In quest of fun or pursuing something unlawful? The image posted by Aspen Police Department on Facebook forced the local residents to contemplate this question. The image depicted a simple and innocent picture of a girl with a ponytail pedalling a bike with perhaps a younger acquaintance or her sibling riding the handlebars, or it could even be a mother enjoying a bike ride with her child. The setting of the picture was a common suburban sidewalk in Aspen, with an abundant stretch of greenery separating them from the street. It stands out as a perfectly normal scene devoid of any other person or any hint of jeopardy.
The Aspen Police proclaims that according to Colorado law, riding tandem on a single seat bike is unequivocally illegal, as is riding bicycles on sidewalks. This innocent attempt at having fun could potentially lead to injuries to the rider or others, leading the police to label the culprits as ‘Sidewalk Sallys.’ To those unaware, the term ‘Sidewalk Sally’ is not represented in the dictionary, yet it was creatively coined by the Aspen Police to educate the residents.
Residents of Aspen were warned against evolving into ‘Sidewalk Sallys’, risking a fine or even a visit to the ER, both outcomes adding an unnecessary level of severity to an innocent pastime like cycling which has been enjoyed by all since time immemorial. The post sparked a massive reaction, roping in over 300 comments from the residents, a figure significantly higher compared to responses to previous posts.
The sentiment echoed in most responses hinted at a lack of real crimes in Aspen, leading to the over-policing of innocent activities. One of the popular sentiments expressed in the comments pointed towards the irony of adults lamenting kids’ lack of outdoor activities, only to berate and regulate the few recreational initiatives they embark upon. Some even humorously suggested that the children be allowed to play amidst the traffic for lack of alternative non-law-breaking activity spots.
The post found resonance amongst many who reflected upon their own childhood days, reminiscing about how parents encouraged cycling on the sidewalks as a rule, contrary to what is now being preached. For them, the crime tag attached to cycling, a harmless and healthy activity, was anything but obvious.
However, the dominant motif throughout the discussions was residents’ frustration at the over-regulation of mundane routines of life. Several comments highlighted how law enforcement was turning everyday activities into offenses. One recurring theme was along the lines of, ‘So, essentially, every child since the invention of the bicycle has been a lawbreaker?’
Many urged the law enforcers to attend to actual crimes rather than focusing on such ordinary activities. A few pointed out the increasing trend of fabricating laws leading to an unnecessary inflating of the police force, resulting in the casting of normal citizens as offenders. They argued that this pattern is a perpetuating cycle that continuously fabricates criminals rather than solving the issue at hand.
Some even alluded to the detrimental effects of perpetual legislation, noting that the creation of more rules means the need for more law enforcement, a pattern that, paradoxically, leads to generating more offenses and continued growth in legislation and enforcement.
A glimmer of positivity was seen in the midst of this tug-of-war between the Aspen community and the law enforcement. In 2022, a piece of legislation called the Reasonable Childhood Independence law was passed in Colorado. Declaring independence in childhood as an absolute virtue, the law asserted that parents are not obligated to keep a constant vigil over their children.
Such judicious steps taken by the state provided a beacon of hope to the Aspen residents. The onus now lies with a state as wise as Colorado to convince Aspen’s locals that harmonizing bikes, children, sidewalks, and sharing is as natural as the symbiotic relation between summer, sunshine, and ski resorts.