DAYTON, Ohio -- Eastmont resident Jeff Bush says he's been hit with a beer can and called lots of names while riding a bike on the streets of Dayton.

Once, a teen even reached out of a car window and tried to grab his bike tire.

He asked the Dayton City Commission on Wednesday, Sept. 3, to reconsider a local law that requires bicyclists older than 11 to ride in the street.

"I don't think it's worth a 12-year-olds life and I don't think it's worth my life," Bush said.

Dayton law states that: Bicycles shall not be ridden on sidewalks and sidewalk areas of highways of the city unless established by the traffic engineer as a sidewalk bike path.

The provision does not apply to children younger than 11 when riding a bicycle with wheels that are 20 inches or less in diameter and a seat height no more than 25 inches from the ground.

Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin thought the suggestion should be studied with more bicyclists on Dayton streets due to high gas prices.

"The bicycle issue is something that needs reviewed," McLin said. "Could be some visionary epiphany we're having here."

McLin suggested City Manager Rashad Young create a task force that includes police and bike enthusiasts to look into the pros and cons of the idea.

"As we are encouraging more and more people to ride bikes and we don't have bike lanes, there appears to be a safety element involved," McLin said.

City Commissioner Nan Whaley volunteered to be a part of the task force.

"If we're truly going to talk about being a 'green city' and walkability ... I think we have to rediscuss and look at the overall policy."

(Article courtesy of DaytonDailyNews.com)