[excerpted from the Journal-Sentinel]

With one small change, the Common Council adopted an ordinance on Tuesday that makes bicycle registration in the city voluntary and brings other rules covering cycling in concert with current state law.

That includes removing the rule that required cyclists to ride single-file on city streets and replacing it with the statutory language that allows riding two-abreast, as long as motor vehicles aren't impeded. Check here for additional details of the ordinance.

Ald. Robert Puente pushed through one amendment to the measure. It will allow cyclists with disabilities to ride on city sidewalks. The new rules otherwise prohibit anyone older than 10 from riding on sidewalks or public playgrounds.

Much of the ordinance, introducted by Ald. Nik Kovac, was written to bring the city rules into compliance with the state law.

It also creates a police bicycle and equipment fund, which will be used to pay for patrol bicycles and related gear. The cash for the fund will be generated from the $25 fee for redemption of a bike that has been impounded by the police, and the sales of abandoned bicycles.

Under the ordinance, authorities will placard and haul off abandoned bikes under the same rules applied to motor vehicles.