Brakes put on bike-parking plan

A controversial proposal to outlaw locking a bicycle to a street sign or parking meter was sent back to the drawing board Tuesday by Charleston City Council, after people lined up to denounce the idea.

Had the measure been approved, the city would have gained authority to ticket or seize illegally parked bikes, or immobilize them with city locks until a $45 fine was paid -- more than triple the cost of most parking tickets.

"The bike parking portion is onerous, for Citadel cadets and citizens," Greg Smith, Episcopal chaplain to The Citadel, told City Council.

Smith was among about a dozen people who criticized the plan at the council meeting. Two or three people spoke in favor of the proposed rules.

The council decided to send the bike parking restrictions back for more study, but did approve a number of other changes to the city's bicycle regulations.

The rules will need another vote before they can take effect, but would allow the city to seize and dispose of abandoned bikes after seven days' notice. The ordinance also eliminates a long-ignored requirement that bikes have city-issued licenses, and clarifies the limited circumstances when riding on sidewalks is allowed.

Generally, children 12 and under may ride on sidewalks, and anyone may ride on a sidewalk if the adjacent road has a speed limit of 35 mph or higher, under the regulations.

Councilman James Lewis said the ordinance was the latest example of City Council passing rules the Police Department does not have time to enforce.

He refused to vote on the measure, which passed 10-1 with Robert Mitchell opposed and Louis Waring absent. "If we pass this ordinance, every time I see someone riding on the sidewalk, I'm going to call the police," Lewis said. "Why do we keep coming up with this stuff?"

Councilman Mike Seekings, an attorney and avid cyclist, led the push for the latest version of bicycle regulations, and had the support of local biking groups on most points except the parking restrictions.

"The way to promote (biking) is to have good rules and regulations and let people know what they are," he said.

Residents of Seekings' district, home to College of Charleston, also wanted the regulations.

Robert Ballard, for example, told council members that on any morning there are bikes locked to signs and meters in his neighborhood, sometimes blocking the sidewalk.

Several critics of the proposed parking rules said the city needs to make more appropriate places available for locking up bicycles. Seekings agreed, and said the city staff is working on a plan to include bike parking considerations in local zoning rules.

"We certainly don't want to discourage the use of bicycles," Mayor Joe Riley said.

In other business, council:

--Approved a $19 million bond issue that would fund a variety of projects, mostly involving parks and public buildings.

--Deferred action on a resolution by Councilman Aubry Alexander calling on state lawmakers "to pass meaningful school choice legislation."

--Discussed whether the city could give preference to local bidders on city contracts. A city attorney was given more time to research the issue.

--Delayed approval of the City Council's meeting minutes from June after Councilman Tim Mallard said they were incomplete. A quite heated discussion between Mallard and the clerk of council followed after the meeting ended.

Reach David Slade at 937-5552 or dslade@postandcourier.com.