. Since that time, police have been issuing warnings, and once warned, citations.
In the next several days, the disk signage will be installed on the sidewalks in the downtown area to alert people skateboarding and bicycling that they have entered the no-sidewalk-riding zone and must walk their bikes and carry their skateboards. Materials have also been produced to provide a map of the new zone and other helpful information about the new rules.
More details on the new laws can be found on the project website at
www.eugene-or.gov/bikeskatelaws.
###