Santa Monica Skate
Thread started by
sexy at 04.2.08 - 1:54 am
I have been on this yahoogroup (friday night skate) for some time, and always wanted to go on this since it inception (tho, I never have).
I get this email from them and thought it might be interesting for everyone to look at. In light of what has been going on with SMCM.
here is the email....................................
Great News Skaters,
The Santa Monica city council has approved police escorts for this Friday’s Skate in Santa Monica . The city of Santa Monica is promoting it’s self as the greenest city in the nation and thus, they are recognizing the Friday Night Skate among others as promoting pollution free transportation and a healthy life style. The city will be giving us an award entitled “Skate Santa Monica 2008” for our group’s eleven year committed of promoting skating in Santa Monica . The local media will be covering the event.
We meet at the top of the Santa Monica Pier by the cannon at 8:40, leave by 9PM.
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So SMCM gets ticketed and intimidated by the same cops that are giving an escort to skaters AND the city is claiming to be promoting "green" lifestyles and transportation?
That's some shiat.
bananaphone04.2.08 - 5:13 am
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would it really be CM if it adhered itself to whatever PR agenda the santa monica government was latching itself to this year?
stevestevesteve04.2.08 - 7:35 am
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I know what is going to happen in this thread.
People are going to get mad and up-in-arms and bitch and moan and complain.
That's an ignorant reaction.
Here is the mature and intelligent way to react - Ask yourselves WHY the city would support Friday Night Skate and condemn Critical Mass?
Consider this - It is completely LEGAL to ride a bicycle in the street and totally ILLEGAL to ride rollerblades or rollerskates or skateboards in the street. Yet the Friday Night Skate doesn't get hassled. In fact, it gets supported! Hmmmm. Interesting. Why? Could perhaps Critical Mass learn something from this?
Read this page of the skaters:
http://www.fridaynightskate.org/safety.shtml
If those skaters truly extend that sort of respect and courtesy to motorists and pedestrians, I can understand why law enforcement would overlook the fact that riding in the street is illegal.
Likewise, I am willing to bet that if Critical Mass FOLLOWED THE TRAFFIC LAWS then there would be no problems. If Critical Mass was RESPECTFUL instead of DISRUPTIVE then cyclists would get just as much support. Too often cyclists preach about "asserting their rights" yet attempt to assert those rights by breaking the law. Too often cyclists complain that motorists act "elitist" and behave as if they are entitled to special privlidges. Quite a hypocracy when cyclists are breaking the law by taking up all the lanes and running lights.
Getting along with law enforcement is SO SIMPLE. Apparently these skaters are far more intelligent in figuring out HOW to do that. I have never, ever, EVER seen a single bicycle ride get harassed by police when the riders obeyed the traffic laws. NEVER. Only when people run lights and cork intersections and swarm all lanes of traffic do cops bother to say anything.
Funny that so many cyclists are dumb enough to think they have the right to get away with that.
You have 2 choices:
1. Obey the law and respect the community, so you are treated with support and respect, just like the skaters.
2. Break the law and be treated like criminals.
Up to you. You decide. But please, stop breaking the law then act shocked when you are not loved and accepted.
MikeyWalsh04.2.08 - 8:54 am
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Has anyone considered trying this same approach for SMCM? Getting the cops on board by getting an escort? Or is that too much "giving in to The Man." Maybe that's not a half bad way to rescue it? Maybe worth someone who skates going to the skate and reporting back on what it's like with the escort.
0gravity04.2.08 - 9:18 am
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Haha. April Fools!
I don't see anything on their yahoogroup
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/lafridaynightskate/
or their website
But even if it was true, who would want police escort anyway?
That's something that the cops in LA and SM have told us multiple times. "Go get a parade permit and do it right."
Well... No.
Do cars get a parade permit to roll down the street?
Do they get police escort?
Our whole point is that bicycles are traffic and we have as much right to the streets as any motorized vehicle.
marino04.2.08 - 9:29 am
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What if we wear rollerblades while riding on our bicycles?
pavetheplanet04.2.08 - 9:33 am
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maybe we should capture a few cops, make some video tapes with our demands and ritually execute them? that could work
hartwick, youre a pussy04.2.08 - 9:35 am
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I've seen the rollerbladers......
there is a difference in the group....
they don't cork...and they go single file...
and there's aren't enough skaters to disrupt traffic (not the times I've seen them go by)
and they stop for lights...
make your own conclusions...
adrian04.2.08 - 1:02 pm
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don't forget #4: rollerbladers are dorks and need a police escort.
stevestevesteve04.2.08 - 2:05 pm
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Interesting.
It seems that the skaters jump up on the sidewalk at red lights to let cars make right turns. I'm sure this endears them to the cops, as it appears that they are not "obstructing traffic." Obviously, it's not possible, or advisable, for bicycles to do this.
Also, they don't drink.
angle04.2.08 - 2:46 pm
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Yeah, but if we jump up on the sidewalk we get tickets.
pavetheplanet04.2.08 - 3:06 pm
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aww dorks? hmm maybe i should sell my unused pair of rollerblades. i've had them for 3 years and no one to go with me..because only "dorks" do it. damn it. i just need the exercise.
tomato04.2.08 - 3:34 pm
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8 wheels better than 2!!!
I agree that it is somewhat unfair on the surface of it that the skate group is getting an escort, but it also appears this is a one time deal. They are a good group of people and are very law abiding, except for the whole fact that roller skating is not allowed in the street because they do not get the vehicle status that bikes do. I imagine on this police escort ride they will not be doing any bombing parking garages.
Skates blur the lines of transit in that technically they are required to be on the side walk, however strong skaters are faster than many cyclists and at speed can pose just as much risk to pedestrians. However skates can be used effectively at very low speeds and can weave through pedestrian traffic much more easily and safer then bikes.
There aren't a whole lot of us, but I like to roll both ways, bikes and skates. In my heart rollerblading never died in the 90's. Maybe I'll come out to the next C.R.A.N.K. Mob on rollerblades again, and show my 8 wheel pride.
GarySe7en04.2.08 - 8:22 pm
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tomato
I'll go skate with you
adrian04.3.08 - 2:35 pm
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I'ill go too!! I have quads that I was close to selling, but if people want to skate I'll keep 'em! =)
mixtemotions04.3.08 - 3:08 pm
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dak and i did a few friday night skates a long time ago... their downtown ride is nutttz... bombing hillz into traffic on brakeless hockey skates is FUN!
neverclever04.3.08 - 3:12 pm
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Hook up a tow line to the back of some bikes?
Joe Borfo04.3.08 - 3:21 pm
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GarySe7en wrote:
They are a good group of people and are very law abiding, except for the whole fact that roller skating is not allowed in the street
I LOL'd.
PC04.3.08 - 9:04 pm
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Friday Night Sk8 = great peeps of SMCM
[sarcasm] Man, let's just hand over SMCM to MikeyWalsh. He's got it all figured out. It's so simple. [sarcasm]
Everything is simple - you can understand it all with this simple truth:
EVERYTHING IS COMPLICATED.
Alex Repeats Himself04.5.08 - 4:41 pm
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