WBL against wheels in the air

[Magic]

In todays Pioneer Press there is an article in the metro section talking about how White Bear Lake city council has passed a new law that ALL skateboard, inline skates and trickbike wheels must always remain on the ground. Anyone seen with the wheels off the ground can receive a $25.00 fine. Repeat offenders are subject to $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail. What is our world coming to?

[manual63]

In todays Pioneer Press there is an article in the metro section talking about how White Bear Lake city council has passed a new law that ALL skateboard, inline skates and trickbike wheels must always remain on the ground. Anyone seen with the wheels off the ground can receive a $25.00 fine. Repeat offenders are subject to $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail. What is our world coming to?

And we live in a free country???

I hope this law gets challenged.

[noise_is_life]

So does that include ATV's, MX bikes and Monster Trucks?

I'll bet not.

[manual63]

Speaking of those vehicles....if I recall correctly, WBL is packed with dealerships that sell all that stuff.

Looks like we need a critical mass in WBL, but this one needs to include more than just cyclists.

[iceskier]

This is up their with one of the dumbest things I have ever heard.

The point of this law would be??? Anyone?

[Magic]

The city was tired of kids grinding on the sidewalks, tables and handrails in the city parks and downtown. I really like the term "trickbike". Honest officer it's a mountain bike not a trick bike. What constitutes a "trick bike", sounds like a big gray area to me.

[manual63]

This is up their with one of the dumbest things I have ever heard.

The point of this law would be??? Anyone?

It's pretty simple. Make one law that keeps skaters and bikers from doing anything on any city or public property. To grind, you must ollie or bunnyhop, which is wheels off the ground. So as stupid as it sounds, it's simply an attempt, that will fail, to keep skaters and bikers off the streets.

But, as much as people may not like the idea of a biker/skater grinding on a public bench, now simply bunnyhopping a curb can get you in trouble. Bunnyhopping a curb is a harmless act and does not damage to property whatsoever. So, this is a silly attept and will never work. Cities try this crap all the time and in the end they either ignore the law or remove it......especially when parents start to complain about the law....which will happen.

[Kosk]

WTF!?!?! That is just messed up. Have they ever heard of a skate-park??? They're these things made out of smooth concrete shaped into mounds and such....

What a bunch of short sited morons.....make it illegal and it'll get even worse. Just build a freaking park, God knows they have acres upon acres of paved parking lot over in that dealship..I mean township, they should be able to find a spot.

[manual63]

The city was tired of kids grinding on the sidewalks, tables and handrails in the city parks and downtown. I really like the term "trickbike". Honest officer it's a mountain bike not a trick bike. What constitutes a "trick bike", sounds like a big gray area to me.

Heck, lets go to WBL with some Soap shoes....or a MTN Board? Oh, maybe we can grind on one of those little scooters. Our freeride bikes must not fall into their trickbike category.....we don't have trick pegs!!

[bigwheel]

I saw that this morning. Sounds like old Tom Frazer is a real gem. I can't imagine this legislation ever being enforced without the outcome being challanged in court. It sounds like the law is full of ambiguities. Here's the link (you need to log in - free)
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/business/special_packages/business_cover_stories/11094554.htm

I can't wait to see the "No Wheelie Zone" signs. One of those would look cool hanging on the garage wall.

[Summerinside]

So... If you're a high school student, can you pick up your skateboard when you get to school to carry it to your locker? (all 4 wheels off the ground).. or can you now legally skate down the hallway?

[manual63]

So... If you're a high school student, can you pick up your skateboard when you get to school to carry it to your locker? (all 4 wheels off the ground).. or can you now legally skate down the hallway?

How about if you hit a pedestian when you are just skating/riding down the sidewalk. They didn't seem to point that out. They seemed to think you had to be catching air to put pedestrians at risk. Who the heck thought this thing through??? Sheeeesh!!

[Magic]

Ya they had a skatepark, but the brats vandelized it and set it on fire. SO no more skatepark. The kids are trying to raise funds for a new skatepark. I think Shad should hold a wheelie - manual class in this city. Also how does inline skating work without lifting your foot off the ground to push off? I'm not just going to glide around the city.

[Kosk]

Anybody know why there aren't more concrete skateparks around here? I know they probably cost more, but you don't need to worry about ramps rotting out or being wet. With the concrete, when its dry its dry. Less maintainance I would guess too.

They put one in Bozeman while I was out there and they have the same type of winters we do, I can't imagine the freeze thaw affects it that much,. They build them up above ground so the earth underneath doesn't get water in it and buckle the cememt like roads do...

Seems to me WBL could have addressed this in a much more positive manner. But then again, the kiddies burnt down their own park, so they did shot themselves in the foot....

[JBergland]

Just another example of an over spoken, short sighted legislator thinking he’s representing his constituents… and doing common good for his community. Priceless!!

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p>

JB

[manual63]

Anybody know why there aren't more concrete skateparks around here?

There are two that I know of and I guess a new one going up in MPLS........like the seward area or something. So, enjoy.......

[manual63]

Just another example of an over spoken, short sighted legislator thinking he’s representing his constituents… and doing common good for his community. Priceless!!

<o ="">:p></o>:p>

JB

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh: Where is Master Card when we need them??

[bigwheel]

Also how does inline skating work without lifting your foot off the ground to push off?

White Bear Lake is an upscale area. They pay extra taxes to have more downhills than uphills, so you should be able to just coast through town.

I'm wondering what the penalty will be if you fall and land with both wheels off the ground.

[transplant]

As a resident of WBL, I'm looking forward to this going into effect :crazy: ! I have a large parking lot across the street from my abode, and my kids and I are always over there on some sort of wheeled contraption, goofing around and doing tricks. Tell me they're going to pull in and give us trouble over that. I ride through downtown when I'm out for a spin and plan on bunnyhopping the length of a block, just to bait them. Anyone up for one of Shad's "skills sessions" this spring? I'll host and I have lots of parking and space available! Then we can Critical Mass through the whole city showing off our new skills.

[manual63]

As a resident of WBL, I'm looking forward to this going into effect :crazy: ! I have a large parking lot across the street from my abode, and my kids and I are always over there on some sort of wheeled contraption, goofing around and doing tricks. Tell me they're going to pull in and give us trouble over that. I ride through downtown when I'm out for a spin and plan on bunnyhopping the length of a block, just to bait them. Anyone up for one of Shad's "skills sessions" this spring? I'll host and I have lots of parking and space available! Then we can Critical Mass through the whole city showing off our new skills.

I am game. I love this sort of protest. The best part is that they have to catch me to give me a ticket......:D

[transplant]

I am game. I love this sort of protest. The best part is that they have to catch me to give me a ticket......:D

Say when. I wanted to go to one of your sessions last year, but things always got in the way. I never thought of bringing you to me :banana:! My kid would get a kick out of learning tricks from you. We could call it a MORC event and invite the media to cover it. Then when WBL's Finest come to close us down, we can catch the whole nasty event on tape (just kidding). Let me know what you have time-wise and we'll go from there.

[bigwheel]

Then when WBL's Finest come to close us down, we can catch the whole nasty event on tape (just kidding).

Do I sense the winning entry in the annual MORC movie contest? Pulitzer prize?

[Jess]

ALL skateboard, inline skates and trickbike wheels must always remain on the ground. Anyone seen with the wheels off the ground can receive a $25.00 fine. Repeat offenders are subject to $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail. What is our world coming to?

Does this mean we have to shuffle when we skate? Don't you dare lift your feet or you might lose your balance and fall! :crazy:

[transplant]

Does this mean we have to shuffle when we skate? Don't you dare lift your feet or you might loose your balance and fall! :crazy:

They're really doing this out of concern for us, ya buncha ungrateful hooligans. They're on OUR side. Yeah, that's it.

[transplant]

Do I sense the winning entry in the annual MORC movie contest? Pulitzer prize?

I can see the headlines now: "When Good Mountain Bikers Go Bad!" "Major Radical Uprising Quelled in WBL!" How about "Local Biker Gang Broken Up in Raid on Headquarters!" I always wanted to be famous. My wife can sit on the front porch and video the whole thing (or Buck could if he's still on the disabled list).

[Magic]

Maybe we'll all end up on "Cops". I get dibs on being taken down with a Tazer gun.

[transplant]

Oh yeah, now we're cookin'. We can all wear our baggies down around our a$$es with wife-beater shirts instead of jerseys! What was this thread about again? :confused::crazy:

[manual63]

Shadny King is video taped while beaten down by cops. The cops claim the blows were light, but Shadny seems to have a lot of bruises. Maybe they were self inflicted.

[transplant]

Shadny King is video taped while beaten down by cops. The cops claim the blows were light, but Shadny seems to have a lot of bruises. Maybe they were self inflicted.

Officers claim the bruises were from falling while performing illegal stunts in WBL, not nightsticks and flashlights. "We're only trying to save him from himself. Sometimes you have to crack a few heads, uh, eggs to make an omlet."

I know the owner of the business across the street, and I think if I told him in advance what we had in mind, he'd be OK with it.

[transplant]

My kid had dragged his grinding rail and a ramp across the street earlier today for a little practice. About 20 minutes later he came back in and said a cop just pulled in and asked him if he had permission to be there. She ended up chasing him off and told him not to play there anymore unless he got permission. It could have been worse. She could have ticketed him, I guess. Talk about killing a kid's enthusiasm. He was pretty bummed. I wonder if she would have pulled in if I'd been there with him, or goofing around on my own. Tomorrow I'm going to call the owner of the business and get his OK. I'm sure it was a liability issue for the cop, and she was only doing her job. But try telling that to an 11 year old with new toys.

[gordanfreeman]

seems to me it would only apply to bmx bikes, not mtb bikes. i would want to look at the law and how they worded it exactly but it would be grand to get a huge group of people on mountain bikes doing wheelies in front of city hall and them not being able to do a thing about it because we are not riding bmx bikes :banana:

[transplant]

I should clarify that he was on his skateboard, not his bike. He's on his way to becoming a scofflaw.

[manual63]

Hey Tom......didn't you know by now that "Skateboarding is a Crime!."

:mad:

[transplant]

Hey Tom......didn't you know by now that "Skateboarding is a Crime!."

:mad:

Then here's to my kid being a criminal! I'm going to talk to the business owner today and get his permission for my kids to play over there on the weekends. This is a huge parking lot, with no pedestrian traffic. What danger do my kids pose to the public?

[Trevize1138]

What danger do my kids pose to the public?

Now THAT's a great quote :).

[transplant]

To rip off a song by the The Transplants:

"All wheels in the air! Let me see 'em! F@#& you!"

That kind of sums up my feelings. The only ones in danger in that lot are me and my offspring. If we're willing to take responsibility for our actions (and we are), what's the big deal? Especially if the owner OKs it.

[flombe]

You are better off NOT asking for permission. Once the owner KNOWS the lot is being used for skateboarding or biking and he does not attempt to stop it, then his risk goes way up if someone gets hurt. If he grants permission, he accepts the liability. I think that's how it works anyhoo.

[SickBoy]

As ridiculous as this law is, holding a critical mass to protest it is:

1. generally the wrong people protesting it (this is skater kiddie's problem since they burned down their skatepark)
2. the wrong way to do it
3. gonna get you shot or run over by a pickup in WBL

I ride through WBL on training rides all the time and it seems to me that "upscale" is a less accurate word to describe WBL than "redneck" (no offense, Tom, and I am sure you -don't- fit the latter adjective). #3 would be my biggest fear.

Why doesn't the city or property owners just put up those little grind rail stoppers where they don't want people messing around? that would seem like a more effective approach to me, than passing a law with a zillion loopholes and is too far wide open to interpretation.

[transplant]

So the end result is that my kid gets chased off again and again, or worse, ticketed. Do I tell him next time to tell the cop he's gotten permission and hope they don't check? What a Catch-22. Or crock. I'd be willing to sign a waiver absolving the business of any liability. I'd let him use our driveway, but two things prevent that. One, we share it with neighbors and I don't want my kids and their stuff to become a nuisance. Two, the drive just got re-blacktopped and is still soft enough for his skateboard's wheels to make imprints. Found that out the hardway. Besides, that lot is a terrific area for wheeled toys. What a dilemma.

[manual63]

1. generally the wrong people protesting it (this is skater kiddie's problem since they burned down their skatepark)



Define this a little more. Who is they? How do you know skaters burned down the park? And if a kid or two did do it, how is this a problem for all skaters? How come other skateparks don't get burned down? Why would a real skater burn down a park if it's a place they can go skate at?

Do you have a problem with skaters or something?

[berrywise]

I agree with the city wholeheartedly. These little punks are ruining beautiful White Bear Lake with their jumping and grinding and loud music. Wouldn't we all be better off if they just stayed at home in their basements hitting the crack pipe? I mean really.....kids are not the future, everyone knows that. Heck they don't even vote so they don't really count. How bout building another baseball diamond.

[manual63]

So the end result is that my kid gets chased off again and again, or worse, ticketed. Do I tell him next time to tell the cop he's gotten permission and hope they don't check? What a Catch-22. Or crock. I'd be willing to sign a waiver absolving the business of any liability. I'd let him use our driveway, but two things prevent that. One, we share it with neighbors and I don't want my kids and their stuff to become a nuisance. Two, the drive just got re-blacktopped and is still soft enough for his skateboard's wheels to make imprints. Found that out the hardway. Besides, that lot is a terrific area for wheeled toys. What a dilemma.

Maybe you should throw away the skateboard and get one of those motorized cars for kids. Or one of those little powered scooters. You know.....those are more accepted in our society........they create fat unhealthy kids and use some sort of resource. That way, when your kid is old enough to drive, he understands the whole concept.

[manual63]

How bout building another baseball diamond.

Which will remain empty 90% of the time.

[transplant]

As ridiculous as this law is, holding a critical mass to protest it is:

1. generally the wrong people protesting it (this is skater kiddie's problem since they burned down their skatepark)
2. the wrong way to do it
3. gonna get you shot or run over by a pickup in WBL

I ride through WBL on training rides all the time and it seems to me that "upscale" is a less accurate word to describe WBL than "redneck" (no offense, Tom, and I am sure you -don't- fit the latter adjective). #3 would be my biggest fear.

Why doesn't the city or property owners just put up those little grind rail stoppers where they don't want people messing around? that would seem like a more effective approach to me, than passing a law with a zillion loopholes and is too far wide open to interpretation.

I ride around WBL all the time and have had only one encounter with a motorist, and the guy wasn't even being antagonisic towards me. Unfortunately, the circumstances made me take it that way. But once we both figured out neither one meant any harm, all was cool. Everyone seems really courteous out here. Trucks and all.

[Buck]

I agree with the city wholeheartedly. These little punks are ruining beautiful White Bear Lake with their jumping and grinding and loud music. Wouldn't we all be better off if they just stayed at home in their basements hitting the crack pipe? I mean really.....kids are not the future, everyone knows that. Heck they don't even vote so they don't really count. How bout building another baseball diamond.
'

hahahaha, you said crack.

L8R
Buck

[transplant]

Define this a little more. Who is they? How do you know skaters burned down the park? And if a kid or two did do it, how is this a problem for all skaters? How come other skateparks don't get burned down? Why would a real skater burn down a park if it's a place they can go skate at?

Do you have a problem with skaters or something?

Even though I agree wholeheartedly with you Shad, I have to throw fuel on the fire. It's like having a moron on a mountain bike ride the trails when they're wet. We don't know if a "real" biker, kids or a misinformed person damaged the trail. How does this become a problem for all bikers? You know how. ACCESS DENIED! Why would a real biker tear up a trail?

[manual63]

Even though I agree wholeheartedly with you Shad, I have to throw fuel on the fire. It's like having a moron on a mountain bike ride the trails when they're wet. We don't know if a "real" biker, kids or a misinformed person damaged the trail. How does this become a problem for all bikers? You know how. ACCESS DENIED! Why would a real biker tear up a trail?

Yeah, remember the whole Punk BMXers debate I had in here awhile back....??

:laugh::laugh::laugh:

Ditto.

[transplant]

Yeah, remember the whole Punk BMXers debate I had in here awhile back....??

:laugh::laugh::laugh:

Ditto.

Actually I think I missed that one.

[Buck]

Even though I agree wholeheartedly with you Shad, I have to throw fuel on the fire. It's like having a moron on a mountain bike ride the trails when they're wet. We don't know if a "real" biker, kids or a misinformed person damaged the trail. How does this become a problem for all bikers? You know how. ACCESS DENIED! Why would a real biker tear up a trail?

I'll tell ya why, b/c some times it is fun, fun , fun to get muddy that's why.

L8R
Buck

[transplant]

I'll tell ya why, b/c some times it is fun, fun , fun to get muddy that's why.

L8R
Buck

Buck, Buck, Buck. If I hadn't read all of your previous posts and know of the trail work you put in, I'd worry about you, son! :crazy2:

[transplant]

I just got done talking to the business owner, and he was fine with my kids goofing around on the weekends. He also made a couple of requests of me in return. 1) His lot couldn't turn into the neighborhood skate park. He doesn't want a huge crowd of people hanging out. Understandable. 2) As long as he doesn't get any complaints, we're good to go. If the police stop in again, we can tell them we have the official OK and if there are any problems, they (police) are to call him. Now that's a good neighbor! He said he'd probably be using the lot, too, if he was in my position. Maybe he could run for City Council in WBL! It's time for small "skills sessions"!

[SickBoy]

Define this a little more. Who is they? How do you know skaters burned down the park? And if a kid or two did do it, how is this a problem for all skaters? How come other skateparks don't get burned down? Why would a real skater burn down a park if it's a place they can go skate at?

Do you have a problem with skaters or something?

I am operating off presumption of truth in what was previously said, and yes, I have a problem with skater kiddies/whoever if one of them burns their skatepark down and then starts bitching to the powers that be that it's gone.

I see anyone smoking in the woods at Lebanon and I will most definitely chew them out for putting our twin cities crown jewel MTB trail at risk.

[manual63]

Nice to know that the business owner was so cool about it. This shows that there is more understanding than most of us would think. Good job man.....doin' it the right way. I can't wait till the cop comes by again.....:)

[manual63]

I am operating off presumption of truth in what was previously said, and yes, I have a problem with skater kiddies/whoever if one of them burns their skatepark down and then starts bitching to the powers that be that it's gone.

Uh huh.....now I understand.....NOT!

skater kiddies......that says it all tights man. And you wonder why I have such issues with you all the time.

[transplant]

Nice to know that the business owner was so cool about it. This shows that there is more understanding than most of us would think. Good job man.....doin' it the right way. I can't wait till the cop comes by again.....:)

Thanks. He's a nice guy. As long as you present your case with facts, not emotion, chances are you will always be heard. As far as the cop coming back, I'm going to tell my boy to come get me and we'll talk to them together. Again, using facts and being cool, I'll explain that it's OK for us to be there. If that doesn't work, then I'll get in the cop's face and we'll have the beat-down take place mentioned earlier in the thread. :hit:

[SickBoy]

Uh huh.....now I understand.....NOT!

skater kiddies......that says it all tights man. And you wonder why I have such issues with you all the time.

Shad,

Every time I ride by the St Anthony skatepark (which is about a mile from my apartment) or the Eden Prairie skatepark (which is 1/2 mile from my parents house) 100% of the people there are younger than I am (25), most are younger by quite a bit.

You are the exception to the rule, you should be aware of that.

(fwiw, I own baggies as well and ride mtb in baggies more frequently than in tights. I also dare you to try to rip my legs off on any ride, anytime)