Evans City Councilman Jim Gloeckner says a proposed ordinance dealing with skateboards, bicycles, inline skates and scooters would, in essence, make all children criminals.

That's one of the reasons why he opposes the ordinance, which would ban the four recreational transportation "vehicles" from sidewalks in the borough's commercial district. He also said the ordinance would endanger children's welfare because bicyclists would have to ride on the streets.

While he makes valid arguments, those arguments don't give adequate weight to the other side of the issue — the safety of people, especially the elderly, using the sidewalks and the right of business people to have their establishments' entrances unobstructed — in this case, by riders.

The issue of passing such an ordinance would not have become a community issue if young people would have exercised good judgment with respect to their access to the business district's sidewalks. Instead, there have been complaints about bike riders traveling on the sidewalks at dangerous speeds, and skateboarders causing damage, testing residents' and business owners' patience.

Although only a relatively small number of young people are responsible for the conduct in question, it is a much larger number of young people who will experience the ramifications of the council's decision.

That's unfortunate but in this case necessary. It's unfair to those whose actions haven't contributed to the need for the ordinance but is indicative of their inability or unwillingness to encourage those who are the problem to change their unacceptable conduct for the benefit of all.

Gloeckner is exaggerating when he says the ordinance would make all children criminals. However, he was right to bring that aspect of the issue to the table for discussion.

The issue is in fact a valuable lesson for Evans City's young people about the price to be paid in terms of more restrictions when a few, by their actions, ignore the rights and well-being of everyone else.

In May, some skateboarders asked the council to consider building a skate park. The council suggested that the youths explore possible options and report back to the council.

Instead of continuing the dialogue and building a positive rapport with the council, the youths never returned, resulting in the issue moving to its current juncture.

The proposed ordinance doesn't project the message that Evans City government doesn't like young people. Rather, the message is that the council is serious about its responsibility to maintain order and public safety.

That is laudable.

If anyone is offended by that, so be it.