I was having lunch the other day at the burger shack in Madeira when I overheard a conversation. A local kid and his mom were retelling a story. The 15-year-old was on his longboard (long skateboard) when a car came up behind him and started honking. The kid took the hint and pulled over looking for the next safe place to exit.
The honking continued and when the kid looked back he realized the car’s bumper was only feet from his leg. The kid had no choice but to cross into the oncoming lane to get out of the man’s way.
Fortunately there wasn’t a car coming in the other direction because, as the man drove by still honking, the kid hit some gravel and went down. Hard.
He was wearing a helmet but his arms still bore the evidence of an unnecessary brush with pavement.
We’ve produced some of the top downhill skateboarding talent in the world. Someday there may be closed training courses but, for now, the sport absolutely requires practising on roads.
This means continued clashes with motorists who practise the "might is right" form of conflict resolution. I’ve been the victim of this same attitude many times, mostly as a cyclist but also as a longboarder, and can tell you it’s terrifying.
But I also own a car and know what it’s like to come around a corner and see a kid edging toward you in the next lane with the faintest of "speed wobbles." It’s almost as terrifying.
And c’mon, enough with the black Coast longboarding hoodies at night. That’s ignorant. Longboarders have a responsibility to protect their sport and it isn’t in anyone’s best interest to give authorities reasons to look for ways to stop it.
So far, the law has been fairly mute on the issue. The Motor Vehicle Act requires skateboarders to wear approved helmets but does not bar them from public roads. That could change. The SCRD recently started discussions about longboards on roads and it was clearly aimed at Area A. Apparently, some on the SCRD transportation committee recognize longboarding as a viable and green means of transportation in an area without bus service but many are unsure about the safety implications.
The safety implications are clear. It’s an age of innocence for longboarding right now — the period before an accident. But mathematics ensures it will happen and when it does, expect hysteria. There will be meetings and cries for action and, in the end, longboarding will suffer.
I think it would be a shame to see longboarding snuffed from our roads. Longboarders clearly accept the inherent dangers of the sport. It’s a huge part of it.
But when the accident happens, let’s hope it doesn’t involve an irate motorist and some kid just trying to get to his buddy’s house to play some X-Box.
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Posted by: Amaya | December 24, 2009 at 04:05 AM
Brian, I write poetry related to all sorts of stuff....I suggest you look at it....I need to contact you for another important reason so will contact you next week. Kathy
Posted by: kathy samuda | August 22, 2008 at 06:07 PM
Brian, I have a similar story to tell you that happened in west vancouver and I notified the school board.......to ask for their feedback.....the kid I picked up and interviewed ....his Mom was a local doctor....REgards, Kathy
Posted by: kathy samuda | August 22, 2008 at 06:05 PM