Tortoised

From Underloud Sklog

Wow! I just got off the phone with a former local skaters mother. I only say former local because this ripper hails from Boston at this point. This lady is serious about backing you kids! A year and a half ago she accepted a 3 year position on the Pedestrian and Transportation Committee for the City of Eau Claire. She has tirelessly tried to get the committee to recognize that the skate boarding ordinance in the city needs to be amended to recognize skate boarding as a valid means of transportation. It seems from our conversation that the boards major concerns regard biking laws in the city of Eau Claire. She has participated on all topics regarding non-motorized transportation and I bet has been an asset to the committee.

She called me today because she is worried about the lack of concern that other committee members have shown regarding amending the skate board ordinance. In our conversation I suggested that the amendment should recognize that there are 2 ways to ride a skateboard.

1. Valid means of safe transportation
2. An artistic expression of skill (violation of ordinance)

This is a call out to anyone who really cares. This mother has taken the time (1 1/2 years) to fight for your rights as skate boarders. Her son left for college last fall and she really has no reason to fight for you guys besides the fact that she raised a skate boarder. Alex no longer has to worry about ridding his skate board as a means of transportation because he lives in a city where there are bigger things to worry about. Lucky him!

I commend her efforts and am attempting to get local skaters more involved in her efforts. The committee seems to disregard her intent because the school board says “skate boards cause damage”. When she contacted the school board and asked them to present pictures proving the damage, and also proving the damage came from skate boards, they gave her the run around and basically left it all to hear say. Hear say is not a valid argument. That would be like saying all bikers are drug addicts and we should ban biking.

To make a long story a little longer. I am trying to find other cities that have amended their skate board ordinances to allow skate boarding as a means of transportation. If you know of any resources that can help find successful amendments to skate board ordinances please contact Underloud Boardshop at hotammer@hotmail.com

I would also like to take the time to personally thank Susan for her tireless efforts to a much needed ordinance amendment! Thank You and keep up the good fight!

Anthony Loughan