Skateboarders=Petty Criminals. Discuss.
Near my house there is a plan to put a disability access path through some bushland which locals are objecting too. It will be 1 in 20 gradiant 1 metre wide and is designed like a zig zag. You will agree no much good to skateboarders of any type really.
But one of the argurments the locals have come up with is that the path will attract skateboarders! It's kind of like the general public equate skateboarders to cane toads or indian minor birds but leaves alone bikes, joggers and other deviant hellraisers. The old fart who wanted me to sign his petition said they would be a risk to old people ( I guess like him!).
So please do you bit for the future or skateboarding today and take out the next old fart who gets in your way, especially if he's carrying a clipboard!
Whew I feel better now....
But one of the argurments the locals have come up with is that the path will attract skateboarders! It's kind of like the general public equate skateboarders to cane toads or indian minor birds but leaves alone bikes, joggers and other deviant hellraisers. The old fart who wanted me to sign his petition said they would be a risk to old people ( I guess like him!).
So please do you bit for the future or skateboarding today and take out the next old fart who gets in your way, especially if he's carrying a clipboard!
Whew I feel better now....
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Replies to This Discussion
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ASRA AdminPermalink Reply by Bugs on -
* Skatestoppers.
* Skateboarding as "urban pathology".
* Skateboarding and Public Space
Many people don't see the point of skateboarding. It's not productive, and as a form of recreation it lacks the easy-to-understand focus of a ball or a scoreboard. And it's disruptive because it usually takes place in spaces reserved for other uses - roads, stairs, paths, ledges etc. And it's associated with adolescent boys; a group that's always considered threatening.
And some people fear any change, no matter how slight, and will come up with any ridiculous excuse to block change occurring near their home.
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Marek on -
As always Bugs your links are unique and challanging!
I agree skateboarding has no point as such. I think this aspect make me comfortable and keeps me going back for more, success or failure is a personal point of view. It also allows me to feel like an outsider zooming along at a different pace to the rest of the world, physically and mentally. I guess the general public does get a sense of this desire for skateboarders not to be part of the community and instinctively fears it.
I think motorcycling is the other thing that springs to mind which is viewed by the non bikers with some sense if fear and loathing.
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Permalink Reply by Aych on
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Marek said:As always Bugs your links are unique and challanging!
I think motorcycling is the other thing that springs to mind which is viewed by the non bikers with some sense if fear and loathing.
I don't loathe motorcycling but am fearful of it; I know how fast I've been on a board and know what it's like coming off those biker types do nearly 3x that speed of course I'm fearful...should be bloody outlawed >;0)
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Permalink Reply by stephen.mhsrider on
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20 degree gradient? i think the disabled will have a hard time going up that....
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Marek on -
stephen.mhsrider said:20 degree gradient? i think the disabled will have a hard time going up that....
Not 20 degrees, 1 in 20, a one meter drop over every 20 meters distance. Which i think is some kind of standard for disabled ramps. Not a bad slope for carving down but not if its 1 meter wide with a U turn every 20 or 30 meters.
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Jacko on -
a u-turn every 20 or 30 meters? that sounds rad! even if it be 1m wide, gotta hone those stand-up slide skills! where is it being built?
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Jacko on -
thats my favorite part of skateboarding - creating...
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Permalink Reply by Groundhangers on
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My auntie had a knee reconstruction and took her first walk outside her house at her local park. She was on the park pathway for 2 mins and got nailed by a skateboarder rolling on the path, she was ambulanced to hospital and had to undergo another reco. She was in more pain that i had ever experienced. After that, even i now hate skaters on a pathways with public goers. (i feel i will still ride when its safe) I can also recall on a few occasions where we have set up cones on pathways with busy public traffic. It only takes one person on a path to create an incident. In alot of cases peno's harass councils to get pathways. Why dont skaters rally councils for Skateways? But Marek, next time you take out an old fart, it could be my aunt.
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Jacko on -
it could have been any wheeled devide, bikes use pathways too. Anything can happen it just so happened to be a skateboarder that took your poor aunt out. But i do like the idea of a different pathway intended for bikes/skateboards/rollerblades/whatever. If pedestrians are complaining about the danger of skateboarders on the pathways then they should also be complaining about bikes and other wheeled devices using them. They all carry the same risk so its just gay to only blame skateboards (like the rest of the world does).
So the bottom line is ban EVERYTHING that is not a pedestrian on the pathway or build an alternative pathway/lane to allow wheeled devices such as skateboards or bikes
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Marek on -
Groundhangers your right, hectic skateboarding and busy public areas don't mix. I always notice that many people see me coming freeze then dodge side to side trying to avoid me. Of course the worst thing they could do. I used to think that this was stupid behavior on their part but is is just their natural instinct to a perceived threat. Now i always stop pick up my board and carry it through busy areas, and seek out quiet quiet industrial estates for Sunday morning skating.
I wasn't really advocating taking out old people physically as such (as I pretty much am an old person!), more taking out their preconceptions and prejudice. But yes such statements on the net can be taken out of context so point taken.
So skaters - don't knock over the elderly, smile help them across the road, carry their shopping. And next time your rallying for a new skate park they will happily sign your petition!
And next time I won't call any terrain unskateable, I'll just call it a "Jacko Zone". I'll let you know when it's done and even go safety spotter for ya!
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Ching on -
agreed. i always pick up my board when im going down a busy sidewalk. because not only do i have to watch out for pedestrians but there are also those pesky cyclists who cant seem to ride in the bicycle path and have to ride on the sidewalk. and if anyone gets into an accident you know the skateboarder will get blamed.
i've witnessed a few incidents where a skateboarder rammed into a pedestrian. not pretty. but then again most pedestrians are too stubborn to move out of the way even when they see you coming.
Marek said:Groundhangers your right, hectic skateboarding and busy public areas don't mix. I always notice that many people see me coming freeze then dodge side to side trying to avoid me. Of course the worst thing they could do. I used to think that this was stupid behavior on their part but is is just their natural instinct to a perceived threat. Now i always stop pick up my board and carry it through busy areas, and seek out quiet quiet industrial estates for Sunday morning skating.
I wasn't really advocating taking out old people physically as such (as I pretty much am an old person!), more taking out their preconceptions and prejudice. But yes such statements on the net can be taken out of context so point taken.
So skaters - don't knock over the elderly, smile help them across the road, carry their shopping. And next time your rallying for a new skate park they will happily sign your petition!
And next time I won't call any terrain unskateable, I'll just call it a "Jacko Zone". I'll let you know when it's done and even go safety spotter for ya!
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