The Peterborough Select Board repealed a town code that banned skateboarding and rollerblading in the downtown and shopping areas, replacing it with a less-restrictive ordinance following a public hearing on Tuesday evening.
Town Administrator Nicole MacStay said the new code was “very nearly a whole rewrite” of the short ordinance. Select Board Chair Tyler Ward had requested the rewrite, suggesting that the ban on skateboarding downtown was outdated, and that it should be allowed, as long as people were respectful and not acting recklessly.
MacStay said the new ordinance covered those provisions.
“It’s fine to do that, as long as you’re doing it in a safe way,” she said.
The public hearing on the new code lasted only minutes, with only one person present, who said they approved of the changes. Police Chief Scott Guinard said he was fine with the changes.
The Select Board unanimously adopted the new code.
The previous code did not allow skateboards or roller skates on public highways or sidewalks in the central business area and shopping plazas, villages or malls during business hours. It also banned riding skateboards after dusk until dawn. Anyone found in violation of the code could be fined $50, and have their skateboard or roller skates impounded by the police for up to 30 days.
Bicycles were allowed in the downtown, but had to be ridden in accordance with state law, and ridden in a “prudent and careful manner” and at a “reasonable rate of speed,” or riders could face the same penalties.
The newly approved code does away with the downtown ban for skateboards and roller skates. While riders can still be stopped or fined by police, it would be for violating general operating rules. Under the new rules, any manually powered or motorized transportation other than a car has to operate under state laws, have a lamp and reflective clothing if traveling after dark, and people cannot operate the transport while holding onto or attached to a moving motor vehicle.
The rules keep the language around the operation of bicycles being ridden prudently and at a reasonable rate of speed.
The fines for violation remain the same.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.