The Fishers City Council will likely give final consideration to the cycling ordinance in July, which spells out the rights and responsibilities of cyclists and motorists.

Councilman Pete Peterson said the ordinance is an overreach.  He questioned the need for such a measure.

“It’s going to be virtually impossible to enforce,” Peterson said.  “I don’t really see what the overall problem is in the community, other than a couple of people got honked off at some bike riders because they were going down the road.”

Police Chief Mitch Thompson responded that local bicyclists want a 3-foot passing rule, and that is one reason the ordinance is being proposed.  The Chief says enforcement is not easy now, but new technologies on the horizon will likely change that.

Thompson said the goal was a balance  to spell out the rights and responsibilities of both motorists and cyclists.

The latest revision of the ordinance would not require bicyclists to wear a helmet on residential streets, but would require a helmet on all other city roadways.

The council passed the ordinance on 2nd reading, meaning the full council will make a final decision on the wording at next month’s council session, possibly with more revisions.

Here is the text of the ordinance passed on second reading Monday night, available at this link.