ROTHESAY, N.B. - A town in southwest New Brunswick is getting set to amend its bylaws to ban road hockey. Mayor Bill Bishop said Monday he doesn't have anything against the game, but he contends it's not safe to have people playing hockey on the streets of Rothesay, a town just northeast of Saint John.

The mayor said things have changed since he was a youngster playing on the roads of the community. "We were forced to play in the street. I think with the number of cars now, it's a danger."

"I don't see very many people playing road hockey."

Bishop also said that there are now arenas and community centres that people can use for outdoor games.

A traffic bylaw that includes the road hockey ban passed second reading on Monday night.

Coun. Don Shea said during debate that he also wanted the bylaw extended to ban people from jogging on main roads in the town.

Municipal bylaws prohibit road hockey and other street sports in many towns and cities across Canada. In Ontario, the Highway Traffic Act outlaws game-playing on all public streets in the province.

For years, however, it has been an unwritten rule that as long as players clear the road when a vehicle needs to pass, quiet streets are fair game.

The issue of ball hockey on streets became controversial in Hamilton, Ont., in January when a player was charged with violating a bylaw banning games and sports on city streets.

The justice of the peace ruled the bylaw had not been violated, resulting in celebrations among road hockey enthusiasts across Canada.