(a) No person shall ride or operate a skateboard, roller blades or roller skates upon a sidewalk or public parking area within the Central Business District.
(b) The following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
(1) “Skateboard” means any vehicle or device capable of being operated or ridden by a person and consisting of a board, plank or platform mounted on wheels or rollers, whether propelled by gravity, muscle power or mechanical means, which is not equipped with a positive, mechanical means of steering such vehicle or device.
(2) “Roller blades” means a device with three or more in-line wheels and a platform affixed to the operator’s shoes or a device with three or more in- line wheels that are permanently affixed to boots or shoes to be worn by the operator and capable of being propelled by gravity or muscle power and which is not equipped with a mechanical means of steering.
(3) “Roller skates” means a device with four wheels and a platform affixed to the operator’s shoes or a device with four wheels that are permanently affixed to boots or shoes to be worn by the operator and capable of being propelled by gravity or muscle power and which is not equipped with a mechanical means of steering.
(4) “Central Business District” means the area bounded on the north by the south side of First Street, on the west by the east side of Elm Street, on the south by the north side of College Avenue, and on the east by the west side of Water Street for the north side of Main Street and by the Portage River on the south side of Main Street.
(c) When a person is roller blading, in-line skating or skateboarding on a street or public sidewalk, the person shall:
(1) Obey the instructions of official traffic control devices and signals applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
(2) Skate as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, obeying all traffic rules applicable to vehicles and exercise due care when passing standing vehicles.
(3) Skate in a line of no more than two skaters abreast in a single street lane, and the skaters shall move to a single line on the right side of the road when a vehicle is attempting to pass the skaters on a single lane street.
(4) Skate in pedestrian crosswalks when crossing a street, yielding the right of way to vehicles in the street approaching the intersection.
(5) When emerging from or turning into an alley, driveway, or building shall, upon approaching a sidewalk or the sidewalk area extending across any alley, driveway, or building, yield the right of way to all pedestrians approaching on such sidewalk area. Upon entering the street, the skater shall yield the right of way to all vehicles approaching on such street.
(6) Not impede street traffic by congregating in the street or by playing street hockey or other games in the street and failing to leave the street when street traffic approaches.
(7) Leave a street surface upon instruction of a police officer to leave the street.
(d) No parent, guardian or custodian of any skater under eighteen years of age shall authorize or knowingly permit any such skater to violate any of the provisions of this ordinance.
(e) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(Ord. 40-00. Passed 12-4-00.)