Published: November 14, 2008 09:03 am      

Downtown bicycle restrictions approved

CUMBERLAND — The Downtown Development Commission on Thursday approved restrictions on bicycles on Town Centre during peak hours.

The idea is not to limit bikers from accessing the mall, commission members said, but to ensure that bicyclists and pedestrians can patron the shops on the mall without hindering one another.

Signage will be posted at key points prior to the beginning of the next riding season in April alerting bicyclists to steer clear of the sidewalks in front of the stores, to move at a walking speed of 3 to 5 miles per hour, that pedestrians have the right of way at all times and no stunt riding or skateboarding is allowed.

The guidelines are the end of a two-year process when the DDC first voted to approve bikes on the mall. They are to fit in with the city’s Trails and Bikeways Master Plan.

Dave Romero, commission chairman, said the pros of the guidelines outweigh the negatives. Having an orderly way of conducting business and traveling through Town Centre would draw more people, Romero said. The drawbacks of having bikes on the mall are obvious — a safety hazard for pedestrians, and the signage being time- and labor-intensive.

Mark Rose, of Mark’s Daily Grind, wants to make sure patrons of downtown restaurants are able to navigate the mall’s thoroughfare safely and free from the threat of bike riders.

“There have been some close calls,” Rose said.

Trail users visiting downtown Cumberland don’t seem to be the problem, commission members said. Downtown Manager Ed Mullaney said one sticking point could be during the farmers markets, where foot and bike traffic could bottleneck on the mall.

“Hopefully, they use good judgment,” Mullaney said.

The commission hopes to put bike racks at key locations on the mall. The primary spot to get a parking space for bikes is the intersection of Baltimore and Mechanic streets where the kiosk is located, Romero said. The area could accommodate up to 24 bikes.

Mullaney is in favor of moving the kiosk — it blocks the view into the downtown mall. Commission member Doug Schmidt said most cyclists prefer to keep their bikes in sight. There are no restaurants at that end of the mall to make the idea of it being a good area to leave a bike locked up, members said.

Other bike rack locations could include the intersection of Baltimore and Liberty streets (eight bikes), Baltimore and Centre streets (12) and Baltimore and George streets (24). Member Regis Larkin suggested the space between the Bell Tower building, home of the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, and City Hall.

Commission members questioned whether students from the Allegany County Center for Career and Technical Education could help build the bike racks to save money. Terri Bennett, of the city’s economic development department, said the commission could pursue an alternative option and learn whether prison labor could be used.

The commission next meets at 8:15 a.m. on Dec. 11 at City Hall.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.