Bike and Board Banter...

During a recent council meeting the topic of skateboarders was discussed, primarily as a safety issue.

Although many agreed that measures were needed to curtail this late-night activity, Mayor Eustace seemed to think otherwise. This was reflected in several quotes appearing in the COMMUNITY NEWS.

One of those quotes read: "Restaurant owners don't live in town. The kids do live in this town. People who run restaurants don't want kids who aren't spending money. Kids aren't spending money at 11 at night. They do want kids in the daytime when they are spending money. So, it's OK for kids to be there at certain hours? I don't like that."

It is a familiar cry, one which wants our youth to have everything we were denied, and one which removes a negative reply from a child's request. But where would we be today if every request we made as a child was granted regardless of the effect on others or at the expense of one's safety?

The issue of skateboarding however is not to be confused with allowing our children to be children. It is an issue of safety; the children's safety as well as the safety of others.

If you are a Maywood resident, I am sure you have experienced the bone-chilling effect of a near-miss of a skateboarder (or bicyclist) while driving at night. I am sure you have experienced the difficulty of navigating the sidewalks of Pleasant Ave through boarders and bikers. And I am sure you have experienced a near collision as you opened a door to leave a store on Pleasant.

If a boarder or biker is struck by a vehicle, or collides with a pedestrian, fault will not matter.

I am in no way an attorney nor versed at all in law, but I would think one solution to be simply a matter of enforcement of existing statutes. (see Borough of Maywood Ordinance § 121-5. Safety rules, which refers to Title 39 of the Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation laws of the State of New Jersey.) This would in some way afford the means to at the very least limit the problem, if not curtail it entirely. Specifically 39:4-10.1 which requires anyone under 17 years of age that rides a bicycle to wear a helmet. (On August 1, 1998 this helmet law was extended to include roller and inline skates and skateboards.)

In addition, the same state statute requires lighting on bicycles at nighttime. (39:4-10 Lights on Bicycles.
When in use at nighttime every bicycle shall be equipped with: 1) A front headlamp emitting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front; 2) A rear lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the rear; 3) In addition to the red lamp a red reflector may be mounted on the rear.)

The enforcement of traffic laws presently written would be a start to solving the safety issue while at the same time allowing our youth to skateboard or bicycle the road to adulthood.

Your comments are most welcome!