From this skater’s POV- mindful of the fact that skaters are citizens too- what is preferable for the town to now do?
Revise the ordinance?
Negotiate a moratorium, a skate amnesty?
Do nothing/look the other way?
Let’s face it folks, in the long run:
Even if the town sanctions, locates, and pays for 10,000 sq. ft. of Skatopia somewhere, it's still a drop in the ocean as far as paved possibilities in the world-at-large. And exploration, of both physics and terrain is ultimately what transport and shredding's all about.
How to find a solution, or at least define a détente, between skaters and non?
This becomes a public vs. private property matter. As it’s commonly understood that one can roll however they like on one’s own land, let's instead focus on public regulations and provisions governing roads, lots, parks, and spots in regards to skaters.
As it's currently defined, it's legal to skate in Brattleboro in exactly the same places it's legal to appear nude. Nowhere. You can bike or walk anywhere. Everywhere. But the activity of skateboarding is defined only in terms of lawbreaking.
Go back over twenty-years and chart Rec Department spending on skate related matters, either capital or operational. The sum is zero.
Nowhere. Nothing. Not encouraging terms. Anyone paying attention can see where this leads.
And as a result, criminalizing youth for being active will go down as not only Byzantine, but Philistine in its application. This first and foremost has got to change.
Moreover, to have yet another series of the latest least-burned-out-skate advocates argue again before the current incarnation of the Selectboard about where or where not to put a park, is an exercise in futile and absurd theater.
Revise the ordinance?
Negotiate a moratorium?
Do nothing/look the other way?
Maybe, these three ideas, taken simultaneously, hold a solution?
My proposal is simple:
Completely legalize skateboarding, everywhere. This will relieve pressure to find a park- which can be done in scattered locations and sizes by and by.
With the abeyance of the law, the onus now falls on the skaters to live out a 'be cool rule'. This means in effect, to yield at all times and places to pedestrians and moving vehicles. Principally - to not skate in congested or ridiculous circumstances. This rule must be self- monitored as common sense policy, and passed down as a matter of word.
It’s a test, can skaters grow up, act responsibly, and gain legitimate recognition. And can the town grow up, showing tolerance, forbearance, and trust? Ultimately both sides win, consciousness is raised, youth and health is served, and an environmentally friendly mode is furthered.
As for instances of disorderly, reckless skate conduct...sure, keep that punishable. Even in parks, nobody want to see that. But by all means, let’s stop calling every person rolling on their board a menace to society.
What we have now is not fair, not farsighted, and not working. So what have we got to lose?