First let me say I don't Skate. I can not. I am young but just could not do it even if I wanted.

Also let me say that I see damage that is done by it by the wheels of the boards.

That being said. I am amazed by all the rules and signs about it in my local area. It amazes me that it is taken so seriously.

Here is a video from a Boston cop out of control about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GgWrV8TcUc

Please let me know what you thoughts are on SkateBoarding and how local governments handle the issue. Also any thoughts on the video?

Thanks,
Chris.

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A few years ago I went to a local Kroger and saw a sign "NO SKATEBOARDS". It's probably just as well because there would come a time when a kid would skate into a 90-year-old woman exiting the door. Then that Kroger would face a multimillion dollar lawsuit, and that woman might then start her last days in a nursing home.

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True.

A few years ago I went to a local Kroger and saw a sign "NO SKATEBOARDS". It's probably just as well because there would come a time when a kid would skate into a 90-year-old woman exiting the door. Then that Kroger would face a multimillion dollar lawsuit, and that woman might then start her last days in a nursing home.

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We had this problem where I used to live. Kids were skateboarding and using some intricate stone benches to do tricks off of. The benches were becoming chipped and damaged as a result. Skateboarding was then banned in the Village Limits.

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OMG! NOW, being a kid is a crime... ;)

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It may not be 1984 but George Orwell sure did see the future . . .

OMG is what I was saying after watching the video.

However, I am thinking the cop must have been having a problem in his personal life. Or he hated driving that strange looking car. Everyone is human I guess. But I think he needs some time off. and if he has done it before, well, then a lot more time off.

Chris.

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I have seen this in my downtown area as well. It sucks. But I often wonder if it is better to have a bit of damage .... at least in public areas ... than upset kids with nothing else to do.

Chris.

We had this problem where I used to live. Kids were skateboarding and using some intricate stone benches to do tricks off of. The benches were becoming chipped and damaged as a result. Skateboarding was then banned in the Village Limits.

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I watched the video. The police officer was reacting to what the kid was doing, not the skate boarding. Mouthing off to a police officer that wants to talk to you about something is a very bad idea. I notice that the other kids there that did not mouth off to the police officer were treated much more gently.

[edit]

There are two reasons that skateboarding gets outlawed. Damage to public property as it can be expensive to replace is the first, and the second is liability in crowded areas such as shopping malls. The tax payers, which includes more people than just a few skateboarders, end up paying the repair bills. If the skateboarders would all restrict themselves from doing stunts that damage the world around them (grinding comes to mind) there would be fewer restrictions on where skateboarding could be done. The owners of crowded venues have deeper pockets than the skateboarder, and would end up footing the liability bill if a skateboarder did run into an old lady if the owners did not enforce severe limitations on when and where skateboarding occured on theif property.

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BOINC WIKI

If the skateboarders would all restrict themselves from doing stunts that damage the world around them

Too bad nobody ever lectured the corporations about damaging the world around them... ;)

(Those darned kids.)

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It may not be 1984 but George Orwell sure did see the future . . .

If the skateboarders would all restrict themselves from doing stunts that damage the world around them

Too bad nobody ever lectured the corporations about damaging the world around them... ;)

Somewhat different problem, but not as much as you might think. They are both the tragedy of the commons. "I am not doing much damage to the common area." Which is true if it is just one individual, but not true if you multiply it a million fold.

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BOINC WIKI

Good points. In the past I have had many good friends that were cops. It is a very good idea not to month off to a cop. However, one should not fear cops. The police should understand the "learned" language of a group of people. Skateboard people are going to say the word dude. It is built in. Also, I have a huge issue with the level of force that was used to remove the skateboard. If the kid broke the law and the police want to enforce it, then issue a ticket. Yelling and "attacking" the kid or even an adult is not an option unless violence by the kid or and adult is first used.

I have an issue with the two reasons given below. For example, in my town (Winchester, Va) we have a "walking" mall downtown. I am a huge fan of safety, but that reason can not apply in my town. Few people walk on the mall even fewer buy things from it. Construction, delivery and garbage trucks drive on it all the time in a far more dangerous manner. Cars, bikes and skateboards are not allowed. Bikes would cause no damage ... maybe a safety issue. However, I just came back from the Virginia beach and they have a really busy bike/walking lane and there was no safety issue.

The second reason was damage. I have a problem with that. My city loves trees. They love to plant them along roads and on this walking mall. The roots of the trees hurt the sidewalks and the mall. The damage caused by these roots is far larger than anything that can be done with skateboards .. even if everyone in town had them.

I don't skate, never have, never will. But I have a problem with no fun allow polices. I also have a major problem with abuse of power. If the law is broken enforce it by a correct manner. If there are real reasons to ban skating, reasons that the city does not break in other ways then I am fine with that.

Chris.

I watched the video. The police officer was reacting to what the kid was doing, not the skate boarding. Mouthing off to a police officer that wants to talk to you about something is a very bad idea. I notice that the other kids there that did not mouth off to the police officer were treated much more gently.

[edit]

There are two reasons that skateboarding gets outlawed. Damage to public property as it can be expensive to replace is the first, and the second is liability in crowded areas such as shopping malls. The tax payers, which includes more people than just a few skateboarders, end up paying the repair bills. If the skateboarders would all restrict themselves from doing stunts that damage the world around them (grinding comes to mind) there would be fewer restrictions on where skateboarding could be done. The owners of crowded venues have deeper pockets than the skateboarder, and would end up footing the liability bill if a skateboarder did run into an old lady if the owners did not enforce severe limitations on when and where skateboarding occured on theif property.

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But I have a problem with no fun allow polices.

I'm guessing, you, like me, don't see potential 'terrorists' everywhere we look... ;)

(On the other hand, I do see a lot of actual oppressors everywhere I look.)

---

It may not be 1984 but George Orwell sure did see the future . . .

Good points. In the past I have had many good friends that were cops. It is a very good idea not to month off to a cop. However, one should not fear cops. The police should understand the "learned" language of a group of people. Skateboard people are going to say the word dude. It is built in. Also, I have a huge issue with the level of force that was used to remove the skateboard. If the kid broke the law and the police want to enforce it, then issue a ticket. Yelling and "attacking" the kid or even an adult is not an option unless violence by the kid or and adult is first used.

I have an issue with the two reasons given below. For example, in my town (Winchester, Va) we have a "walking" mall downtown. I am a huge fan of safety, but that reason can not apply in my town. Few people walk on the mall even fewer buy things from it. Construction, delivery and garbage trucks drive on it all the time in a far more dangerous manner. Cars, bikes and skateboards are not allowed. Bikes would cause no damage ... maybe a safety issue. However, I just came back from the Virginia beach and they have a really busy bike/walking lane and there was no safety issue.

The second reason was damage. I have a problem with that. My city loves trees. They love to plant them along roads and on this walking mall. The roots of the trees hurt the sidewalks and the mall. The damage caused by these roots is far larger than anything that can be done with skateboards .. even if everyone in town had them.

I don't skate, never have, never will. But I have a problem with no fun allow polices. I also have a major problem with abuse of power. If the law is broken enforce it by a correct manner. If there are real reasons to ban skating, reasons that the city does not break in other ways then I am fine with that.

Chris.

I watched the video. The police officer was reacting to what the kid was doing, not the skate boarding. Mouthing off to a police officer that wants to talk to you about something is a very bad idea. I notice that the other kids there that did not mouth off to the police officer were treated much more gently.

[edit]

There are two reasons that skateboarding gets outlawed. Damage to public property as it can be expensive to replace is the first, and the second is liability in crowded areas such as shopping malls. The tax payers, which includes more people than just a few skateboarders, end up paying the repair bills. If the skateboarders would all restrict themselves from doing stunts that damage the world around them (grinding comes to mind) there would be fewer restrictions on where skateboarding could be done. The owners of crowded venues have deeper pockets than the skateboarder, and would end up footing the liability bill if a skateboarder did run into an old lady if the owners did not enforce severe limitations on when and where skateboarding occured on theif property.

The problem with damage doesn't occur if the skateboarders keep the wheels on the pavement, it is when they do grinding - i.e. non-turning parts on painted steel or carved stone. This causes a great deal of damage. Yes, trees buckle sidewalks, but they typically do not scrape the paint of banisters and round the edges of stairs (both safety issues).

If all foot, skateboard and bicycle traffic is moving in the same direction, the hazard is greatly reduced. In a walking mall there is going to be travel in every direction and high speeds are a bad idea. As for the trucks, most places that I have seen walking malls restrict truck traffic to the wee hours of the morning (say 2:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.) and if your walking mall is not doing this, they are asking for trouble.

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BOINC WIKI

But I have a problem with no fun allow polices.

I'm guessing, you, like me, don't see potential 'terrorists' everywhere we look... ;)

(On the other hand, I do see a lot of actual oppressors everywhere I look.)

Not saying they are terrorists.

Fun would building a park specifically for skateboarding. Much more fun for the skateboarders, no danger to the public and no damage to public property...

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BOINC WIKI

Good points again. Thanks for the post. My town is a bit backward in its ways. They did restrict traffic then gave up. Thanks again.

Chris.

Good points. In the past I have had many good friends that were cops. It is a very good idea not to month off to a cop. However, one should not fear cops. The police should understand the "learned" language of a group of people. Skateboard people are going to say the word dude. It is built in. Also, I have a huge issue with the level of force that was used to remove the skateboard. If the kid broke the law and the police want to enforce it, then issue a ticket. Yelling and "attacking" the kid or even an adult is not an option unless violence by the kid or and adult is first used.

I have an issue with the two reasons given below. For example, in my town (Winchester, Va) we have a "walking" mall downtown. I am a huge fan of safety, but that reason can not apply in my town. Few people walk on the mall even fewer buy things from it. Construction, delivery and garbage trucks drive on it all the time in a far more dangerous manner. Cars, bikes and skateboards are not allowed. Bikes would cause no damage ... maybe a safety issue. However, I just came back from the Virginia beach and they have a really busy bike/walking lane and there was no safety issue.

The second reason was damage. I have a problem with that. My city loves trees. They love to plant them along roads and on this walking mall. The roots of the trees hurt the sidewalks and the mall. The damage caused by these roots is far larger than anything that can be done with skateboards .. even if everyone in town had them.

I don't skate, never have, never will. But I have a problem with no fun allow polices. I also have a major problem with abuse of power. If the law is broken enforce it by a correct manner. If there are real reasons to ban skating, reasons that the city does not break in other ways then I am fine with that.

Chris.

I watched the video. The police officer was reacting to what the kid was doing, not the skate boarding. Mouthing off to a police officer that wants to talk to you about something is a very bad idea. I notice that the other kids there that did not mouth off to the police officer were treated much more gently.

[edit]

There are two reasons that skateboarding gets outlawed. Damage to public property as it can be expensive to replace is the first, and the second is liability in crowded areas such as shopping malls. The tax payers, which includes more people than just a few skateboarders, end up paying the repair bills. If the skateboarders would all restrict themselves from doing stunts that damage the world around them (grinding comes to mind) there would be fewer restrictions on where skateboarding could be done. The owners of crowded venues have deeper pockets than the skateboarder, and would end up footing the liability bill if a skateboarder did run into an old lady if the owners did not enforce severe limitations on when and where skateboarding occured on theif property.

The problem with damage doesn't occur if the skateboarders keep the wheels on the pavement, it is when they do grinding - i.e. non-turning parts on painted steel or carved stone. This causes a great deal of damage. Yes, trees buckle sidewalks, but they typically do not scrape the paint of banisters and round the edges of stairs (both safety issues).

If all foot, skateboard and bicycle traffic is moving in the same direction, the hazard is greatly reduced. In a walking mall there is going to be travel in every direction and high speeds are a bad idea. As for the trucks, most places that I have seen walking malls restrict truck traffic to the wee hours of the morning (say 2:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.) and if your walking mall is not doing this, they are asking for trouble.

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