A lot of confusion has been stirred up about a little-known city ordinance restricting skateboards, as a proposed change to it has brought the policy to the forefront.

Turns out, riders need not be concerned, as the revision won’t change much in practice.

City officials are reconsidering the wording of a proposed amendment to the decades-old ordinance that restricts skateboarding in the City of Bradford. Administrator Eric Taylor said that in practice, the restriction applies only to the Downtown Business District and not the broader city or its parks.

The amendment, which aims only to include electric scooters, hoverboards and other personal electric vehicles in the ordinance, has drawn confusion from residents. Based on Facebook comments and inquiries submitted to The Era, many people were unaware that such an ordinance even existed.

The existing regulation, enacted in 1974, is listed as Article Six, 154-20, and prohibits skateboarding in the City of Bradford. The proposed amendment, Article Six, 154-21, would expand the list of prohibited devices to include more-modern motorized and non-motorized skateboards, hoverboards, scooters, and electric unicycles “designed for fun and leisure,” but, again, the ordinance would continue to apply largely within the Downtown Business District.

Taylor clarified that the amendment will not apply to mobility scooters, wheelchairs or other assistive devices for people with disabilities.

“It also won’t apply to electric bikes, as those are covered under state law,” Taylor said.

Still, violation of the ordinance could carry a fine of as much as $1,000 or a jail term of as long as 90 days.

“We won’t put it through for a second reading until we review it again,” said Taylor. “We won’t vote on it until after that second reading.”

He added that the revised version likely won’t be ready for the next council meeting set Aug. 12.

“I would hope we have it figured out for the next meeting on the 26th,” he said.