The Antelope Valley Times

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Council passes modified skateboard ban

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The new ordinance requires skateboarders under 18 to wear a helmets.

LANCASTER – The Lancaster City Council voted Tuesday to ban skateboarding and roller skating from designated areas in downtown Lancaster.

The approved ordinance is a modified version of a proposal that drew criticism from several skateboarders at a packed city council meeting on July 24. (Read more here).

Following the last council meeting, the city invited representatives from the Sheriff’s Department, Artist Lofts, Pharmacy Board Shop, and the BLVD Association to discuss concerns and solutions that would be fair to all parties affected.

Skateboarding is banned from the Artists Lofts’ parking lot and all surrounding streets.

“We worked out, basically, a compromise,” said councilmember Marvin Crist, who attended the meeting on behalf of the council.

Crist said the compromise aims to limit the restrictions to the areas “where there really is a problem.”

Problem areas include Lancaster Boulevard, from 10th Street West to Beech Avenue. The skateboarding/rollerskating ban also extends to the westside of several surrounding side streets so “the pedestrians can be on one side of the street, and the skateboarders can be on the other side of the street,” Crist said.

“Skateboarders will be allowed to transition from the side streets to The Blvd,” Crist said. “Once they reach The Blvd, then they can get off the skateboard and carry them from that point.”

A modified map was created to identify the no skateboard areas for public right-of-ways.  (View a map of the ‘No Skateboarding/ Rollerskating areas here.’)

The Ordinance also now includes reference to state law requiring helmets for skateboarders.

Violators would face fines ranging from $25 to $100. (View the ordinance here.).

The council voted 4-0 (with Ron Smith absent) to approve the ordinance.

“I’m glad they passed the ordinance, but I’d like to see the Sheriff’s Department enforce it,” said Artist Lofts tenant Piper Coolidge.

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Filed Under: Lancaster

10 comments for "Council passes modified skateboard ban"

  1. Not mentioned in either the AV TIMES or AV PRESS was the fact that I was the only voice against this modified skateboard ordinance. I favored just banning skateboarders from the BLVD and allowing them to use the side streets. Furthermore, I objected to the city getting involved in making skateboarders wear helmets. I said we have better things to do.

    • Are you Mike Rives? If so, you appear to desperately crave attention. You are not satisfied with speaking at every council meeting, you also want to be recognized for doing so in the media as well.

      This makes me question your sincerity. If I am wrong, feel free to correct me.

  2. Thank you Nat Geo AV for capturing the rare helmeted and forearm fortified fledgling flat board rider. I’ve never seen this species on or around Lancaster BLVD. However the second photo well features the generic critter, having prematurely outgrown an armor, attempting some sort of board vs. gravity experiment outside of their typical con-caved habitat. Something must be done to reconnect these creatures with their naturally engaging environment as they continue to plague our sidewalks. Perhaps the BLVD shop could help in placing these local beings in beneficial spaces, while providing education and training for folks purchasing and attempting to utilize their supplies.

    • I couldn’t agree more. I believe everyone should have a place to learn a sport. How about supporting the Bryce Bucholz Park. Did you know BMX Bike riding was an Olympic sport this year. And for skateboard amatuers you can help with Alix Rice Peace Park. http://WWW.alixrice.com Everyone should get a chance to use the public spaces we have available. If you board or bike you should have the ability to do so. There are thousands of boarders and bmx bikers that make handsome livings doing so.

  3. Ok, but I propose to place a ban on wearing PJ’s & slippers at any store in the AV. Also please enforce the whole sagging of your pants. Its called Indecent Exposure, no one wants to see your dirty a$$ underwear, while you are trying to hold up your lil sisters played out skinny jeans.

    • I hate to see PJs and slippers at Target as well, but a ban? Seriously? Let these people live!

      They should be free to dress in a manner that they please, just as you are free to CHOOSE whether you want to look or not.

      Also, if you want to clamp down on sagging pants, then you should go ahead and ban “daisy dukes.” You know, the ones with the butt cheeks hanging out? Or you can go ahead and ban low cut shirts that show cleavage.

  4. Piper Coolidge sums up the issue perfect with her quote.
    The problem is that like I have been saying, it’s not a skateboarder issue and the zones are so vague that if I or my child was fined for violating it I would argue that it’s too confusing to know where it is safe to skate that it’s impossible to know if you are abiding by the ordinance or not.
    This is an overly complex solution to a simple problem that has yet to be addressed.