4 Answers

I am astonished to read that! What do people do for protection against the rain??? I'm glad I don't live there, it would play havoc with my hair!

I didn't know it but I can't say that I disagree with the ban.How many times have you come close to losing an eye because someone wasn't taking due care with their umbrella?

Ducky

Yeah, it's all fun and games until someone loses any eye!

Actually, news reports (and you can believe whatever you want) say Seattle is not allowing people to sit and have an open umbrella.  Standing with an open umbrella is premissible. 
It is far-fetched to call an umbrella a structure, but it kind of makes sense (not passing a law, but common sense) that a crowd of people sitting and holding open umbrellas over their heads would create quite a "traffic" or "pedestrian" jam.  I didn't read the whole article, but it appears there was a problem at some sit-in or protest.   The article also mentions people not being allowed to stand under awnings or wrap themselves in a tarp. 

There are many countrys that have rain, people use umberellas, so far, have not heard of any ones eye, been taken out by umberella. People also have responsilbly to look where they are going. You are right Bob/PKB, its America, and any thing is possible.