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Mount Kisco adopts law banning bicycles on downtown sidewalks, adds tricycles exemption
Summary
The Village Board adopted Local Law 2025‑5 restricting bicycles on sidewalks in the downtown area and amended the law to explicitly include tricycles; the measure passed with a 4–1 roll call. The change follows a Complete Streets review and public comment about parking and safety.
The Village Board of Mount Kisco voted to adopt Local Law 2025‑5, which prohibits bicycles on sidewalks in the downtown area and, as amended, also applies to tricycles. The motion to adopt the amended local law was made by Trustee Karen B. Schleimer and seconded by Deputy Mayor Theresa Flora and carried in a roll-call vote with Trustee Thomas G. Luzio opposed.
Board members framed the issue as a public-safety and traffic-management measure. Mayor J. Michael Cindrich cited experiences in neighboring municipalities, noting one municipality’s helmet rule as an example of local regulation that addresses safety and enforcement. Deputy Mayor Flora cited findings from the Complete Streets study and the Vision Zero initiative, saying design and education are part of the village’s approach to reducing conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists. Trustee Luzio cautioned that three distinct user groups—pedestrians, bicyclists and motor vehicles—must be balanced and suggested further study of speed limits and infrastructure rather than blanket prohibitions.
Two residents who spoke during the hearing described competing community priorities. Sally Fay of Carpenter Avenue told the board she views Mount Kisco as a commercial downtown and worried that removing parking to accommodate bike lanes would harm businesses; she supported keeping sidewalks clear of bicycles and motorized scooters. John Rhodes of Stewart Place urged safe bicycle access for people who rely on bikes for transportation and said a blanket ban could hurt those who earn a living by riding; he supported banning bikes on sidewalks in the downtown core while urging the village to develop a longer-term plan for bike infrastructure.
Board discussion also touched on enforcement logistics and whether certain public spaces are legally designated as parks. The law as adopted includes language to address downtown sidewalks and specifically incorporates tricycles; enforcement details and any further infrastructure work were left for staff follow-up.
The law takes effect per standard local-law procedures. The board’s roll call on the adoption was: Mayor J. Michael Cindrich Aye; Deputy Mayor Theresa Flora Aye; Trustee Angie Guerra Aye; Trustee Thomas G. Luzio Nay; Trustee Karen B. Schleimer Aye.
