Tom's Mailbag is a local question and answer feature of the News-Gazette and it had a couple local highlights that intersected with local government. First off, brunch booze:
Outdoor alcohol serviceThe full mailbag is available here. It answers a question about who owns the dockless bikes and the cost of theft (unlike some other systems, the cities do not in ours). There was also a question about the surface work on country roads making a bicyclist's journey a bit more perilous than usual. The response by the Champaign Township struck me as a bit cold-hearted (Update: apparently others too as it got a few responses in the next mailbag as well), while perhaps intending to be deadly serious:
"While at brunch in downtown Champaign on Sunday last weekend we were surprisingly told that we could not purchase alcohol in the outside dining area until noon. Some research indicates that a new bill (2018-045) included several amendments to the city code, one of which restricts the sale of alcohol at an outdoor cafe until noon on Sundays (Article III (Sec. 5-31.1)). I wasn't able to find any discussion about this in the city council minutes or study sessions. This certainly puts a damper on Sunday morning brunches on beautiful mornings! Any idea why this 'no outdoor alcohol' until noon on Sundays law suddenly appeared?"
Champaign Mayor Deb Feinen said the rule all along has prohibited outdoor alcohol service before noon, but that because of your question (and others the city has received) a change is in the offing, perhaps in August.
"This was an existing provision in the outdoor café rider language already that was not changed. We have stepped up all around enforcement of downtown cafes this summer and the prior non-compliance came to light," she explained. "I have been contacted by several people about this issue and just this week talked to council and the deputy liquor commissioner about revising the outdoor café rules and liquor code to allow for an earlier time frame for outdoor service.
"Staff got the go ahead (Tuesday) night (after the council meeting) and I expect that we will try to move quickly to get this on an agenda so that people can still enjoy the remainder of the good weather."
The roads you were riding on are township roads and are the responsibility of Champaign Township Highway Commissioner Keith Padgett.There was also an article today on Urbana "dismount zones" to encourage riders to walk their bikes through pedestrian areas in downtown:
"It is unfortunate that the bike rider chooses to ride on rural roads while there are many bike dedicated paths in the Champaign-Urbana area. There are far too many bike rider/vehicle deaths in rural areas of townships but that is the choice they are making," he said. "Champaign Township as well as many other townships utilize the oil and chip method to maintain the desired integrity of rural roadways within the boundaries of each township."
Circle marks the spot to dismountFull article here.
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Round blue decals reading, “Dismount zone, walk your wheels,” popped up last week on Main Street, between Race Street and Broadway Avenue.
The idea is to prompt bicyclists to get off their bikes and walk them through the busy downtown business area, said Assistant City Engineer Craig Shonkwiler.
“We’ve had some issues with bicyclists riding their bicycles on the downtown sidewalks,” which is prohibited by a city ordinance that carries a $100 fine, he said.
“But we’re trying to take a more positive approach,” Shonkwiler said.
The decals were also put down on Goodwin Avenue north of University Avenue, near Durst Bicycle shop.
“We had a situation where a bicyclist was riding on the sidewalk, and somebody opened the door to one of the businesses there, and they hit the door,” he said.
“Particularly downtown, where there’s so many pedestrians, with doors that open onto the sidewalk, we’d really like people to dismount from their bicycles or skateboards and just walk through there,” he said.
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