The Las Vegas strip pedestrian bridges are more than a normal walkway for residents and tourists. Visitors and tourists usually pause on the bridges to take pictures or videos of the glittery casino lights or to watch street performers do their thing. However, there is now a strict rule that bans this from happening.
The Clark County commissioners voted unanimously this month to ban standing or pausing for long periods on the bridges. The official bill states that it prohibits people from “stopping, standing or engaging in an activity that causes another person to stop” on Strip pedestrian bridges.
This law also applies up to 20 feet (6 meters) surrounding connected stairs, elevators, and escalators. However, people can still stop or stand when waiting to use an elevator, escalator, or stairs.
Furthermore, a violation of this new law is punishable by law. Violators could face up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine. This will undoubtedly affect the tourists and regulars who enjoy watching the street performances and other sources of attraction.
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Yet, the Clark County officials said in a statement that this was not their aim. They said the new “pedestrian flow zone ordinance” isn’t meant to target street performers or people who stop to take pictures but to increase public safety by ensuring a continuous flow of pedestrian traffic across the bridges.
“[It] will help to ensure our world-class tourism destination remains a safe place for people to visit and transverse,” the statement said. However, many people do not see it like that. Instead, they claim that the ban violates many of their rights, which the First Amendment protects.
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For example, a street performer, take a mime, can no longer perform on bridges. Violinists who frequent the bridges will no longer be able to perform without fear of a ban. Athar Haseebullah, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, also highlighted many instances.
“That might mean the right to protest. That might mean someone who’s sharing expressions of their faith. [Or] that might mean a street performer,” he said.
He also noted that those rights are “protected at their highest level” in public spaces. Pedestrian bridges are not left out in this. People should be free to carry out their regular activities without fines or possible jail time lingering above their heads.
In response, the county said it plans to install signs on the sip bridges to mark the prohibited areas for stopping and standing. Therefore, people may still be able to stand in some areas to watch performances or take pictures of scenery.
Structurally, it will do the bridges a lot of good to have fewer people standing on them for many hours daily. It will also reduce the ‘wear and tear’ and increase the durability of the bridges with time.
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