Council pauses on sidewalk bike ban after wide public comment; city staff told to try signage and convene more stakeholders

Petoskey City Council held a first reading on a proposed amendment to Chapter 21 of the city code that would prohibit riding bicycles (including e‑bikes and push bikes) and a range of wheeled devices on sidewalks in the downtown Central Business District, and heard extensive public comment and input from city staff.

City planner Amy Tweeden, who introduced the draft, said the proposal was prompted by recurring pedestrian‑bicyclist conflicts in the downtown shopping and park areas. "The policy really for downtown since the 90s when the streetscape went in, was that...the sidewalks are for pedestrians," Tweeden said, explaining that the city added movable “please walk your bike” signs after installation of the Downtown Greenway corridor and widened sidewalks.

Tweeden and public‑safety staff told council they had seen frequent close calls, particularly during busy summer weekends, and that many bike riders use sidewalks where they create hazards near restaurants, park entrances and high‑foot‑traffic intersections. Director Carr of Public Safety said enforcement is challenging in congested areas but agreed that allowing repeated, fast riding on sidewalks is a safety concern: "I think for safety reasons, the bikes, people riding bikes on the sidewalk is dangerous," Carr said.

Council members and residents raised competing points. Several downtown business owners and residents supported stronger rules to protect pedestrians and storefronts; others, including frequent bicyclists and local advocates for active transportation, warned that an outright ban could push riders into dangerous vehicle traffic and disproportionately affect young riders and workers who rely on bikes for short commutes.

Public commenters described practical conflicts and urged clearer routing: some urged signage and better wayfinding to direct cyclists to the official bike route that skirts downtown (Bay Street → Petoskey Street → Greenway), while others said that Greenway signage is not sufficiently visible and that a safe, obvious bike route through or around Pennsylvania Park is lacking.

Council discussed enforcement options. Public safety noted the department can issue small “yellow” warning tickets or pursue municipal civil infractions; the city’s current civil‑infraction schedule sets typical first‑offense amounts at $50. Several council members asked staff to make explicit in any future ordinance that officers may use discretion and educational tickets rather than immediate fines for first‑time or minor infractions.

After hearing roughly an hour of public comment and considerable council discussion, members concluded more work was needed. Council did not advance the ordinance to adoption. Instead staff were asked to take these next steps: increase and re‑deploy movable “please walk your bike” signage during the summer; study and improve wayfinding on Bay and Petoskey streets that connect the Greenway around downtown; refine proposed ordinance language (including clear map of restricted area) and enforcement language that explicitly allows officer discretion; and return with a plan that includes stakeholder input and data on bike/pedestrian flows.

The meeting illustrated the policy tradeoffs between pedestrian safety and active‑transportation access. Several residents urged the council to avoid a blunt prohibition that could push children and casual riders into streets without protected bike lanes. Council members said a follow‑up work session or draft that narrows restricted areas, clarifies enforcement discretion, and expands low‑cost signage and education would be a preferable next step.

No vote on the ordinance took place; staff will return with revised language, improved signage plans and stakeholder feedback.