Walk safely, trim trees

With (finally) the arrival of spring, the Falls City Police Department has issued advisories based on complaints from citizens about trees and people walking in the streets.

Chief of Police John Caverzagie said the “walking in the street” issue surfaced late last fall, and that he waited to address it until this spring.  He cautioned that violations could result in citations and fines.

City ordinance provides for the following:  where a sidewalk is provided and its use is practicable, it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway or shoulder; where a sidewalk is not available and a shoulder is available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall walk only on the shoulder as far as practicable from the edge of the roadway; where neither a sidewalk nor a shoulder is available, any pedestrian who walks along and upon a highway shall walk as near as practicable to the edge of the roadway and, if on a two-way roadway, shall walk only on the left side of such roadway.

The Police Department emphasizes that these ordinances involve safety, both for walkers and drivers, and urges those who like to walk, either alone or in groups, to adhere to these rules of safety.

Tree clearance over streets and the sidewalk space is also addressed by ordinance.  It is the responsibility of the abutting property owner.  A clearance of eight (8) feet must be maintained over the sidewalk space and a clearance of twelve (12) feet must be maintained over streets.  Property owners are responsible for the trees on their own property, as well as trees on the sidewalk space that abuts their property.