Hopkinsville City Council approved an ordinance addressing pedestrian and traffic safety on first-reading at Tuesday’s meeting, as the ordinance underwent some changes recently.
The ordinance was deferred at the previous city council meeting, went to the Committee of the Whole for further discussion and then came back to council with some changes Tuesday. Mayor Carter Hendricks says the changes broaden the scope of the ordinance, adding more streets to the language, which is designed to encourage pedestrian safety and address panhandling.
The ordinance states that no person shall cross an arterial roadway—which now lists portions of Canton Pike, Canton Street, Country Club Lane, Cox Mill Road, East Seventh Street, East Ninth, East 21st, Fort Campbell Boulevard, Glass Avenue, Lafayette Road, McLean Avenue, North Drive, North Main Street, Skyline Drive, South Main Street, South Virginia Street, Walnut Street, West Seventh Street, West Ninth and West 14th Street— unless it is at a crosswalk or intersection with traffic control devices.
Hendricks says this ordinance won’t affect anyone crossing the street legally or walking down the street.
It states no person can approach a vehicle on the road unless it is legally parked at a curb or in a shoulder, and no person can be on a median unless they are in the process of legally crossing the roadway. There are some exceptions to the rule, such as rescue activities, repairing a vehicle, or entering a stopped vehicle as a passenger where it is lawful to do so. Councilmember Jason Bell was the sole no vote.
Council recognized Hopkinsville native Wayne Parthun, who recently received the Saint Joan of Arc Wayne E. Parthun Award for the Advancement and Defense of Christianity by the Order of St. Nazareth. The award will now hold his name, so all who receive it in the future will recognize his service and Tuesday was declared Wayne Parthun Day in celebration.