TICKET: Beware bikes, skateboards

A recent Press article concerned a $10 parking ticket being issued to a visitor because prior to the two-hour limit, she had moved her car - but not the 300 feet necessary by city ordinance. By the way, many people told me they didn't know about that ordinance, either.

As a frequent visitor to the downtown Sherman Avenue area, I have noticed over and over the many adults and teenagers who consistently ignore the signs on street corners prohibiting skateboards or bicycles being ridden on the sidewalks. There can be no doubt as to the messages; the signs have a bicycle and skateboard on them, circled in red with a red slash across the feature and "NO" printed on the top and "SIDEWALKS" printed at the bottom.

On lovely summer days and evenings, with many restaurants offering outside dining on the sidewalks, and strollers having to walk on the restricted walks, I have observed over and over again, five to 10 bikers or skateboarders buzzing along on the sidewalks every 30 minutes or so, threatening life and limb of our walking public, to say nothing of the seated diners.

In my opinion, more parking restriction signs being posted on the streets are not advisable (even less room for the strolling public) since no citations are being issued to the skateboarders and bicyclists on any regular basis. A far more important issue as there could be injuries involved with the sidewalk pedestrians.

DICK WANDROCKE

Coeur d'Alene