City to review its skateboard policy
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The City of Fredericton is reviewing its position on whether skateboarders can travel on public streets.
A bylaw that bans skateboarders from the capital’s roadways made the city the subject of national scrutiny last month after a 25-year-old skateboarder who challenged the law went to jail for non-payment of fines. Councillors are set to re-examine the policy to determine whether the outright ban is still right for Fredericton.
“We are going to look at the issue and we are going to settle it,” Bruce Grandy, chairman of the city’s transportation committee, said Thursday.
City employees will be asked to examine practices elsewhere, he said.
Ottawa and Vancouver will likely serve as examples.
Ottawa allows skateboarders and rollerbladers to use city streets. In Vancouver, provided they don’t impede the flow of traffic, skateboarders and rollerbladers can travel on any road without lines painted down the centre.
Lee Breen, the skateboarder who went to jail over the issue, said he’s encouraged Fredericton councillors are ready to take another look at the issue.
“I think they’ll find skateboarding can be a very safe and efficient means of transportation,” Breen said Thursday.
Jordan Graham, the rookie councillor for Ward 11 who is one of those pressing the issue, said council should take a thorough look at the issue before reaching a decision.
“We need to get as much information on the table as we can, and we have to make sure the decision we make is what’s best for everyone. We have to ensure it is safe for the skateboarders and for the people around them.”
Grandy said a decision will have to be made.
“We can study it to death, but at the end of the day there may not be anything that we can do to accommodate everyone.”
He said people need to follow the rules.
“We’re not going to get anywhere if people are violating the law,” Grandy said.
Bylaw S-9 prohibits anyone from using a skateboard, sled, wagon, toboggan or other device to coast or slide on city streets.
Breen, who’s waiting to challenge a second ticket for riding his skateboard on a public street, said the bylaw runs against Fredericton’s initiatives to promote active transportation and cut down on greenhouse gases.
Source: http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/front/article/331672
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