Council nixes plan to ease restrictions

SANDPOINT — A proposal to relax non-motorized transportation restrictions on streets bordering the downtown core face-planted on Wednesday.

The City Council decided on a split vote not to disturb a prohibition which forbids the use of all human-powered vehicles except bicycles from using four streets surrounding the downtown core.

The restriction applies to First Avenue between Pine and Cedar streets, Cedar between First and Fifth avenues, Fifth between Cedar and Pine, and Pine between First and Fifth — streets which are part of the state’s highway system.

The majority of the city’s Administrative Committee voted earlier this month to put the proposal before the full council. The proposal would have repealed a section of code identifying where riding on streets is prohibited.

The repeal would not have been contrary to Idaho Code.

However, a majority of the council raised safety concerns about lifting the ban.

“I’ll take bets on who’s going to win between a skateboarder and a cattle truck,” said Councilwoman Carrie Logan, who added that it’s dicey enough for cyclists to navigate those routes.

Councilwoman Helen Newton voted against a committee endorsement on repealing the prohibition and reminded her colleagues that the recurring remark she hears from constituents on the proposal remains:

“Has the City Council lost its mind?”

The repeal’s demise comes about a month after the council voted to legalize all non-motorized transportation on streets within the downtown core, ending a 20-year ban. All non-motorized conveyances, however, remain prohibited on sidewalks.

Councilman Michael Boge said retaining the prohibition on the border streets would make a good compromise.

“They can still ride on the downtown core,” he said.

The repeal measure failed on a 4-2 vote, with councilmen John Reuter and Stephen Snedden voting in favor of the proposal.