Goderich Council Delays Sidewalk Ban Over Enforcement Concerns

The Goderich Town Council discussed a proposed municipal bylaw to ban bicycles and e-scooters from local sidewalks during a July 13 meeting. While council members expressed general support for the measure to improve safety, they opted to delay a final decision until they receive further staff reports and review provincial legislation.

Concerns centered on the logistics of enforcement. Because a local bylaw would shift responsibility from the Ontario Provincial Police to municipal staff, members questioned whether the town has the capacity to uphold the rule. Mayor Trevor Bazinet highlighted the legitimacy of these concerns, citing a fatal collision in the Municipality of Kincardine as a primary driver for the proposal.

To supplement potential regulation, Councillor Liz Petrie proposed an educational program for students to increase public awareness of fines and the dangers of sidewalk riding. Deputy Mayor Leah Noel noted that enforcement and safety issues regarding sidewalks are common across various municipalities in the province.