Rehoboth to Sk8ter Boi.. Get Lost
May 29th, 2007 by Jared MorrisAre the Skateboard restrictions in Rehoboth Beach too stringent? Another season starts.. another series of violations occurs.. (see photo :below: courtesy of the henney report, http://www.henney.com/)
So basically the city ordinance states “No skateboards anywhere in, around, or near the city or Rehoboth are to be ridden, viewed, stared at, or smelt.” So, the fine isn’t wallet busting..
[Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined for the first offense not less than $15 nor more than $25, and for a second or subsequent offense shall be fined not less than $25 and shall pay the costs of prosecution. [Amended 4-21-2003 by Ord. No. 0503-3]
But are they really that bad? Is it the danger? The Sound? The element? Do they scuff up the fancy Rehoboth sandscaping?
I think that it does make the city a little less family friendly.. but, I understand wanted to keep the city safe and sound… or safe from sound??
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to ride or operate any skateboard on and/or over any sidewalk adjoining any street, any street in the City of Rehoboth Beach from May 15 until September 15 of any year.
B. It shall be unlawful for any person to ride or operate any skateboard or scooter on and/or over the bandstand or any public structures throughout the entire year. The term “public structures” shall, in addition to its ordinary meaning, include but not be limited to the city’s benches, plaques, memorials and steps.
C. It shall be unlawful for any person to ride or operate any skateboard on, under and/or over the Boardwalk or any of the Boardwalk pavilions throughout the entire year.
Is there no way skaters and regular folk can get along? I’ve seen plenty of worse things in Rehoboth than a dirty skater kid. Although, they’re a little too full of themselves for me. (that last statement has nothing to do with the fact that I’ve never been coordinated enough to shred the pavement.)
May 29th, 2007 at 11:51 am
You start with skate boarding and the next thing you know it will be drugs and gang activity. No sir, nip it in the bud!
May 29th, 2007 at 11:53 am
The city could, as many have umpteen times suggested, build a skate park and then this question would be moot. Or would it? I bet not…what are the odds that every person with a skateboard would be grateful to have a place they could use freely, “acrobatically”, even safely so much so the sidewalks and boardwalk would hold no appeal? Other than in locations such as Village by the Sea, Penny Lane Mall and the like, skateboarders seem to me to be using them as alternative transport…no parking costs, highly portable, no worry about theft…even a place to park one’s…umm…derriere…when tired. Perfect…except for one minor detail. They are far outnumbered by pedestrians of all ages and who, for the most part, shouldn’t have to duck and dodge flying board jockeys who are…you said it yourself, Jared…”a little too full of themselves” or, perhaps another way, over-confident of their ability to ensure no falling, tripping up, banging into a toddler, elderly person or even the adult able-bodied. Visitors already have plenty with which to contend avoiding bicycles, surreys, segues, scooters and even the odd stroller. Skateboarders can’t or shouldn’t use the roadways for obvious reasons…danger to themselves in motorized traffic…but yet present themselves as a like hazard to sidewalk traffic. I doubt it’s got a thing to do with how they look, sound or smell…and, really…how much fun do skateboarders themselves get out of their pastime when they try to traverse the ocean block of RB Avenue and can’t get through the perpetual line-ups on the pavement at Kohr’s, Dollies, Thrashers, Louie’s, Grottos, Go Fish and the sundry ice-cream shops?
May 29th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
The insurance costs associated with building a skate park make it prohibitively expensive.
May 31st, 2007 at 7:22 am
Not if it’s “skate at your own risk,” as in other cities.
June 1st, 2007 at 10:19 am
I don’t know if that would hold up in court. It certainly seems like something that would be challenged the first time someone gets really hurt. Even if the City wins the suit, it’ll be expensive to defend. I just don’t think you can build a skate park and then absolve yourself of all responsibility just by hanging a sign.
June 1st, 2007 at 8:43 pm
The City of Bowie, Md. just recently added a skatepark…. ask Dan Gaffey about it- I remember him talking about it on his show.
June 22nd, 2008 at 1:01 am
Some of these comments are ridiculous. Its a shame that people hate skateboarders so much. Saying that skateboarding leads to drug abuse and gang activity is such a generalization. If anything it gives kids a positive activity to keep them away from those things. Nancy Cleveland “banging into a toddler”? I think your being overly dramatic. Most skateboarders are respectful of others. I agree that there are young kids who are inexperienced and shouldn’t be skating around crowds of people, but these are just blatant generalizations that aren’t appreciated. Rehoboth Ave. isn’t the only street in Rehoboth either, there are other streets that are much less crowded, but thats a problem with everyone, too. Of course theres Grove park that is barely used, but there has to be another random place to walk dogs or whatever. There are baseball fields, football fields, tennis courts, etc. All for public use, and they’re barely used. Skateboarders, get out and skate on a regular basis and would make much better use of these spaces. If people stopped being so closed minded and looked at the statistics, skateboarding is actually more popular now, than Little League. Its Americas true favorite past time, but there are so many people in Sussex County with such small town mentalities that they can’t see that. Thats why theres not one designated place for skateboarding that is actually a good place to skate. The skateboarders are just as tired of getting kicked out of spots as the people kicking us out. We’ve practiced at what we do for a long time. In my case, over 14 years and we’re not going to give it up, just because other people don’t like it. In most cases we’re not bothering anybody, but of course we have to deal with people trying to heckle us. I’ve had people scream at me that I was skating too close to there car because I was facing away from it to skate in the other direction. I’ve had people try to physically assault me, I’ve had police and other people talk to me like I’m a lowlife because I enjoy riding a skateboard. Truthfully, I’m not much different from you. I’ve just been skateboarding for a long time. I’m not going to be banging into any toddlers or elderly. Don’t worry Nancy. Myself and every skater that I know who skates seriously, knows how to maneuver properly and
WILL NOT take risks when people could be hit. We watch for an opening and then take our turn at the obstacle we’re skating. If a pedestrian is walking there, we’ll wait. You won’t see us skating Rehoboth Ave. You’re basically generalizing a group of millions of people all over the world as
being full of themselves. I’d hate to hear what you say about other races. Also, Commonsense. Not all skaters are sue happy. Why would you say that someone skating at there own risk and getting hurt wouldn’t hold up in court? If the park has rusty nails sticking up, I could see that, but I don’t see what court or judge would decide that the city would have to foot the bill because some kid lost his balance. If that were true, everytime there was a car accident the city would have to pay because it was on there street. That being said I feel that INEXPERIENCED skateboarders shouldn’t be allowed to skate in town during the peak season. Of course, everyone tolerate bikes. This is total discrimination. I’m much safer and more comfortable on my skateboard. There are plenty of foreign students who learn how to ride a bike and five minutes later they’re riding on Rehoboth Ave. and all over the streets. This is perfectly fine, though. I’m much safer and can maneuver much more easily than any bike. For the record in 14 years, I’ve never hit anybody on my skateboard. None of my friends who have been skating with me since day 1 have, either. Skateboarding is a positive activity that kids and adults can enjoy. It will continue to grow and the cities and towns who don’t accept it will be left in the Stone Ages with Barney Rubble. How many people keep playing there sport after college, if they even make it that long. I have a group of friends who have been skating together since our early teens and we’re in our late 20s, now. We’re like brothers and we’ve gone through all these trial and tribulations that these haters who know nothing about what we’re doing and probably are so disrespectful towards us because they have nothing in there own lives that brings them the type of bliss that riding a skateboard can bring.
In the end the haters only make us stronger. Skateboarding has lasted ups and downs for decades. Its evolved to a point where it is one of the most complex activities, both physically and mentally. Any town that cares about its youth should embrace the idea of a skatepark, as a place to keep young minds occupied, to keep them away from drugs and gang activity. Most of my closest friends are skateboarders, that I’ve met over the years, from all different walks of life and we always will have a common bond. There is skateboarding happening on 6 of the seven continents. There are third world countries with more skateparks than Delaware. I sincerely hope that these negative attitudes towards skateboarders will change. The idea that, as soon as, someone steps on a skateboard they become “full of themselves is one of the least thoughtful and most idiotic statements I’ve ever heard and I urge those with this attitude to rethink, using more common sense, than just
screen name could give you. I think the City of Rehoboth could improve its look, bring in money, help the younger generation and learn a lot by adding a public skatepark. Think about it, unless your just too full of yourselves.