Sidewalk Biking Illegal; Signs May be Posted Downtown

Kent may soon add signs to sidewalks downtown reminding bicycle riders that it’s illegal to ride your bike on the sidewalk.

Downtown business owner John Simon asked Kent City Council Wednesday to consider posting signs to remind people that it is in fact illegal to ride a bike on sidewalks in Kent.

“I don’t think a lot of people know that,” Simon said. “I think signs would really help before somebody does get injured.”

Simon runs a business at 300 N. Water St. in a building owned by Councilman John Kuhar, who agreed with the idea.

“I know when I step out of my building down there … we usually stick our head out a few inches first and look both ways,” Kuhar said.

Section 373.10 of Kent’s Codified Ordinances prohibits riding bicycles on sidewalks in business districts or on sidewalks where signs are posted prohibiting riding.

Councilwoman Heidi Shaffer, whose Ward 5 includes downtown, agreed with Kuhar and Simon and suggested signs might be posted near bike trail entrances.

“Because that may be part of the issue,” she said.

Council voted Wednesday to consider posting signs downtown about bicycling being prohibited on sidewalks. The issue and possible placement of signs will likely be handled by the city’s administration.

“That just sounds like a housekeeping thing to me,” Kent Mayor Jerry Fiala said.