A mandatory bicycle dismount zone is coming to downtown Longmont, but not quite as soon as originally planned.
Starting Jan. 1, riders of bicycles, skateboards, scooters will be required to dismount and walk on sidewalks on the east side of Main Street between Second and Longs Peak avenues or on the west side of Main between Third and Longs Peak avenues.
The rules are part of an ordinance unanimously passed by Longmont City Council Tuesday night that differs from an earlier version that banned riders on all sidewalks on either side of Main between First and Longs Peak avenues.
The original dismount zone was part of a regional bus route at the west side of Third Avenue and Main Street. It also included a segment of the St. Vrain Greenway detour from First to Second avenues, planners said.
The previous version of the ordinance would have taken effect Aug. 10.
Pushing the ordinance back until the start of the new year will provide time to begin a public education campaign about the dismount law, city officials said. Crews will install bike routing signs to direct bicyclists around the dismount zone to alleys behind Main Street.
A public education plan also will be unveiled to explain the new rules for riding bikes downtown.
The change in the ordinance came after Bicycle Longmont asked the Longmont Downtown Development Authority and the city to reconfigure the boundaries of the dismount zone, said Ben Ortiz, Longmont transportation planner.
Staff members said the revised ordinance still includes a $300 maximum fine for violating the dismount zone, but warnings will be issued to first-time violators.
