C'mon LA, Just Roll With It....
7/98--Venice issue temporaily on hold as police have suspended ticketing!!! Now it's Santa Monica who needs our help to skating alive and well
at the Promenade!! CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW TO
FIGHT THIS--VOTE IS COMING
I think I can...I think I can....I know I can!...I know I can!.... The scenes that people across the world have seen in television shows and movies over the years, have rightfully earned Venice the nickname "The Rollerskating Capital of the World". Well, folks, believe it or not, that reputation is now being endangered because of laws on the books that actually prohibit skaters from using the bike path along Venice Ocean Walk, as well as parts of the Marina and Santa Monica. Police would long look the other way as skaters enjoyed themselves on a path that is clearly marked with signs that say "no skaters allowed", but a spate of recent accidents and a change in management in the police ranks have caused this policy to be reconsidered. Skaters, as well as pedestrians (also barred from the path) now face the possibility of a $50 citation for using the path in a manner deemed inappropriate by the city/state ordinances. After talking to the police, I have determined that while they want people to be safe, this is not a law they look forward to enforcing, as they, along with most of us, agree that there are better things they could be doing with their time. However, as long as this law remains in effect, and they are being asked to enforce it, they have a job they have to do, whether they personally agree with the law or not. As of right now, after holding a community meeting which convinced him to change the planned aupon policy of enforcement against skaters, the new Captain of the Pacific Beach Division of the LAPD has agreed to enforce the law against pedestrians, and against reckless people using the path, whether they are on bikes or skates, and leave skaters using the path in an appropriate manner alone. But if a new Captain is brought in, that policy could change, so while we are OK for now, this is hardly a permanent solution to this problem. The main problem is that under California's vehicle code, skaters, because they are on something driven by people-power, are classified as pedestrians, and are therefore not allowed on the bike path. As any skater will tell you, and cyclists likely will agree, pedestrians ARE a danger on the path, because they are moving so much more slowly than the rest of traffic. But I am personally offended by the attempt to force out skaters by this logic, given that they can maintain close to the speed of most bicycles, and certainly surpass the ones reached by the kiddie bikes driven by the numbers of kids out there going for rides alongside of their parents. And there is no where else for the skaters to go, as they cannot skate ocean-side on the beach, or along the grassy section of the walkway, as a jogger might, nor can they use the Ocean Walk due to heavy pedestrian traffic that prevents them from reaching the speeds they would need to successfully navigate the cracks in the walkway without the danger of falling, assuming that they were good enough skaters to navigate the cracks in the first place. So in effect, this law effectively bars skaters from their very own capital. Pretty nasty business, LA. Is this what we want the world to see? So, what to do? Wait for the city to build the new path that has been promised for several years now? Not likely, since fiscal problems could easily scuttle that project, nor is that the timeliest of solutions; therefore, it is not prudent for us to rely on that to solve this problem. Get the law changed? Now that we can do. And in the meantime, let lo9cal p[olice know as you skate on by that you appreciate them taking a stance that makes sense in terms of the safety of the community , the best benefit to safety on the path will come not from targeting any one group, but from targeting all people on the path--pedestrians, bikers and skaters who display reckless behavior that endangers the safety of others just trying to use the path to exercise. Here's how you can help: WRITE /CALL/FAX your state representatives and
tell them your feelings on this issue. Additional Activist resources: The Electronic
Activist ~ An email address directory of congresspeople, state
governments, and media entities. All written correspondence should be addressed to:
Other lists/resources: CA Home Page , Clerkweb LA City Councilmember Ruth
Galanter has pledged her office's help to see this to a
pleasant resolution for all parties WRITE to your local newspapers and television
stations and tell them to keep this issue in front of the people Los Angeles Times And while we have your attention, here are some other things you can do to benefit your community--even if you are outside of LA... For more information about Venice Beach:
Thanks to Harold for the wonderful train drawing!
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