Created: 10/28/2009 9:50:04 AM 
Charlotte, NC -- You've heard about smoking bans in restaurants and other buildings. But, what about on public sidewalks?
The Charlotte City Council is considering just that. Central Piedmont Community College requested aban on some sidewalks that intersect with the campus.
Mary Gillett, coordinator of the Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition in Guilford County, said she hadn't heard about any similar efforts in the Triad.
Currently many college and hospital campuses have smoking bans, including Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. But, smoking is allowed on city-owned streets that run through or near the campuses.
"It's about the only place that we can smoke," said Omar Blair, a smoker for the past 15 years.
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center became smoke-free two years ago, but public roads and sidewalks run through campus.
"It's not messing with anybody, it's not bothering anybody. The smoke is going up in the air," said Richard Harris, 21, who said he has been smoking since the age of six.
A hospital spokesperson said there were discussions two years ago about possibly prohibiting smoking on the public sidewalks, but nothing ever came of that.
Now the similar proposal in Charlotte has smokers talking.
"If they cut out the smoking on the sidewalks, where can we smoke?," Blair said.
"I think people would find a way to smoke no matter what," said Kelly Carroll, who has smoked for about five years.
"I think, you know, it's a personal decision to be a smoker, and it shouldn't be everyone else's problem."
While she smokes in front of the hospital about three times a day, she's in favor of banning smoking on public sidewalks.
"It looks almost worse having the streets lined with smokers as opposed to being hidden in smoking areas inside," she said.
Talk of outlawing smoking on sidewalks in Charlotte comes on the heels of other tobacco regulations, including one prohibiting smoking in restaurants.
"I think it's long past due. I think smoking in a restaurant is like putting a peeing section in a pool," she said.
"I understand about the public buildings and restaurants and hospitals and places like that, but outside, i think it shouldn't be no problem at all," Blair said.
North Carolina will ban smoking in restaurants and bars next year. The new smoking law takes effect Jan. 2 and allows local governments to ban smoking in public parks but officials say it's not clear that sidewalks are included.
North Carolina is behind much of the nation for smoking bans. But a spokeswoman for a nonsmoking advocacy group says banning smoking on sidewalks would push Charlotte to the forefront of anti-smoking efforts.
YOUR TAKE: Would you agree with a smoking ban on public sidewalks? Comment below.
The Associated Press/WFMY News 2
