Commission Impossible

Lon,

Skateboarding causes damage. I have seen the damage. I used to cause the damage. It bends handrails, chips concrete edges, loosens mortar, breaks surface lighting, stains concrete. In fact, causing damage is a sign that you are hardcore and extreme dude, to the max. I am sure that in the eyes of some, it is quite an honor to leave a trail of broken pieces behind you. Look at the damage that it causes to their boards.

We don't allow skateboarding on downtown sidewalks because it is dangerous to people who are walking. If a frail old person gets knocked over and breaks a hip, which is very easy to do, it can be the beginning to the rapid end of their life. My aunt died at 75 of an infected toe from a bad pedicure. When you get old, pneumonia seems to be looking for any opportunity.

If we don't allow skateboarding on sidewalks, why would we allow it in the park? Are we sending the message that it is OK to destroy public property in the park and ignore the rights of people who want to walk in a safe place without having to worry about who is racing up behind them?

I realize that it is hip to be on the side of the downtrodden and the humble but this seems like the skateboarders would be taking away the rights of many to serve a few.

I vote for the old people.

TJ,

First thanks for alluding to the possibility that I might be hip! After my comic book post I was afraid people were beginning to realize I'm just a big dork.

By projecting your actions as a skateboarder onto all skateboarders you paint that group of kids with a broad brush. When the City bans "coasting devices" because of some skateboarders the brush gets even broader. The fact that the city has to expand the ban in order to not single out skateboarders, when singling out skateboarders is exactly what they're trying to do seems a tad underhanded.

My big problem with the ban is that it is the FIRST STEP in dealing with the problem. I didn't hear any questions from City folks about where, when, how, how much, or why the damage is occuring. All I heard was "hey let's ban bicycles too".

A few years back the Park Director wanted to ban dogs in Children's Playground as a tool to remove some transients. The Park Commission denied the request because that net would catch casual park users.

The arguments for the ban were nearly the same. Officers don't have the time to enforce existing laws. Police and Park Rangers not having time to do their job just doesn't equate in my mind to a need to remove people from our parks.

The City of Chico should take some time to evaluate the need to ban skateboards from the park. They should also answer the question I posed.

"How did the City spend $4.1million on a primarily concrete Plaza design without considering use by skateboarders?"

Lon

Lon,

I agree that it is a heavy handed FIRST STEP and that there are other ways to go at the problem. "Coasting devices" is just the semantics of writing laws and that gets ugly sometimes. I hope there is some provision for baby strollers.

We all know it is just an attempt to find a word that includes anything that causes damage to property or threatens the safety of others, whether or not it has been invented yet. The police are not going to be yard monitors chasing down people for simply riding through the park.
Remember that guy that used to ride in plaza with that crazy giant tricycle thing a couple years ago? What the hell do you call that? I am pretty sure it was coasting device and I didn't want to walk any closer than 20' of that thing.

My problem, is that by supporting the skateboarders with unlimited access, you are communicating that it is OK to trash this landmark of civic pride. I find that issue more important than my other problem of fast moving coasting devices as intimidating to the old and frail.

You supported the Chico Beat article that says that damaging public property in the plaza with a skateboard is OK. I find that as "knee jerk" of a reaction as making a law against it as a FIRST STEP. They are both wrong, but I think the lesson about it being acceptable to destroy public property carries more impact over time.

I hope this unfortunate experience by Tom Nickell doesn't discourage him and the other councilors from having an interest in a cleaner and safer downtown environment.

As a compromise, how about a "No Wake Zone" like in the marina?
Have a speed limit of 3 mph.
Enforced by cops on Big Wheels, of course. Which by the way, are not technically coasting devices, unless you ride it like a skateboard.

One more thing. If you are sure that the skateboarding issue was brought up at design meetings, then it sounds to me like you are looking to place blame, which is what you are also claiming not to do.
We all know your question is in the back of all our minds. Maybe we should just move beyond it and concentrate on a cool solution instead.
Maybe cobblestone sidewalks or crushed, compacted granite?
or paint a damn mural on it.

Lon,

I was just researching something else and accidentally ran across a whole chapter (Ch. 10.45) in the municipal code that already covers Coasting Devices.

http://www.chico.ca.us/Municipal_Code/Title_10.pdf

Not very exciting, but did you know that Coasting Devices are already banned at the Municipal Center?

I am not sure if the current reaction to the plaza was not as much of a knee-jerk, power wielding FIRST STEP as just following precedent.

However, that legitimizes the motion it doesn't make it any more righteous.

TJ,

I think the part of the Beat editorial that struck home with me was just the "hey we were all kids once" theme.

Knowing that the first option to solving the problem was the "nuclear" option of a ban bothers me. I have no doubt that the City can apply these kind of policies. Especially since banning people from our parks has become a regularly discussed tool of our policy makers (children's playground, disc golf, park curfew, skateboarders). Usually it's discussed as a tool to make law enforcement easier.

As far as my question goes, I think it should be answered. We may learn something. For example, is damage being done to the fountain area "polished glass mosaic" by skateboarders? If so, I think that wasn't considered in the planning stage of the park. Future artistic endeavors positioned similarly should be evaluated for this problem. If this is the case then a possible solution exists. Ban skateboards from the fountain area.

If the problem is with the stage, then there probably was a discussion (I seem to recall one) and putting a lip on the stage to stop skateboarders would have created a trip hazard.

I have no problem with government answering simple questions about a multi-million dollar Plaza.

People that have read my blog over time will know that I have not been critical of the design, with the exception of the price of the chess tables. Even with that critisism they are beautiful tables, as long as the tops stay on.