By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES— It’s nothing new. It’s always been the rule. But the signs disappeared when a new bridge was being built 10 years ago.

Bikes are not allowed on the town dock.

Recently, Naples Town Manager John Hawley received a request from a resident for the town to post a sign prohibiting people from riding bicycles on the public dock.

The resident was walking with a grandchild when someone on a bike raced across the dock and almost struck the child.

Hawley mentioned the incident during the Naples Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday. He was looking for the selectmen to authorize the use of a sign on the dock.

Naples resident Jimmy Allen, who was in the audience on Monday, spoke up. 

“There were signs there before the concrete bridge was constructed,” Allen said, providing some history to the dock etiquette. 

Someone suggested that the town add no skateboard on the dock.

Newly elected selectman Colin Brackett suggested putting up a sign that said foot traffic only. Another selectman liked the idea of pedestrian traffic only. Hawley wrote down the latter suggestion.

The concern was expressed that without the sign the town could be sued if there were a collision between a cyclist and a pedestrian on the dock.

“We would be exempt from the liability either way,” Hawley said. “The sign would deter somebody.”