Those who use a skateboard for getting around, may soon be able to legally cruise through downtown Cheyenne.

The Cheyenne City Council voted 5 to 4 on Monday night to amend a section of the city code which prohibits skateboards and similar devices in the downtown area.

Councilman Dr. Mark Rinne, who sponsored the ordinance, says it's different than the proposal Councilman Richard Johnson failed to push through in September.

"Richard's was essentially a repeal of an existing ordinance," said Rinne. "I kept some of the restrictions from the existing ordinance."

Rinne's ordinance would allow people to use skateboards downtown, but only as a means of transportation.

"They can use the streets (and) sidewalks, but if they're going to stop and skate on somebody's private property they have to get written permission to do that," said Rinne.

Councilwoman Annette Williams moved to amend the ordinance so that skateboarders were responsible for any injuries to themselves or others, but the amendment failed on a 6 to 3 vote.

"I have run this by the Chief of Police and he has no problem with it," said Rinne. "You can skateboard on the streets of Manhattan, so I don't see why we can't give it a try."

Council members Jim Brown, Mike Luna, Annette Williams and Mayor Rick Kaysen voted against the ordinance. Councilman Dicky Shanor was not present.

The ordinance will go back to the Public Services Committee on November 22 before returning to the council for third and final reading on November 28.

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