Skateboard Bombing to be Banned in Los Angeles; Law Awaits Villaraigosa's Signature
The L.A. City Council really tackled the big 
Chris Bacarella / Flickr non issues today. Besides declaring this Bob Marley Day, the body voted to ban high-speed downhill skateboard cruising known as "bombing."
Of course, the city is underwater financially, our roads suck, and you're essentially seeing your local taxes raised via parking and traffic tickets.
But skateboard bombing. That's a problem:
The law is headed for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's desk.
The ordinance bans riding your board in any other manner besides standing up (some bombers like to sit on their boards). (This is retarded. So you're pushing your three-year-old on a skateboard and you're asking for a ticket?).
Skaters will have to stop at traffic signs like everyone else (this is already the law).
Skaters will have to move over when a car is coming. (Um. Duh?).
Skaters can't ride ...
... recklessly or in such a manner or at such a speed as to cause or threaten to
cause injury to himself or herself or to others ...
(Again, this was essentially already the law, and any cop could have written a ticket to a skater riding dangerously, especially around pedestrians).
And skaters can't hitch a ride from a vehicle. (Again, any driver participating in this could have already been cited under state law).
South Bay City Councilman Joe Buscaino says he proposed the law in response to two deaths of bombers in San Pedro in the last year:
Many times they reach speeds as high as 40 miles an hour. Oftentimes, they don't wear helmets or protective gear as they weave in and out of traffic, skateboarding in a reckless manner.
We will sleep better knowing that the City Council has spent so much effort keeping bombers off our streets.
[With reporting from City News Service / @dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]
Email to Friend
Write to Editor
Print Article
