A New Concept in Improving Acceptance of Skateboarding - Essay Example

? Overview of Skateboarding Skateboarding is an activity that offers many benefits. It is enjoyed by 11.6 million residents of the U.S. (Wixon). The activity can provide youth with a sense of pride and accomplishment. It helps kids and adults alike stay fit and active. Skateboarding is fun, challenging and is a self-paced activity that can be enjoyed in many places. It can be a means of keeping youth away from negative influences of the streets. However, many individuals and families do not have a safe place to use their skateboards. Youth may end up skating in the streets, with traffic, obstacles such as construction zones and other hazards. Accidents and Injuries Skateboarding in the streets can be very dangerous for youth, when they lack the physical space and must share concrete with motor vehicles. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (p. 542), “25% of all the skateboarding injuries involved a collision with a motor vehicle, 31% involved injuries to joints or bones.” In addition, “5% of these children got a severe mental injury because of this.” Clearly, skateboarding without considerations for skaters or motor vehicles can create dangerous situations for skateboarders on the streets. Witnessing such injuries can be just as traumatic for friends and family members. Learning about such accidents may deter other youth from the sport entirely. This is not helpful when many youth see skateboarding as the ideal physical activity. Skateboarders who enjoy street style skating need a place to enjoy themselves that is free from hazards, legal repercussions and complaining citizens. “Skateboard users are considered pedestrians and are subject to all duties and rights of a pedestrians. When on sidewalks, skateboard users are to yield to other pedestrians,” says Jim Rayburn (1990), a reporter for the Deseret News in Utah. While skateboarders have the same rights, they are often persecuted because drivers and pedestrians alike are fearful that they may be involved in a collision. Most people have seen various signs professing “Absolutely No Skateboarding,” “No Skateboarding, Biking, or Rollerblading,” etc. Some places have even gone as far as to make skateboarding on public property illegal! However, what do you usually see around those signs? Skateboarders! There’s no doubt about it, skateboarding is a sport that’s here to stay. Something needs to be done to increase acceptance of skateboards by society. By creating safe skate spots throughout the country, the skateboarding community is given a place to skate, free of harassment and fines. It also gives the community a sense of safety, as they drive or walk without fear of collision. Rob Dyrdek created the first safe-skate locations, to provide youth and adults with a safe place for street skateboarding. Though there are thousands of skate parts throughout the country, street skaters enjoy different types of obstacles and moves and have fewer places to go for their outlet. In many cities, once popular streets for skating are restricted. Skateboarders have even received tickets for skateboarding in restricted areas. Dyrdek has taken a problem and created a solution for it, with several skate spot safe spot locations, including Los Angeles. While skate parks are great for other types of skateboarding, street skating has different requirements and some street skaters, such as beginners, may be intimidated by some of the skills they see at a typical skate park. Skateboarding as a Sport Skateboarding is popular among youth of certain ages. Teens who are nearing adulthood need constructive activities that keep them away from more harmful ones. “Skateboarding is the third largest sport between the ages of 6-18. In 2001, nearly 21 million people participated in action sports other than baseball, soccer, softball, volleyball, tennis, or football.” (ASMF). Teens need an outlet for recreation that helps them deal with pressures in a healthy way. They also need to be supported in those healthier outlets, whether they prefer skateboarding or other sports. “Letting them know that you are involved in their lives, and showing interest in their activities, can help them stand up to peer pressure and avoid the pitfalls of drug use” (Teenhelp.com). When youth find a healthy activity that they enjoy or that makes them feel good about themselves, adults should be supporting them, rather than creating barriers and restrictions, or simply complaining that such activities are bothersome. Dyrdek has taken action to show youth and skateboarders in general, that the community does care about them and their well-being. Weiner et al (p. 549) suggest that communities “make youth sports a priority for public spending and provide other forms of community support.” Building facilities such as safe spots for street skateboarders is a perfect way to show support for youth. Such support offers additional benefits. It encourages youth and families to become more physically active, for improved health and fitness. It sends a message to youth that their well being in important and that the community does care. For youth who are not interested in traditional sports, a skate spot provides them with a physical outlet and a sport they can claim as their own. It may help reduce peer pressure or negative responses from peers, when they learn the youth does participate in some type of sport. Perceptions of Skateboarders Skateboarders who enjoy street style skating need a place to enjoy themselves that is free from hazards, legal repercussions and complaining citizens. “Skateboard users are considered pedestrians and are subject to all duties and rights of pedestrians. When on sidewalks, skateboard users are to yield to other pedestrians,” says Jim Rayburn (1990), a reporter for the Deseret News in Utah. While skateboarders have the same rights, they are often persecuted because drivers and pedestrians alike are fearful that they may be involved in a collision. Many people simply have perceived notions about the types of people who enjoy skateboarding. “Skateboarding in the past has always attracted fringe players and original personalities” (Label Networks). However, with the increasing popularity of the sport, those perceptions are no longer valid. People may object to the proposition of safe skate spots because they feel that skate parks are noisy. However, “studies show that a skate park has no more noise than the ambient surrounding noises that exist in other parks. Sound barriers like shrubs will also limit the noise level.” (SPAUSA). Anyone who lives near a baseball or football stadium in active use can attest to noise levels that at times, may be bothersome. Skate parks or facilities for street skating create much less noise. Communities support youth sports that create plenty of noise, from public announcement systems that are quite loud, cheering crowds and increased traffic before and after events. Skateboarding does not involve any of these activities that generate additional noise. Skateboarding Reduces Crime Skate spots or areas that create an inviting area for skateboarders create situations where skateboarders are highly visible. Groups or larger numbers of skateboarders in an area make it less desirable to drug dealers and those participating in illegal activities, as they will not blend into the environment as easily and are more likely to be noticed. Skate spots are also being built in areas of the community that are highly visible. This has many advantages to skate parks or areas that have been built behind community centers or in community parks with low visibility. First, it attracts the attention and interest of skateboarders and those who are interested in taking up the activity. Second, the high visibility means drug dealers and other criminals will find the location less desirable for conducting their illegal activities. Such spots are safer, as they can be easily viewed by patrolling law enforcement. In an article in the Philadelphia Daily News, that compares the actions taken by city officials in Philadelphia, PA and in Vancouver, BC, Michael Gordon discusses the benefits that Vancouver has experienced since building skate spots and allowing skateboarding in downtown areas. The director of safety for the University of British Columbia “sees it as a means to improve the safety of lone women on campus at night and says that car break-ins have declined since they started allowing skateboarding in the university parking area.” The hazards of skating in urban areas with limited access are very real. Drug dealers, human traffickers and many others are often waiting for the next vulnerable youth to come along. The activity that keeps many youth occupied and gives them a purpose may also lure them to dangerous people, without a proper place to enjoy their hobby. Having visible designated skate areas or features and allowing skateboarders in numbers are both a means of keeping youth safer on the streets. Gordon further explains that city parks have been redesigned with elements of street skating and believes the city’s initiative is much more beneficial than a typical skate park, for both skateboarders and the rest of the community. “If 80% of skateboarding is real street, then 80% of the places built for skateboarders should duplicate real street” (Rob Dyrdek Foundation). To promote skateboarding and encourage youth to engage in a meaningful physical activity, having spaces that are relevant to the majority of skateboarders is important. Skateboarding as Alternative Transportation One benefit of skate spots that most discussions do not mention is the environmental benefit of using the skateboard as an alternative means of local transportation. Some discussions include skateboarding as a means of alternate transportation, but do not highlight the benefits. With a greater focus on the environment today, those who are concerned have taken up riding bicycles, motorized scooters and machines such as the Segway to work. Bicycles require quite a bit of maintenance. They can easily get flat tires or experience other mechanical problems, that result in ending one’s trip or finding another way to get there. In addition, many communities are not designed with places to secure bicycles when riders arrive at their destinations. Motorized scooters require the purchase and use of fuel. Though consumption is much less than a typical motor vehicle, they do produce carbon emissions. In addition, many cities require youth to be of a certain age, usually at least 14, before they can ride such devices on city streets. With both bicycles and motorized scooters, there are safety issues. Many drivers who have become accustomed to not seeing other devices on the roads do not look out for them or take the position that they always have the right of way. This can result in accidents causing severe injury. Sidewalks are much safer for those using alternate means of transportation to get around town. However, motorized scooters and bicycles are not usually permitted on busy city center sidewalks, where they might be more acceptable on suburban neighborhood sidewalks. The Segway takes up little space during operation and does offer a relatively safe way to navigate city sidewalks. However, it can be dangerous to use on changing or hilly terrain. In addition, the device may be cost-prohibitive for many people. Going green does not necessarily mean finding new, costly devices to get around. It should focus more on finding already available methods of transportation and making them more suitable. Skateboards are most suitable for navigating city sidewalks. They can be much faster than walking. It is much easier for a community to widen sidewalks or create suitable skateboard surfaces, than it is to add bicycle paths on every street. Summary/Conclusion Skate spots represent a new concept in improving acceptance of skateboarding. Whether For competition or for pure recreation and enjoyment, street skateboarders need safe places to skate. With the increasing interest in skateboarding and the epidemic of obesity in American youth, communities should take some responsibility to create safe places for youth to skateboard. If communities can create spaces for fast food restaurants and malls or shopping centers that sell unhealthy fast foods, they should at least find a way to balance the effects. To create responsible, healthy and fit adults, who are more productive in society, youth be supported in activities that foster improved health and overall well-being. Like schools and community recreation centers, safe skate spots represent places that can influence outcomes of youth and enrich their lives. Skate spots can become safe places for healthy socialization of youth and can help reduce the number of areas where criminal activity occurs. Works Cited American Academy of Pediatrics, “ Skateboard and scooter injuries.” Pediatrics 109.3 (2002): p. 242. Web. 09 Mar. 2011. ASMF - The Action Sports Medicine Foundation. Skate page. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. Gordon, M., “A city that loves skateboarding.” Philadelphia Daily News. 17 Jun. 2004. Web. 12 Mar. 2011. Skate Park Association of the United States of America, “Noise and skate parks.” Web. 21 Feb. Label Networks, “Skateboarding consumer research study released today reveals new trends shaping youth culture, based on the influential market of America’s most independent sport.” (2011). Web. 12 Mar. 2011. Rayburn, J., “Hazards of Skateboarding prompt cities to restrict use.” Deseret News, 26 Jan. 1990. Web. 12 Mar. 2011. Rob Dyrdek Foundation, About us page. Web. 12 Mar. 2011. Teen Help, Teen drug abuse prevention. Web. 12 Mar. 2011. Weiner, I., Handbook of Psychology: Developmental Psychology. (2003), p.549. Hoboken: NJ, John Wiley & Sons. Wixon, B., “Communities must ask the right questions when planning skate park” (2011). Web. 10 Mar. 2011. Read More