ALAMOSA — Speed demons beware, the city is adopting a speed limit in parking lots that will make the spaces safer.

Currently, there isn’t a speed limit in city or private parking lots, but that’s going to change to 20 m.p.h. Although some council members thought 20 m.p.h. still was too fast, Alamosa Police Chief Ken Anderson said it’s a start.

“Right now, we have people going 45 m.p.h. in some parking lots,” Anderson said, adding that presently, they can only ticket someone if they’re driving recklessly or for improper backing.

Anderson explained to the council that most of the offenses happen in the larger parking lots, such as City Market and Walmart. “We’ve got drivers using these as thoroughfares,” Anderson added.

Some council members questioned whether 20 m.p.h. was actually still too fast. Alamosa City Manager Heather Brooks explained that the speed can be revisited and lowered.

In a related matter, resident Don Thompson approached the council during the public comment segment of the meeting. Thompson would like the city to consider allowing bicyclists to use stoplights as yields, providing traffic has cleared.

“We can’t trigger the stoplight like a car can,” Thompson said, adding that the State of Colorado has allowed the individual municipalities to adopt their own ordinances in regard to bicycle rules.

When asked his professional opinion, Anderson stated he’s not in favor of the change. “I think it would do more harm than good ... I have concerns with people using stoplights as stop signs,” he explained.

Brooks added that there are a group of cyclists in town who are very educated and responsible, such as Thompson, and many who are not.

Thompson suggested the city consider regulating those who ride on the wrong side of the road, which he sees regularly.

Brooks added that public input is important. There will be a public hearing prior to the next council meeting on Oct. 16.