Title
Non-motorized Wheeled Vehicles on Sidewalks - For the purpose of encouraging the Maryland General Assembly to complete its work to amend State law to allow non-motorized wheeled vehicles on sidewalks by default.
Body
CITY COUNCIL OF THE
City of Annapolis
Resolution 42-23
Introduced by: Alderwoman O'Neill
A RESOLUTION concerning
Non-motorized Wheeled Vehicles on Sidewalks
FOR the purpose of encouraging the Maryland General Assembly to complete its work to amend State law to allow non-motorized wheeled vehicles on sidewalks by default.
WHEREAS, Maryland requires a more diverse and resilient transportation system to support its citizens and commerce; and
WHEREAS, Alternative transportation modes contribute increasingly to the diversity and resilience of the overall transportation system; and
WHEREAS, Non-motorized wheeled vehicles such as bicycles are growing in their importance among alternative modes of transportation; and
WHEREAS, Safety concerns represent the primary factor inhibiting the use of nonmotorized vehicles for transportation; and
WHEREAS, The development of new infrastructure, such as individualized road lanes and paths for non-motorized vehicles and pedestrian paths are hindered by lack of funding and slow pace; and
WHEREAS, Sidewalk infrastructure currently exists but is underutilized because child, elderly, and inexperienced cyclists are presently mandated by State law to use roads and streets designed for high-speed automotive traffic, even when safer and underutilized sidewalks are available; and
WHEREAS, State, county, and municipal laws are confusing, inconsistent, and either discourage or prohibit the safe use of existing infrastructure by non-motorized wheeled vehicles; and
WHEREAS, Maryland stands in a small minority of four out of 50 states and the District of Columbia in prohibiting by default non-motorized wheeled vehicles on sidewalks; and
WHEREAS, The City of Annapolis adopted Resolution R-2-21 on March 8, 2021, "encouraging the Maryland General Assembly to amend State law to allow non-motorized wheeled vehicles on sidewalks by default"; and
WHEREAS, The House of Delegates passed House Bill 519 (Bicycles, Play Vehicles, and Unicycles - Authorizations and Requirements) on March 15, 2023, in a 135-2 vote and sent it to the state Senate; and
WHEREAS, HB 519 (2023) would have authorized a person to ride a bicycle, play vehicle, or unicycle on a sidewalk or sidewalk area unless prohibited by local ordinance; and
WHEREAS, The Senate failed in both prior sessions to bring HR 519 and HB 1153 of 2022 to a vote; and
WHEREAS, The Annapolis Transportation Board voted on May 15, 2023, to support this resolution;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the Maryland General Assembly is encouraged to complete its work to modify the Maryland Annotated Code, Transportation Article, Section 5 21-1103(b)(2) to allow by default non-motorized vehicles on sidewalks throughout the State of Maryland and that Senator Sarah Elfreth, who represents us, redouble her effort to bring this to Senate vote and approval in the coming session.
AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the City Clerk shall send a copy of this Resolution to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and the Maryland Municipal League.