ORDINANCE No.

*Change the prohibitions relating to skates and skateboarding
(Ordinance; amend Code Chapter 16.70.410).

 The City of Portland ordains: 

Section 1. The Council finds:

1.      Portland citizens regularly use roller skates, in-line skates and skateboards, as transportation to various activities within the City of Portland.

2.    Use of these non-motorized devices in a safe and legal manner meets established City transportation goals including maintenance of clean air, reduction of vehicle miles traveled and promotion of alternative means of transportation.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs: 

a.      Section 16.70.410 of the City Code is amended as follows:

A.    No person may use roller skates, including in-line skates, skateboards, scooters, or other similar devices powered exclusively by human power upon any sidewalk within the area bounded by and including SW Jefferson, Naito Parkway, NW Hoyt and 13th Avenue.

B.    No person may use roller skates, including in-line skates, skateboards, scooters, or other similar devices powered exclusively by human power upon any street, roadway or sidewalk on SW 5th or 6th Avenues between SW Lincoln and Burnside, and on NW 5th or 6th Avenues between Burnside and Union Station.

C.    All persons under 16 years of age shall wear protective headgear when using roller skates, including in-line skates, skateboards, scooters, or other similar devices powered exclusively by human power upon any street, sidewalk, or areas open to the public.  The penalty for failure to wear protective headgear as required in this subsection shall be a maximum fine of $25.00. 

D.    All persons using roller skates, including in-line skates, skateboards, scooters, or other similar devices powered exclusively by human power upon any street or sidewalk between the hours of sunset and sunrise must be equipped with and use lighting equipment that shows a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front of the device.

 All persons using roller skates, including in-line skates, skateboards, scooters, or othersimilar devices powered exclusively by human power upon any street or sidewalkbetween the hours of sunset and sunrise must be equipped with and use lighting equipment that has a red reflector or lighting device or material of such size orcharacteristic and so mounted, carried or worn as to be visible from all distances up to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlights on a motor vehicle. 

E.      Persons using roller skates, including in-line skates, skateboards, scooters, or other similar devices powered exclusively by human power upon any street, sidewalk or premises open to the public shall be subject to the provisions applicable to and shall have the same rights and duties as the driver of a bicycle as provided by the Oregon Vehicle Code, except when those provisions by their very nature can have no application.

 F.    A copy of a citation issued for violation of this section by persons under 16 years of age shall be mailed to the parents or guardians of the cited person at their home address, if known. 

G.    The Portland Department of Transportation shall monitor and maintain a record ofinjuries and deaths attributed to riders of roller skates, including in-line skates, a skateboard, or other similar device in the City of Portland and report their findings annually to City Council. 

H.    Before this ordinance takes effect, the Portland Department of Transportation shall consult with the Bureau of Risk Management to minimize claims resulting from defects in City streets.

 I.    The Portland Office of Transportation will report back to the City Council no later than October 1, 2001 on the impacts of the changes to Section 16.70.410 of the City Code.

Commissioner Charlie Hales

LM:pk

November 7, 2000

Passed by the Council: Gary Blackmer

Auditor of the City of Portland  By: Deputy