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MENTONE - Riding a bicycle, a skateboard, roller skates, in-line skates and scooters just got a little more difficult in Mentone.
Monday, the Mentone Town Council unanimously passed an ordinance regulating the operation of such conveyances. The ordinance passed despite questions and concerns from six teen-agers and a Mentone resident.
Clerk-treasurer Cheryl Phillips said Tuesday, "The kids were asking why the ordinance was put in place in the first place."
She said councilman Ed Rock cited traffic problems and destruction of property by skateboarders and skaters as a couple of reasons why the ordinance was passed.
Violations could result in a maximum fine of $50 and the confiscation of the conveyances for up to 30 days.
The ordinance says that "every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be subject to the statutes of the state and to the provisions of the ordinance applicable to the driver of a vehicle." A sidewalk or city-owned property will be deemed a roadway and is subject to the same traffic control as the street adjacent to the sidewalk.
While riding a bicycle, a bicyclist may not weave or curve to and fro upon a sidewalk or roadway and has to ride in a straight and continuous line. A biker cannot ride a bicycle at a speed greater than that which permits a stop within an assured clear distance. A bike cannot be parked on a street, other than against the curb, or on a sidewalk in a bicycle rack or against a building or at the curb except in such a manner as to afford no obstruction to vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
Bicyclists cannot operate their bikes on sidewalks on Main Street between Morgan and Tucker streets. Bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.
Riding skateboards, roller skates, in-line skates and scooters is prohibited on the streets and sidewalks within the areas of Main Street between Yale and Franklin streets, and extending north and south on Morgan, Broadway, Tucker and Franklin streets.
It is also prohibited on the Mentone Elementary School property and adjacent sidewalks, which includes the area bounded by Jackson, Yale and Harrison streets.
The ordinance also makes it a violation to place on any street within town limits any device used to assist in the performance of stunts or tricks while riding or operating conveyances.
On first offense, the conveyance of the offending party will be confiscated for five days. On second offense, it will be confiscated for five days and the offending party will be fined an amount not to exceed $25.
On subsequent offenses, the conveyance will be confiscated for 30 days and a fine not to exceed $50 will be assessed.
In other business, Tim Kelty of R.P. Murphy & Associates, Larwill, updated the town council on the Saemann building.
Kelty was given permission to apply for a grant modification. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management wants the town to have a risk assessment completed and the modification is needed.
Three announcements were made at the council meeting:
• The town requests that all decorations at the cemetery be removed for mowing season by April 12.
• Water hydrants will be flushed April 13 and 14.
• Scheduled spring clean-up, including the trailer parks, begins May 7.
The next council meeting is at 7 p.m. May 3 in the town hall.
