It's great to see so many cities making public parks now, but what's up with all these city owned parks NOT allowing bikes. And for that matter, what's up with the Vans' parks only allowing bikes one or two times a week for one session. What is this phobia with bikes and parks? The excuse used to be that we tore the ramps up. Now most parks are made out of Skatelite and concrete, so that excuse is fading. Then I hear it's insurance? I had a public park before, and the insurance policies I saw never excluded bikes. The only exclusion was motorized vehicles. Hell, you could roll in on a shopping cart if you wanted to as long as you were padded up.

With cities making it against the law to street ride and not allowing us in their city parks, we're left with no alternative. In some places like DC and Austin it's a felony. If you get caught street riding you could serve time in a federal prison. It's ridiculous? Isn't this so hypocritical?

It kills me to see that the government recognizes our sport as such a positive influence on youths that the Marines are one of the main sponsors of the contests, but the reality of it is they will put a rider behind bars for practicing this same sport on the streets of America, and at the same time ban us from "American", "public" parks. The government needs to recognize, and not be bias, and for that matter not be complete hypocrites. Hell, they sure are all about supporting us when they sponsor the bike events because bikes have the highest ratings? And what are they accomplishing by not allowing bikes in. Adding to their already inflated budgets for court costs, jails, and the war on drugs. This is our drug. I mean think about it? They are arresting people for doing something that keeps them away from drugs and something that teaches them how to accomplish a real high; only to be suppressed and made easier, by the law, to experience a synthetic high.

Look at what this is doing. These are kids that have a lot of energy and aggression have obviously found a way to focus and express it in what I think is a very positive constructive way, and the city bans them from doing it. Then to piss us off worse, they build a park and won't let us ride it, giving us no alternate place to do our sport. I mean you can't even tell people not to smoke without giving them a place for them to go? So you can find a place to smoke easier than athletes like us can find a place to express our athleticism and keep in shape. Then the same government that won't let us into their parks uses us to promote the Marines? Aaaaah. And for Vans I don't get it? They let inliners in and they don't even wear shoes. A little support for an industry you make money off of would be nice?

Vans, set a positive example for our sport not a negative one. Allow Bikes in your park 7 days a week any session, nothing more, anything less, equal rights! Don't encourage the city parks to discriminate too. This is starting to sound like a 70's protest, so I'll stop, but thanks for listening. Speaking of the 70's, here are some civil rights issues cities may want to think about because I know I am.

Cities should always allow bikes to use the skateparks. They are building a park for recreational purposes and it is not right to exclude these kids. If you are a private park then you can decide who uses the park. If you are a city park and you discriminate against the biker (who is usually accepted into private parks) then you may have a civil rights issue. You may be required to build a separate bike park. Cities need to provide a safe, challenging and fun environment for children if they expect to compete with drug dealers.

There are over 1 million freestyle bikers in the USA. This is a growing sport with a national following and one of the most exciting to watch!

Active children should be appreciated for the athletes that they are and given every opportunity to excel at their chosen sport. Freestyle biking is a great sport and these are great kids. They deserve better treatment from their cities and communities.

   Send to a friend  | Most sent  | Submit your photo or video