AT-Canada: Skateboard Edition

With youth activity levels declining and obesity rates increasing, considerable effort is being undertaken to improve the physical fitness of Canada's young people. Yet youth have identified one form of physical activity that they enjoy: skateboarding.

Society's response? Usually outright bans on use or restrictions that seriously impede skateboards value either as play or Active Transportation. In most Canadian communities skateboards are not permitted, usually by municipal ordinance, on sidewalks, on streets, at schools, on buses, in the downtown, in businesses - almost anywhere where young people might actually want to use them or carry them between uses. Even when special reserves are created - skateboard parks - these are often located on the edges of communities and unconnected by routes that skateboarders may use to access them.

A recent event in Fredericton NB, where a 25-year old businessman who uses a skateboard to commute to work went to jail rather than pay a fine for illegally using (i.e. on a city street) his skateboard for transportation, indicates the possible need for authorities to rethink their regulations regarding this mode of transportation and play of the younger members of society. It also suggests, to me, the vlaue of identifying Active Transportation, rather than walking or biking, as the principal term of reference for non-motorized transport.

Following are a number of recent articles about skateboarding around the world. The first few profile the event in Fredericton and some of the reaction it has generated.

Article & Video - Skater opts for jail over paying fine

The Toronto Star, May 15
Author: Justin Piercey

A 25-year-old Fredericton man is behind bars [May 15] after surrendering to police. His crime? Skateboarding on the streets.

Click on story title for link to full story.

Article - Skateboarding still a crime: cops to skater

CBC News, May 21

A skateboarder jailed last week for refusing to pay a fine for skateboarding on a Fredericton street has received another ticket - for more skateboarding.

Link: www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2008/05/21/nb-skateboarder.html?ref=rss&loomia_si=t0:a16:g2:r5:c0.133366

Article - Green travel runs into roadblock

Amherst Daily News, May 19
Author: Editorial

An oddity in the news reported this week by The Canadian Press tells of skateboarder Lee Breen, a young man in Fredericton who rides his board rather than drive a car. The trouble is his mode of getting around is in contravention of Bylaw S-9, which prohibits the use of skateboards along with sleds and toboggans on the streets.

This isn’t a kid out for kicks. The 25-year-old owner-operator of an eco-friendly lawn care company says he is championing the environment with this absolutely green form of travel. After all, cyclists are able to use the streets.

He’s also safety-conscious about it, wearing safety gear and using hand traffic signals.

Link: http://www.amherstdaily.com/index.cfm?sid=135187&sc=61

Article - Middle-school students back Breen

We think it is wrong that Lee Breen was arrested for skateboarding. Skateboarding is the same thing as biking except on a board with four wheels. Both help the environment and are traffic-friendly when ridden with care.

Link: http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/299935

Article - Using Your Head Can Help Prevent Potentially Life Altering Summer Related Sports Injuries

According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the most recent statistics from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) indicate that there were an estimated 319,000 sports-related head injuries treated in US hospital emergency rooms in 2006, an increase of 10,000 injuries from the year before.

The following are the top 10 sports and recreation-related activities contributing to head injuries in 2006:

-- Cycling: 65,319
-- Football: 34,638
-- Powered Recreational Vehicles (ATVs, Dune Buggies, Go-Carts, Mini bikes, Off- road): 28,585
-- Basketball: 25,788
-- Baseball and Softball: 23,125
-- Water Sports (Diving, Scuba Diving, Surfing, Swimming, Water Polo, Water Skiing): 16,060
-- Skateboards/Scooters: 15,978
-- Soccer: 15,208
-- Fitness/Exercise (including at health clubs): 11,895
-- Horseback Riding: 9,260

Link: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/108230.php

Video - US: go skateboarding day: cop vs skaters

Police and youth show how well anti-skateboarding laws are sometimes observed and enforced. Ironically, these events took place on National Skateboarding Day in 2007.

Link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFUpa0OwlyU

Article - Australia: Life’s just full of fun

The Advertiser, May 21

Barbara Pelczynska is almost 80 years old, but yesterday she showed that neither culture nor age act as a barrier to physical activity. Ms Pelczynska decided to give skateboarding a try.

Link: http://bendigo.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/news-features/lifes-just-full-of-fun/773697.aspx

Article - US: Downtown skateboarding under review

MaineToday.com, May 13
Author: Kelly Bouchard

Councilor David Marshall, committee chairman, said the proposal to ban skateboarding in the Old Port and Arts District came from representatives of Portland's Downtown District. The ban would apply to the city's pedestrian activities district.

Marshall said a group of skateboarders has circulated a petition to protect their right to use skateboards as a mode of transportation.

Link: http://news.mainetoday.com/updates/027000.html

Article - UK: Skateboarding is not a crime

Guernsey Globe, May 16
Author: Emily Burden

Skateboarding is fast becoming one of the most popular sports in the island. With the success of another LibJam proudly showcasing the local talent, it’s time people start realising that skateboarding is a sport and not a mindless act of vandalism.

Link: www.thisisguernsey.com/2008/05/15/skateboarding-is-not-a-crime