Skateboarders on Sidewalks

Aren't skateboarders supposed to stay in the road? I was walking Tiky the other day and some guy nearly knocked her little head off, good thing she was on a short leash. What happens when a curious toddler grabs out at your skateboard? I think we need to make it clear that wheels belong in the street.

Difficult one. If it's a little kid, they (unfortunately) must be on the sidewalk, along with the strollers, scooters, walkers, etc.. However, these older kids (like 30?!@) shouldn't be on the sidewalk. And having lived in cities, burbs, beach towns,etc..I really don't even want them in our few but precious bike lanes either! This is brooklyn! It ain't California! All these goons do is try tricks, and barely even use it for transport. Yeah, I'm cranky on this topic---skateboaring is for places where there's SPACE to do it, and if anyone finds that space, lemme know.

the city and park dept both have been ignoring laws prohibiing skateboarders from skating on sidewalks and pedestrain
areas in the park ,creating a great danger to the community.
when contacted the 78th pct responsed by stating they were a deterrent to crime , ignoring the fact they were advised the boarders in bartell sq. were on amphetamines and knocking people down and flying in and out of traffic.(some deterrent !)
NYC LOCAL LAW 1996/04

c'mon guys- is really that bad a problem to start calling cops and getting signs made at taxpayer expense that will only entice the more deliquent skaters? how many 30 year-old skaters are really riding on the sidewalks and "try tricks"? just relax and try to enjoy the scenery!

i would have to say they should mostly stay in the side walks. streets are too fast for them and alot of roads are too rough. they would probably get killed very fast.

side walks can be a problem if its super crowded.

i have more problems with strollers than skateboarders.

Mrthibs - Your sympathetic response to the illegal and dangerous behavior of some drugged-up morons on skateboards and your use of the term fuzz (police) on a previous posting makes me believe you are on methadone,medicare or a victim of too many Burt Reynolds movies.

Aren't most of the sidewalks around here too bumpy anyway? I know from taking my little one rollerblading, we have a hard time on the sidewalks. And my big girl has certainly taken enough tumbles on her scooter to deter her from using it much of the time.

The other night, on my way home from work, I saw a little girl - couldn't have been more than 11 - rolling home on her skateboard down 5th Street, against traffic. On the street. But she hopped off whenever a car loomed in the distance.

Hamilton wrote: the city and park dept both have been ignoring laws prohibiing skateboarders from skating on sidewalks and pedestrain
areas in the park ,creating a great danger to the community.
when contacted the 78th pct responsed by stating they were a deterrent to crime , ignoring the fact they were advised the boarders in bartell sq. were on amphetamines and knocking people down and flying in and out of traffic.(some deterrent !)
NYC LOCAL LAW 1996/04

May I ask how you know the kids up there are on "amphetamines" specifically, and not another drug, such as crack cocaine?

Subject: skateboarders

I know a relative of one of the boarders who advised me of the use of amphetamines by this group.....in fact the 78th pct had been aware of who the dealers were and did nothing until two weeks ago when three of these punks assaulted a black person in Bartrel Prichard Sq.

I don't think it's fair for you to place myself and all skaters under the drug banner of "amphetamine" and "methadone" users because we disagree. I certainly don't agree with out-of-control skating on sidewalks, but my point was that it doesn't seem like that big of a problem. And so what if i like Burt Reynolds? Or even Robert Urich for that matter.

By the way, skaters really aren't the amphetamine type of crowd. Mostly alcohol and a little pot. I think you and your sources are confused.

I don't think the problem is the skateboarders who have skill, as they generally go to areas downtown that are designed with hills and ramps.
The problem is a contingent of drug-addled morons who frequent the area around Bartel Pritchard Square, who skate in and out of families at high speed and verbally abuse pedestrians.
These guys are scumbags who have failed elsewhere in life and are now limited to jumping up and down on a monument for hours on end, making noise and getting high.
They're not athletes - they're losers and mental cases.
It's true that three of them assaulted a black kid about a month ago.
The police made a brief appearance and did nothing.

If there is a contingent who act like that, then yes, they're losers. I was trying to speak on skaters in generals. Guys like that should be swiftly dealt with for sure.

Subject: skateboarders

I think the use of pot and alcohol have locked you in a time capsule -it is no longer the 70's...there is a different breed of skaters who are anal retentive and have total disregard for the public at large....Before dissmissing statements that are meant to protect the public at large try researching the problem before criticizing it .

Don't act like you have a clue what's going on Hamilton, old man.

Subject: Man of wisdom

Being clueless would mean we have something in common

I'm a big fan of common sense. If the sidewalk isn't crowded, and they aren't causing any trouble, then who cares? I wouldn't want to knock them off only for the purpose of knocking them off. If the sidewalk is busy and they are going a million miles an hour creating problems, then yeah, they don't belong there.

Skateboarders should be subject to a testing and certification process before being permitted to skate in public; the standard should be along the lines of being able to land 5 tricks 4 out of 5 times. This would ensure that only competent (and, in theory, safer) skateboarders are on the sidewalks, but the benefits don't end there - such a measure would force the learning process to private property and therefore spare the innocent public the monotonously pathetic sight of a dozen failed ollies in a row.

Drano wrote: Skateboarders should be subject to a testing and certification process before being permitted to skate in public; the standard should be along the lines of being able to land 5 tricks 4 out of 5 times. This would ensure that only competent (and, in theory, safer) skateboarders are on the sidewalks, but the benefits don't end there - such a measure would force the learning process to private property and therefore spare the innocent public the monotonously pathetic sight of a dozen failed ollies in a row.

hear hear!

I once stood outside of my midtown job location watching two kids try tricks for around 45 minutes. they didn't land anything once. mostly they just took headers. their successes were measured in landing on their feet.

my mind is boggled that skateboarders are now being grouped with amphetamine users. My friends must seriously be living dual lives.

i would recommend against riding a skateboard on the sidewalk. see, e.g., post titled 'i was locked up for 44 hours.'

i guess i should tell all my friends who skate to start taking amphetamines cause they are CLEARLY doing this all wrong by only drinking sometimes or being completely straight edge.

rtraindweller wrote: i guess i should tell all my friends who skate to start taking amphetamines cause they are CLEARLY doing this all wrong by only drinking sometimes or being completely straight edge.

The complaint clearly states the problem is in Bartel Prichard Square,not the culture of boarding,try reading before commenting and by the way start wearing a helmet ,it could prevent further damage.

Subject: Re: Skateboarders on Sidewalks

cncrnprnt72 wrote: Aren't skateboarders supposed to stay in the road? I was walking Tiky the other day and some guy nearly knocked her little head off, good thing she was on a short leash. What happens when a curious toddler grabs out at your skateboard? I think we need to make it clear that wheels belong in the street.

It looks like your inquiry opened the floodgates on skateboarders,
by the way how is tiky?

[quote="Carmen"]my mind is boggled that skateboarders are now being grouped with amphetamine users. My friends must seriously be living dual lives.[/quote

If they had a life they wouldn't be boarding!

Hamilton wrote: [quote=rtraindweller]i guess i should tell all my friends who skate to start taking amphetamines cause they are CLEARLY doing this all wrong by only drinking sometimes or being completely straight edge.

The complaint clearly states the problem is in Bartel Prichard Square,not the culture of boarding,try reading before commenting and by the way start wearing a helmet ,it could prevent further damage. i'll make sure i do that. thanks for the advice guy.

Hamilton wrote: [quote=Carmen]my mind is boggled that skateboarders are now being grouped with amphetamine users. My friends must seriously be living dual lives.

If they had a life they wouldn't be boarding!

yea, they should take to being grumpy complainers on internet forums. that's way more productive and does much more to enrich your life.

rtraindweller wrote: [quote=Hamilton][quote=Carmen]my mind is boggled that skateboarders are now being grouped with amphetamine users. My friends must seriously be living dual lives.

If they had a life they wouldn't be boarding!

yea, they should take to being grumpy complainers on internet forums. that's way more productive and does much more to enrich your life.

To enlighten is not a complaint.