Rise above
Skateboarders were once outlaws. Now they're the establishment -- and they're trying to drive BMX bikers out of public parks. Can't we all just get along?
Photo by Joey Cobbs
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>>An interview with SJBMX.com's Chris McMahon
>>Sit the fuck down: The Sean Parker story
I push off and head down a makeshift plywood runway, compressing as I roll over the edge and into the Technicolor graffiti of the drainage ditch. The transition between the banked wall and the flatbottom has an abrupt kink in it, enough to send you to your face if you're caught sleeping. I take some weight off the front end and try to maintain my speed as I pump into the opposite corner and carve the far end of the ditch where there's an over-45-degree wall that runs behind what my friends and I call the "death pit" — a gaping cutaway in the bottom of the culvert, five feet deep, filled with broken glass, and frequently used as a urinal.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Since I'm at the apex of my backside carve, up a wall 10 feet above last week's Miller Time, I'm jolted by the crackle of a loudspeaker:
"You are trespassing. Leave the area at once or you will be arrested."
My concentration shot by the sheriff's announcement, I jump off my deck and over the chasm at the base of the bank, barely clearing the skater's version of a Vietnam tiger pit, and land on the rough concrete beyond the edge. My board bullets straight in, though, so I've got to lower myself — gingerly — into the mostly dry detritus and rescue it before my friends and I jet out of the spot and into the manicured back nine of Pleasanton's Castlewood golf course. We get to the car, throw the boards in the trunk — mine has a "Skateboarding Is Not a Crime" sticker on the bottom — and head to the next spot, a ditch called the Rat Trap.
The year is 1987. I'm 16, in high school, and living with my parents in Fremont. The scene plays out over and over in much the same way: a drainage ditch, a nicely painted curb or ledge at a shopping center, the occasional backyard pool, and night sessions at the Tar Banks, a set of embankments around a loading dock with curbs at the top. It's an underground railroad of repurposed architecture, none of it designed with a skateboard in mind but all of it highly skateable.
Taking the $4.7mil Cunningham skatepark. Video by Jarrod Allen, www.jarrodallen.com
Every weekend my crew hits as many spots as we can, and the constants shape up like this: urethane, aluminum, Canadian hard rock maple, concrete, and asphalt. Maybe blood, maybe beer — we're teenagers ...
( 8 comments | Comment on this article )
Dougsf on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 05:16 PM
I don't even know where to start. This was an editorial piece, not a news item, so I can't tell you your opinions are wrong, but consider this - Remember when you were a kid, and you and your friends spent weeks, or months, (years, in the case of skateparks) building and maintaining those dirt jumps on the secluded plot of land you found? Then one day, those kids on motorbikes totally trashed them, whizzing by your head at 30 mph's? Remember how that felt?
Sharing a skatepark with BMX bikes will just send most kids back out into the streets. Getting skaters off the streets is exactly why the parks were built in the first place.
Now, I'm off to go see if me and my friends can get away with a quick 9 innings of baseball on the Golden Gate Park Golf Course.
Sharing a skatepark with BMX bikes will just send most kids back out into the streets. Getting skaters off the streets is exactly why the parks were built in the first place.
Now, I'm off to go see if me and my friends can get away with a quick 9 innings of baseball on the Golden Gate Park Golf Course.
mattyjo on Thursday, June 5, 2008 at 07:38 AM
actually doug, this is a very good article. did you even read it, or did you just let your bias get in the way?
and since when has whining become fashionable in skating?!?!
duncan summed it up with a deft touch right here:
"Both skaters and bikers are doing the same thing, copping that same feeling rolling over the same terrain. The war makes no sense."
no it doesn't!
and since when has whining become fashionable in skating?!?!
duncan summed it up with a deft touch right here:
"Both skaters and bikers are doing the same thing, copping that same feeling rolling over the same terrain. The war makes no sense."
no it doesn't!
tender on Thursday, June 5, 2008 at 11:19 AM
A lot of the battle here comes from the fact that skaters are doing the lobbying, BS grunt work and actual construction that it takes to get skateparks built, not the bikers. It is disheartening to have dudes jumping on the bandwagon after years of silence and no action.
Skaters are naturally territorial with their spots. After getting kicked out of everywhere for a lifetime, how can you expect us not to want to protect our spots? Like Phelps said, it's really about respect. Most dudes are down for whoever can ride without crashing into them and/or destroying pool coping ... but try to have a session when there are more than 5 bikes at somewhere like Pacifica and you are f'd ... it's over with.
Skaters are naturally territorial with their spots. After getting kicked out of everywhere for a lifetime, how can you expect us not to want to protect our spots? Like Phelps said, it's really about respect. Most dudes are down for whoever can ride without crashing into them and/or destroying pool coping ... but try to have a session when there are more than 5 bikes at somewhere like Pacifica and you are f'd ... it's over with.
mcnaughton on Friday, June 6, 2008 at 11:24 AM
In response to tender, one major example in the article is the Cityview skatepark in Alameda. Bike rider John Paul Bail and his company were involved in that park from the very beginning, from lobbying to fundraising to actually physically laying concrete, only for him (and many others) to be kicked out and fined for riding it.
Bike riders and skaters have co-existed in skateparks since skateparks have existed, and they continue to do so all over the world. It's a misguided and selfish act to try and keep bikes out of a park just because you think you can get away with it politically. I thought hiding behind the cops and the insurance industry was something squares did, not skaters.
Bike riders and skaters have co-existed in skateparks since skateparks have existed, and they continue to do so all over the world. It's a misguided and selfish act to try and keep bikes out of a park just because you think you can get away with it politically. I thought hiding behind the cops and the insurance industry was something squares did, not skaters.
yemi on Friday, June 6, 2008 at 05:42 PM
Great article from Duncan. Some people have little knowledge or appreciation of the fact that bikers and skaters have co-existed for decades. I grew up in London riding BMX and skating during the 80's and ALL of the skateparks were "co-ed" including legendary spots like the Southbank, Rom, Harrow and Meanwhile.
Come to think of it, there were many organized jam sessions in the UK that were open to bikers and skaters. Nick Phillip (UK street riding pioneer and founder of Anarchic Adjustment clothing) was at the heart of this scene and published the leading skate/bike publication at the time. Nick lives in SF right now and he'll back me up on this. The anti-bike sentiment is from those too young to know any better.
----
Yemi
psychicflyingmonkey on Friday, June 6, 2008 at 09:31 PM
The following is an op-ed piece the Arizona Republic asked me to write on the bikes in skateparks issue. It ran in the Republic a little over a year ago:
BMX bike riders need legal places to ride. Within the past year, many Arizona cities have recognized this, and have chosen to either build new bikeparks, or allow bikes in their new or existing skateparks.
When a city builds a bikepark, it is only half the solution. Even if the bikepark is right next to a skatepark, skateboarders will inevitably want to skate it. It’s new terrain. It’s like building two golf courses side by side and telling golfers they can only golf one of the courses. So the severe enforcement issue arises. Police and park rangers will begin chasing, macing, ticketing and arresting skateboarders for skating the bikepark, just as they have done to bike riders for riding skateparks.
When a city allows bikes in their skateparks, they are undoing a segregation that never should have been installed in the first place. BMX riders and skateboarders rode together and got along just fine in private skateparks for over 20 years before the public skatepark boom started in the late nineties, during which cities banned bikes from their skateparks. Taxpayer money is saved because there is no need to aggressively enforce a ban on any skatepark user. Moreover, cities can save hundreds of thousands of dollars by allowing bikes in their skateparks instead of building a brand new bike park. They just get more bang for their skatepark buck.
Skateparks are far and away the most used public recreation facilities nowadays. You can almost never find one empty at any time of day, while you can easily find an empty tennis court or softball field. Ultimately, bike riders and skateboarders need to work together to get cities to keep building bigger and more co-mingled bike and skate facilities until none are overcrowded.
Jason Ryan
President
The Bike, Blade and Board Coalition
I strongly agree with tender that bike riders need to work hard to get new parks built. We have expended much effort to get new parks that allow all users here in Arizona, and the skaters have recognized our efforts. Unfortunately, is our great shame that the bmx media cares so little about inspiring and urging kids to take action on this issue in the rest of the nation instead of sitting and whining about it. For example, Ryan Fudger, Associate Editor of Ride BMX, probably the biggest BMX magazine in the world, has known about virtually every step we've taken to get legal places for bikes to ride in Arizona, yet he has almost entirely ignored it in the magazine. We have also had prominent Arizona bike riders such as KC Badger work AGAINST us, influencing kids not to help with our efforts because it's "not cool".
How pathetic.
God bless Duncan for writing such a thorough exploration of this issue. Keep up the good work!
To watch a segment I created about protests we held at skateparks in Arizona, visit [link] and download "When Others are Oppressed, The Bikes in Skateparks Protest Segment". I need to update the segment, as Reed Skatepark in Mesa now does allow co-mingled use by skaters and bike riders at all times. Also check out The 3BC page on my site as well. It contains logs of all our efforts with many cities in Arizona.
Stay tuned to [link] for info on my full-length documentary of the "Bikes in Arizona Skateparks" movement that is now in production.
BMX bike riders need legal places to ride. Within the past year, many Arizona cities have recognized this, and have chosen to either build new bikeparks, or allow bikes in their new or existing skateparks.
When a city builds a bikepark, it is only half the solution. Even if the bikepark is right next to a skatepark, skateboarders will inevitably want to skate it. It’s new terrain. It’s like building two golf courses side by side and telling golfers they can only golf one of the courses. So the severe enforcement issue arises. Police and park rangers will begin chasing, macing, ticketing and arresting skateboarders for skating the bikepark, just as they have done to bike riders for riding skateparks.
When a city allows bikes in their skateparks, they are undoing a segregation that never should have been installed in the first place. BMX riders and skateboarders rode together and got along just fine in private skateparks for over 20 years before the public skatepark boom started in the late nineties, during which cities banned bikes from their skateparks. Taxpayer money is saved because there is no need to aggressively enforce a ban on any skatepark user. Moreover, cities can save hundreds of thousands of dollars by allowing bikes in their skateparks instead of building a brand new bike park. They just get more bang for their skatepark buck.
Skateparks are far and away the most used public recreation facilities nowadays. You can almost never find one empty at any time of day, while you can easily find an empty tennis court or softball field. Ultimately, bike riders and skateboarders need to work together to get cities to keep building bigger and more co-mingled bike and skate facilities until none are overcrowded.
Jason Ryan
President
The Bike, Blade and Board Coalition
I strongly agree with tender that bike riders need to work hard to get new parks built. We have expended much effort to get new parks that allow all users here in Arizona, and the skaters have recognized our efforts. Unfortunately, is our great shame that the bmx media cares so little about inspiring and urging kids to take action on this issue in the rest of the nation instead of sitting and whining about it. For example, Ryan Fudger, Associate Editor of Ride BMX, probably the biggest BMX magazine in the world, has known about virtually every step we've taken to get legal places for bikes to ride in Arizona, yet he has almost entirely ignored it in the magazine. We have also had prominent Arizona bike riders such as KC Badger work AGAINST us, influencing kids not to help with our efforts because it's "not cool".
How pathetic.
God bless Duncan for writing such a thorough exploration of this issue. Keep up the good work!
To watch a segment I created about protests we held at skateparks in Arizona, visit [link] and download "When Others are Oppressed, The Bikes in Skateparks Protest Segment". I need to update the segment, as Reed Skatepark in Mesa now does allow co-mingled use by skaters and bike riders at all times. Also check out The 3BC page on my site as well. It contains logs of all our efforts with many cities in Arizona.
Stay tuned to [link] for info on my full-length documentary of the "Bikes in Arizona Skateparks" movement that is now in production.
frame_maker on Monday, June 9, 2008 at 02:47 PM
I find it interesting that a forward thinking city like San Francisco doesn't get it, while much more conservative towns do. Case in point, Pleasanton CA.
Many years ago Pleasanton built a small skateboard park and enforced a skateboards only rule. Then several years ago, thanks to the request of local in-line skaters, a new much bigger and much better "skate park" was built. There are signs that read "in-line skating only" however I've never seen a single in-line skater at the facility. Most afternoons it is packed with everything else... skateboards, scooters, and BMX bikes. Lots of BMX bikes!
Being curious minded after seeing several police cars roll by without even a glance at the bikes, I called the park and rec department to see what the deal was. I was told by the friendly park official that the park was indeed constructed for in-line skating but that the rule would not be enforced if everyone got along and there were no serious accidents. Turns out that in the history of the skateboard park there had never been a single insurance claim for injuries. The park department viewed this as an indication to let the new park be open to everyone on a trial bases. That was over 4 years ago and still the new skatepark is being used by everyone and without any significant issues.
A year or so after that skatepark opened, the city of Pleasanton then opened a dirt-jump park. That has been attracting crowds of BMXers, mountain bikes, and any kid you can think of that wants to get some dirt under his/her bike. I think Pleasanton has the right idea. Not bad for a happy little white collar Republican town!
Hey SF do you get it? It can work.
Oh, almost forgot... hey Dunc, great article! I very much enjoyed the read. Brad, thumbs up on the photos.
Many years ago Pleasanton built a small skateboard park and enforced a skateboards only rule. Then several years ago, thanks to the request of local in-line skaters, a new much bigger and much better "skate park" was built. There are signs that read "in-line skating only" however I've never seen a single in-line skater at the facility. Most afternoons it is packed with everything else... skateboards, scooters, and BMX bikes. Lots of BMX bikes!
Being curious minded after seeing several police cars roll by without even a glance at the bikes, I called the park and rec department to see what the deal was. I was told by the friendly park official that the park was indeed constructed for in-line skating but that the rule would not be enforced if everyone got along and there were no serious accidents. Turns out that in the history of the skateboard park there had never been a single insurance claim for injuries. The park department viewed this as an indication to let the new park be open to everyone on a trial bases. That was over 4 years ago and still the new skatepark is being used by everyone and without any significant issues.
A year or so after that skatepark opened, the city of Pleasanton then opened a dirt-jump park. That has been attracting crowds of BMXers, mountain bikes, and any kid you can think of that wants to get some dirt under his/her bike. I think Pleasanton has the right idea. Not bad for a happy little white collar Republican town!
Hey SF do you get it? It can work.
Oh, almost forgot... hey Dunc, great article! I very much enjoyed the read. Brad, thumbs up on the photos.
zhudson on Monday, April 20, 2009 at 09:28 PM
BMX RE-BUTTHOLE
you couldn’t have been more off point.
the number one most important problem between skaters and bikers is not a simple 2 wheel problem; it is coping. coping is the cream in the twinkie, the nipple on the titty...it’s the top of the mountain...it’s what you earn by getting up to the top. and bmx pegs destroy it...period. and when the coping is designed and poured and grouted by skaters and someone who has shit to do with shit comes along and fucks it up...fuck off!
now, really there is no problem between someone who skates and someone who rides a bmx. bmxrs are not fundamentally kooky brat turds like rollerbladers. it is not an arbitrary -us against them- issue.
just like bowlers and rollerskaters along couldn’t co-exist in a bowling alley/rollerrink or prisons couldn’t be co-ed so couldn’t skaters and bmxrs ride off into the sunset on a unicorn made of cotton candy. but, uh...build your own...
Even state-funded skateparks are designed and built by skateboarders, the good ones, at least. I like to bowl but I wouldnt do it at a roller rink...have i made my point?Seriously, BUILD YOUR OWN. Get in touch with the true spirit of American enterprise...the Kitty Hawk way.
at Burnside “skatepark” in Portland Oregon--the Godfather of all diy skateparks--there is a rule and understanding between the skaters who concieved and built the place and the bmxrs, and that is bmxrs can get their ride on but must be out by noon and NO! PEGS!...this seems to work. it is self regulated and self policed by the skaters. the locals there don’t call 911...if you know what that means.
so you can take your black flag references and crybaby disposition and go fill a wheel barrow full of dirt and build your own spot!...bro.
p.s.you don’t call your board a “deck”, poser. Stick to the air-conditioned life-style and write about that. Nostalgia has no place in skateboarding.
you couldn’t have been more off point.
the number one most important problem between skaters and bikers is not a simple 2 wheel problem; it is coping. coping is the cream in the twinkie, the nipple on the titty...it’s the top of the mountain...it’s what you earn by getting up to the top. and bmx pegs destroy it...period. and when the coping is designed and poured and grouted by skaters and someone who has shit to do with shit comes along and fucks it up...fuck off!
now, really there is no problem between someone who skates and someone who rides a bmx. bmxrs are not fundamentally kooky brat turds like rollerbladers. it is not an arbitrary -us against them- issue.
just like bowlers and rollerskaters along couldn’t co-exist in a bowling alley/rollerrink or prisons couldn’t be co-ed so couldn’t skaters and bmxrs ride off into the sunset on a unicorn made of cotton candy. but, uh...build your own...
Even state-funded skateparks are designed and built by skateboarders, the good ones, at least. I like to bowl but I wouldnt do it at a roller rink...have i made my point?Seriously, BUILD YOUR OWN. Get in touch with the true spirit of American enterprise...the Kitty Hawk way.
at Burnside “skatepark” in Portland Oregon--the Godfather of all diy skateparks--there is a rule and understanding between the skaters who concieved and built the place and the bmxrs, and that is bmxrs can get their ride on but must be out by noon and NO! PEGS!...this seems to work. it is self regulated and self policed by the skaters. the locals there don’t call 911...if you know what that means.
so you can take your black flag references and crybaby disposition and go fill a wheel barrow full of dirt and build your own spot!...bro.
p.s.you don’t call your board a “deck”, poser. Stick to the air-conditioned life-style and write about that. Nostalgia has no place in skateboarding.
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