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Ban on Zoobombing—End of An Era?
Did y’all see the blog in the Portland Mercury about the PROPOSED BANNING OF PARTS OF THE ZOOBOMB TO SKATEBOARDERS?! Above is the map that details the streets in the West Hills that will be closed to skating (not biking, mind you!) if the bill passes.
We can’t speak for everyone but personally we feel like zoobombing is a rich part of the Portland skate tradition and we hate to see it go due to what’s perceived as a “safety issue” but might be more accurately described as a rich minority not wanting the types of peeps associated with skateboarding rolling through their neighborhoods on the daily. Also, as a whole, skateboarders have more control than people understand. We can stop and steer and stuff. What about a comprimise? A skate lane? What do YOU think?
I think that the skateboarders and zoo bombers that constantly break the laws by crossing over into the wrong lane, blowing through STOP signs, passing cars going in the same direction should grow up and take responsibility for their actions. With the way they are going, someone is going to die, there’s not doubt about it. And it’s not just them that are in danger; it’s anyone who lives in the neighborhood and anyone who happens to come across them on the road. Having fun is cool, but safety (for everyone) is more important.
If safety is the MAIN issue, then why aren’t bikes being targeted by this bill? They are just as dangerous as a mode of transportation, and when it comes to zoobombing, they’re just as daredevil. Skateboarders should be required to obey the traffic laws like everyone else (i.e. stop signs etc.) and stick within a designated bike/skate lane, but banning them from public roads altogether is bizarre. Why not ban bikes from riding around downtown? People die every year doing this. Bike messengers get doored. Pedestrians get hit. This is the nature of the roads. All we can do is require everyone to obey safety laws and share the roads respectfully.
If the cops see the zoobombers break the law and have other people in danger of getting injured then those few people should be banned from this. If skatersare being safe they cant take this away from them