| It's early Saturday morning and the local skate park | | | | can be avoided by teaching simple skate park |
| appears to be empty? It just so happens that your | | | | etiquette. For example, users should call out their line |
| BMX bike is in the back of your car, how lucky! A | | | | verses entering blindly. Most skateboarders hate to |
| quick U-turn and your car grinds to a halt in the skate | | | | admit that when an experienced BMX freestyle rider |
| park lot. With great excitement, the car door flings | | | | is present, they get along just fine. The problem |
| open and your bike hits the gravel parking lot. You | | | | tends not to be the type of user, but the experience |
| ride through the gate and take one last glance, nope | | | | of the user. Collisions, whether they be skateboard |
| - the park is empty. Selecting your first line, your | | | | to BMX or skateboard to skateboard are typically |
| front tire leaves the lip as you enter the park. | | | | caused by a young or inexperienced user jumping |
| Suddenly, you hear screams from the back fence, | | | | blindly into someone's line or run. By simply dedicating |
| "no bikes allowed"! Chills climb down your back and | | | | a few hours a week, new riders and skaters can be |
| your heart sinks. Looking back, two kids just over 10 | | | | introduced to skate park etiquette and learn how to |
| years old are screaming at you while holding their | | | | ride and skate safely. |
| skateboards. Been there? | | | | Another method used by some cities is to share time |
| "No Bikes Allowed" at public skate parks is a growing | | | | between skaters and bikers. Typically, bikes are |
| issue across the country. Tax payer money is spent | | | | allowed every other hour. This also seems to be a |
| every year to the "tune" of hundreds of thousands | | | | successful way of managing time between skaters |
| of dollars to support one sport and exclude another. | | | | and bikers. |
| Is this really fair? Worst yet, is there a legitimate | | | | The last conflict seems to be the growing "turf war" |
| reason? When challenging skaters and public officials | | | | between BMX riders and skaters. Most skaters feel |
| about the no bikes policy, they express concern | | | | strongly that BMX freestyle riders are infringing on |
| regarding damage, safety, and user conflicts. Is this | | | | the efforts put forth by the skating community to |
| accurate? | | | | get the municipalities to construct skate parks. These |
| Damage Caused by Bikes is the number one | | | | strong emotional efforts often give skaters a strong |
| response that we continually hear from | | | | sense of ownership over these parks. As BMX riders |
| skateboarders. We can believe this statement to be | | | | who share these parks, we owe these skaters a big |
| true for older parks that have not been designed for | | | | thank you for all of their efforts. The truth is that a |
| BMX use. However, what about all of the new parks | | | | decade ago, the sport of skating was in the minority. |
| being built? In some parts of the country, cities are | | | | These skaters have fought their whole lives to have |
| building parks that co-integrate bikes and | | | | legitimate places to skate. What skaters need to |
| skateboards. These cities spend a little extra money | | | | realize is that BMX freestyle riders are now facing |
| to construct a higher density cement to withstand | | | | the same difficulties that skaters dealt with a decade |
| pegs and pedals. This is the solution and the way to | | | | ago. This is good reason for BMX riders to gain the |
| spend tax payer money. Also, there are pegs and | | | | support of local skating communities to aid in |
| pedals that are designed to be "skate park friendly". | | | | constructing high density concrete parks and establish |
| So, obviously there are solutions for reducing damage | | | | sharing guidelines so that all users can enjoy these |
| at newer skate parks. | | | | parks. |
| Safety Concerns are a major worry expressed by | | | | The bottom line is that a public skate park is paid for |
| most municipalities. It is believed by many that the | | | | by the public via tax payer dollars. Tax payers are |
| speed and weight of a BMX bike would cause | | | | not only skateboarders, but also BMX freestyle riders. |
| collisions to be more severe. This is a perceived | | | | We often hear that skateboarding is not just a sport, |
| liability for most cities. While we can't say that | | | | but a way of life. Well, BMX freestyle riders and |
| collisions will not happen, we can say that collisions | | | | other aggressive bike riders feel that same passion. |