I’ve been strangely silent on the downhill controversy in Portland, not by design, but through a series of slip ups and dropped balls. Long story short: Some people on a very popular downhill skateboarding (and bike) route in a ritzy are of Portland are trying to get skateboarding banned on their streets because they are allegedly worried about safety, and of course, property damage. Portland has legalized skateboarding on city streets with the exception of a small area downtown. If we allow people to decide willy nilly which streets are OK for skateboarding then we might as well make it all illegal. Downhill activists have been working with the city and the community for a year now trying to make sure skaters follow traffic laws on the hill to avoid having it completely shut down. Video on local PDX news after the jump.
– Thanks to Donny for the tip.
Skate-friendly signs posted in West Hills at KGW.com.
12 comments
francisco
If they were racing segways down this hill I bet it would not be such a big deal. Wealthy folks got those, right?
Tim Laidlaw
If the skaters are so willing to change their habits on the hill, that seems to validate the neighborhood’s concerns. I can’t be a lemming on this one just cause I ride a board and I’m a bit disappointed the skate community didn’t see this coming with the first police stings on the hill and issuing of tickets for traffic violations long before the “Jesus boarders” videos showed up on the neighborhood associations web page.
Fitz
This is simply about wealthy Portlanders shunning an element of society they deem unacceptable from their carefully manicured world.
If they are allowed the right to ban skaters from their streets under the guise of safety concerns, then I’m allowed to ban Arlington Heights residents from my street under the guise of safety concerns. Please don’t jog, drive, or bike in Montavilla. For your own safety.
Fair play.
Tim Laidlaw
*their
Tim Laidlaw
Seems to me safety is the main argument on both sides, having followed this from the beginning well over a year ago to now. Safety is about minimizing risk not eliminating it. I just can’t help but think that if the skaters had applied there new found approach to the hill when this began it might have never gotten this far. From what I’ve read the downhill community is now recruiting “hill monitors”. Perhaps you’re right though, this may be more about conduct than safety?
Fitz
So, who’s had an accident up there? Where’s the evidence of unsafe skating? A video of some dudes bombing the hill and catching the coffin-line down Jefferson? Who got hurt?
I thought we wanted to Keep Portland Weird?
Also, people ride bikes, motorcycles, and skateboards on West Hills roads, and do so with abandon.
Trail runners barge leisurely hiking trails in Hoyt Arboretum. Mountan Bikers and Cyclocross riders charge down Forest Park’s Leif Eerickson Drive at speeds approaching 50 mph. And to think I walk up there with my kids!
The safety card is utter bullshit. I’m not asking you to be a lemming, I’m asking you to stand up against the age old socio-economic stigma that surrounds skating.
If these assholes are allowed to ban various elements from their sacrosanct streets, they will set a dangerous precedent. Do you fucking live there or something? Stand up, man!
Tim Laidlaw
I’ve seen the age old socio-economical stigma that surrounds skating and this ain’t it
Fitz
Well, it sure smacks of it from where I’m standing.
Regardless, let’s not let it happen for any reason!
Fitz
*fallacy*
Damn typos.
Fitz
This has nothing to do with safety. Such concern is simply an appeal to emotion on the part of the neighborhood. In other words, it’s a fallay…
Ergo: If safety is truly the issue, then the method of conveyance is irrelevant and the city should just close the road to all but pedestrians. Cars, bikes, skateboards–all have their intrinsic dangers. If safety is the concern, I’m sure the neighbors will gladly park down in Goose Hollow, and carry their groceries safely up the hill.
Tim Laidlaw
I think this process is good for the skaters who’ve never been issued a ticket from the city of Portland for just being in the street on a skateboard but I don’t think summarily dismissing the neighborhood’s genuine concern for the safety of skaters just because of their income is fair. Too much whining on both sides for me
talentlessquitter
“Sliding is noisy. Don’t use sliding gloves.”
WTF? That’s not skater-friendly, that’s a ‘I’m going to friendly ask you to stay away’-sign. And what is that pedalboardbike thing doing in court? Also didn’t hear the word longboarder or downhill once. Worlds apart people, worlds apart. Oh what the hell do I care…