Skateboards, longboards, bicycles, in-line skates and roller skates allow students to travel more quickly than walking, but many of the bike, skate and board owners are unaware of the laws, statutes and ordinances in place to keep riders, drivers and pedestrians safe.

The Platteville City Ordinance 38.13 states that:

“(1) No person shall ride upon or use any bicycle, skateboard, roller skate or in-line skate on any sidewalk adjacent to any street that is within the area bordered by Pine Street, Water Street, Furnace Street or Chestnut Street.

(2) No person shall ride upon or use any skateboard, roller skate or in-line skate on any street within the city limits of the City of Platteville except while crossing a roadway at a crosswalk.”

The Platteville Police Department would like to remind riders of this ordinance, as the department has received multiple complaints about skateboarders and bicyclists riding on the sidewalks and roadways of Main Street.

Skateboards are not allowed on any street in Platteville. It poses imminent danger to the rider, pedestrians and vehicles because skateboards do not have a brake system. Skateboards are, however, allowed on sidewalks and in crosswalks outside of the area bordered by the four streets listed in the ordinance.

“Weeks ago we had a skateboarder on the street run into a car and break the windshield, and amazingly, I don’t think they were very hurt out of the incident, but that could’ve played out entirely differently,” Doug McKinley, Platteville Chief of Police said.

A person riding in the downtown area can receive a fine of $263.50 if they are not following the ordinance. Bikes are not allowed on the streets or sidewalks because the sidewalks are narrow and bicyclists tend to ride past stores too quickly as people are exiting, possibly resulting in an injury.

“There’s a lot of people out there that are not thinking ahead of time before what they’re doing,” Nick Zelinski, freshman mechanical engineering major said.

“It’s pretty helpful to hear [the ordinance],” Aidan Livingston, freshman criminal justice and psychology major, said. “It probably would’ve been helpful if I was told at the beginning of the year because who knows how many chances there could’ve been that I could’ve gotten a fine.”

For a complete list of restrictions on bicycles and other wheeled travelling devices visit http://www.uwplatt.edu/residence-life/bicycle-regulation-info.