It is a shame a university of such high quality as San Francisco State could not see through to the same ends as Stanford University and create the proper protocols and regulations so skateboards could be operated safely to commute on campus.
Here are their regulations. We are researching all the major universities in the country now to review their policy's. If you are a student on any U.S. university campus, please write us an update on regulations where you are. All information, even of a personal recollection, is of interest. No national statistics worthy of analysis for transport of this kind exist. We are seeking to compile, study and advocate for safer "True Choice" commuting.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
The Negative Side of Blanket SkateBoard Bans
Blanket bans on skateboards are narrow and short sighted. The fact is, a skateboard is an effective machine in what it can achieve. It is up to the operator's discretion to choose from a long list of possible handling outcomes. Much like a car. A car driver makes many choices. To begin with the choice of car. Followed by a desire to respect and abide by traffic laws or not. Both have obvious consequences.
The same is true for a skateboard. If the rider chooses a longboard of 42" with a drop deck and large 85 mm wheels they would be well suited to push the board and commute comfortably on flat ground in a straight line as well as roll down small inclines with in 25 mile per hour speed limits. With that same board they, if they decided and chose to, achieve speeds in excess of 50 mph depending on the decent grade. The operator makes the choice, same as is made behind the wheel of a car.
Personally, I choose to commute by skateboard all over New York City in a straight line and obey traffic laws. All the while I am on a board which could travel 6o mph pointed down the right hill incline and exceed local speed limits but I do not. I choose. The operator decides. Machines never make the choices. Removing the right to choose is removing our freedoms to retain our privilege of choice. Those that decide to choose to drive recklessly no matter what vehicle they operate should have their privilege taken away. For the rest of us, please, let's not criminalize what is not a crime, skateboard commuting in a straight line while obeying traffic laws same as any car, motorcycle or bicycle.
The same is true for a skateboard. If the rider chooses a longboard of 42" with a drop deck and large 85 mm wheels they would be well suited to push the board and commute comfortably on flat ground in a straight line as well as roll down small inclines with in 25 mile per hour speed limits. With that same board they, if they decided and chose to, achieve speeds in excess of 50 mph depending on the decent grade. The operator makes the choice, same as is made behind the wheel of a car.
Personally, I choose to commute by skateboard all over New York City in a straight line and obey traffic laws. All the while I am on a board which could travel 6o mph pointed down the right hill incline and exceed local speed limits but I do not. I choose. The operator decides. Machines never make the choices. Removing the right to choose is removing our freedoms to retain our privilege of choice. Those that decide to choose to drive recklessly no matter what vehicle they operate should have their privilege taken away. For the rest of us, please, let's not criminalize what is not a crime, skateboard commuting in a straight line while obeying traffic laws same as any car, motorcycle or bicycle.
University of Central Missouri Vs. Stanford University on Progressive SkateBoard Commuting Campus Policy
Two University Campuses -Two SkateBoard Commuter Policy's
University of Central Missouri Campus SkateBoard Policy is an all out ban.
Roller skates, and rollerblades are not to be ridden or used on the property
Vs.
Stanford University : allows and promotes SkateBoard Commuting.
The images speak for themselves.
We can't imagine the students being all that different from one university campus to the next. Both have a campus they need to cross and residences close by to commute to. University of Central Missouri Campus obviously needs to band certain operations done with a skateboard. As opposed to banning the entire vehicle. It is as if cars were banned in general because one group of users was constantly drag racing illegally. The drag racing needs to stop, not safe car use. Here we see the same issue. Students on the Stanford campus use the skateboard with great regularity to good and safe effect. Last time we were there we noted a 10-15% vehicular campus traffic was on board skateboards. Both men and women used the skateboard as commuter vehicle equally. We did not see any incident during an entire day on the campus while observing the traffic flow.
©2011 Susoix
University of Central Missouri Campus SkateBoard Policy is an all out ban.
Roller skates, and rollerblades are not to be ridden or used on the property
Vs.
Stanford University : allows and promotes SkateBoard Commuting.
The images speak for themselves.
We can't imagine the students being all that different from one university campus to the next. Both have a campus they need to cross and residences close by to commute to. University of Central Missouri Campus obviously needs to band certain operations done with a skateboard. As opposed to banning the entire vehicle. It is as if cars were banned in general because one group of users was constantly drag racing illegally. The drag racing needs to stop, not safe car use. Here we see the same issue. Students on the Stanford campus use the skateboard with great regularity to good and safe effect. Last time we were there we noted a 10-15% vehicular campus traffic was on board skateboards. Both men and women used the skateboard as commuter vehicle equally. We did not see any incident during an entire day on the campus while observing the traffic flow.
©2011 Susoix
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
SkateBoard Commuter of The Month United States
We would like to feature a "skateboard commuter of the month" on this blog. Please submit answers to the questions below with a 4x5 x72 dpi, photo to SkateBoard is Transport Commuter of The Month.
All profiles shall be complied on a master link every 6 months and presented to local D.O.T. government officials in charge of making traffic regulations in an effort to gain more access to safe skateboard commuting regulations nationally. Please include your address, city, state and zip code so we may begin compiling national skateboard commuter statistics. At the moment none exist.
All replies shall be entered into a year end drawing to win a Central Park Longboader™, Cross Town™, Skateboard Deck, courtesy of Central Park LongBoarder.
Skateboard, active lifestyle, health + wellness, nutrition and food companies interested in participating with similar donations towards helping to generate national commuting statistics are welcome to contact us.
Occupation:
Age:
Commuting history:
Longest commute:
Current commute:
Main skateboard you choose for commuting:
Backpack or Trailer:
Weather, ride in rain, snow:
How many boards have you owned in your life:
Wear Helmet:
Clothes:
Advice for safety:
Best commuting story:
Worst:
Photo©2011 Susoix
All profiles shall be complied on a master link every 6 months and presented to local D.O.T. government officials in charge of making traffic regulations in an effort to gain more access to safe skateboard commuting regulations nationally. Please include your address, city, state and zip code so we may begin compiling national skateboard commuter statistics. At the moment none exist.
All replies shall be entered into a year end drawing to win a Central Park Longboader™, Cross Town™, Skateboard Deck, courtesy of Central Park LongBoarder.
Skateboard, active lifestyle, health + wellness, nutrition and food companies interested in participating with similar donations towards helping to generate national commuting statistics are welcome to contact us.
Occupation:
Age:
Commuting history:
Longest commute:
Current commute:
Main skateboard you choose for commuting:
Backpack or Trailer:
Weather, ride in rain, snow:
How many boards have you owned in your life:
Wear Helmet:
Clothes:
Advice for safety:
Best commuting story:
Worst:
Monday, August 8, 2011
The Importance of SkateBoard Racing For Progressive "True Choice" Transit Policy
Skateboard racing (kicking with both legs on flat ground 5K-Marathon distance same as running) is a good way to educate the general public on skateboard commuting, especially those ages 10-18. Skateboard push racers will make life long urban, alternative transportation commuters.
Here is why.
Racing anything affords the participants the unique ability to press each and every gram of experience, knowledge and physical development out of themselves and each other. Racing creates a natural selection of the most effective and efficient means towards the end of racing. Turtle racing or racing to be the first to discover the cure of a deadly disease, simply drives interest with a greater focus to learn the inner most truths regarding the questions of how, what and why, of which one is racing towards.
Of course when the racing is over the residual consequence of the preparation remains. Turtle racing creates experts in the care, training and breading of fast turtles. Transport sport racing will create expertly skilled commuters possessing the most efficient way of transporting themselves on a skateboard, bicycle, ice skates, inline skates, skies or sail boats. Until such time as the entire work place design is structured with a shower at the point of arrival, with a locker for all, running will be out of the picture for most unfortunately. Although running has to be a consideration for daily transport and the world would be wise to implement progressive policy towards that end.
Considering the efficacy of the skateboard from all angles, economic, size, efficiency over half mile to two mile distances, skateboard racing and therefor skateboard commuting, is a progressive simple path for transport policy to follow.
The country would benefit greatly from having local push racing clubs much the same as it has cross country running clubs and programs in high schools and middle schools. There are 11 million Americans skateboarding in the U.S. today.
Photo©2011Peter Robertson/Susoix
Here is why.
Racing anything affords the participants the unique ability to press each and every gram of experience, knowledge and physical development out of themselves and each other. Racing creates a natural selection of the most effective and efficient means towards the end of racing. Turtle racing or racing to be the first to discover the cure of a deadly disease, simply drives interest with a greater focus to learn the inner most truths regarding the questions of how, what and why, of which one is racing towards.
Of course when the racing is over the residual consequence of the preparation remains. Turtle racing creates experts in the care, training and breading of fast turtles. Transport sport racing will create expertly skilled commuters possessing the most efficient way of transporting themselves on a skateboard, bicycle, ice skates, inline skates, skies or sail boats. Until such time as the entire work place design is structured with a shower at the point of arrival, with a locker for all, running will be out of the picture for most unfortunately. Although running has to be a consideration for daily transport and the world would be wise to implement progressive policy towards that end.
Considering the efficacy of the skateboard from all angles, economic, size, efficiency over half mile to two mile distances, skateboard racing and therefor skateboard commuting, is a progressive simple path for transport policy to follow.
The country would benefit greatly from having local push racing clubs much the same as it has cross country running clubs and programs in high schools and middle schools. There are 11 million Americans skateboarding in the U.S. today.
Photo©2011Peter Robertson/Susoix
A SkateBoard Commuter Question For Transportation Alternatives:TransAlt.org
After doing a few hours of online research one quickly discovers that Portland, OR is the most progressive city in the country regarding skateboard as transportation. Recently an exchange of views with New York, Transportation Alternative's led to the exchange below.
__
Hi Enrique,
Thank you for continuing to support Transportation Alternatives. We appreciate your tenacity on the subject of skateboarders in NYC - advocates must be tireless and you certainly are!
As you know, being a member, T.A. fights for more equitable use of street space for everyone - anyone on New York City streets will benefit from saner and better use of our street space. There are many other modes of transportation that we are not able to directly address at T.A. (scooters, unicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, segways, etc.). We are a non-profit with a specific mission statement that we plan our work around. However, we encourage you to start organizing skateboarders and to perhaps start advocating for that option in ways that you find meaningful and have impact.
Good luck! In the meantime, please respect the multiple responses you've received from our staff on this issue; we hope you understand that we do not have unlimited resources here at T.A.
Thank you,
Elena, (T.A. Representative)
__
Hi Elena,
In Portland, OR they have resources for skateboard as transport awareness initiatives and for public policy on the issue. Portland is a far smaller city. What am I missing here? NYC is much larger? Not only do they have resources but they have the clear sighted vision to see that skateboarding is the third most popular sport in the U.S. It dwarfs cycling in interest and participation. It is more than likely the very first VEHICLE an American will have and operate on the traffic grid. Portland's transportation alternative organizations and local governments consider the skateboard a vehicle. T.A. recently told me at NYC Summer Streets that your organization did not consider a skateboard a vehicle.
The skateboard is so clearly a vehicle, that citizens are using it as ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION by the hundreds in NYC and across the entire country on a daily basis. University students across the land transport themselves to class each and every day on skateboards. These numbers continue to rise steadily. Yet an organization named Transportation Alternative's is to blind and regressive to take note and makes "budgetary reasons" the excuse to not focus attention no matter how small on this critical issue.
If it were only to protect the mission T.A. serves presently, T.A. should immediately begin to study skateboard + bicycle mixed, traffic flow. This mixed traffic flow will begin to exhibit characteristics with turbulence resulting in safety statistics and your organization does not so much as think to get a few interns on the case to study it.
With all the interest in alternative transport, I find this very hard to believe. It is extremely hard to believe when this critical vehicular mix is going unchecked and statistics will go completely overlooked while your present members, (Me. I want this studied, I commute by bike) begin to have collisions generated due in some part to no guidance given to the public. With no leadership other than antiquated, regressive (regarding skateboards) New York State, D.O.T. law to serve the citizenry and politicians that could care less about "one less car" progressive policy how else but the school of hard knocks will this go?.
What I believe is, T.A. considers the skateboard a toy and not worthy of even a student level glance at being a possible public policy implement for progressive urban transport change. This is short sighted to the extreme and clearly Portland's "Ture Choice" policy proves this without a shadow of a doubt.
The skateboard is so ingrained in the American public I assure you there are graduate level, transport policy students more then willing to take on this kind of study and TA is to blind to make a simple request, nor put their good name behind the effort? Incredible.
This is because T.A. imagines that politically the fall out shall be to big. Have some courage and at least tell it to me as it is. T.A. fails to have the political courage to stand up and do what is right as they have in Portland OR, plain and simple. I am asking again as a T.A. member in good standing that T.A. begin to examine skateboard traffic flow and help to implement policy for the citizens of this city and the country to follow safely. People need rules to follow for us all to be safe. Skateboard commuting is quickly growing as an alternative transport modality and we shall see many avoidable accidents begin to happen in the absence of safe skateboard commuting safety policy.
I will advocate and I will begin to take these simple facts to the media so the conversation might begin to include more then you and I. The story will be, "Why does T.A. not have the interest to make the right choice, same as Portland, OR has, on supporting safe skateboard as transport traffic policy, when it's own city has hundreds, nearing thousands of skateboarders entering it's traffic grid?" This is the issue here. Portland has proved it is possible and T.A. refutes it blindly on weak political will and completely negates even the study of skateboard+bicycle mixed use lanes, when it is clearly occurring by the hundreds daily.
Elena, you mention (scooters, unicycles, rollerblades, segways, etc.) and compare them to skateboarders as if there was one of these kinds of commuters on every corner every day. This is not the case at all. Yet there is a skateboarder on every corner using their humble vehicle to alternatively transport themselves across town, everyday. All the while an organization devoted to alternative transportation organization will not so much as support the very description of the machine as a "vehicle."
I encourage you to take note of the efforts of Tom Miller, Director of the Transportation Bureau in Portland, OR and his progressive "True Choice" approach to urban commuting. Mr. Miller and his constituents have chosen to implement skateboarder stick figure traffic signs. People need guidance. Imagine the days when streets had no traffic lights. Spectacular four way crashes on a daily basis occurred. This is the same guidance issue T.A. should be dealing with now.
Tom Miller and the city of Portland very much believe skateboard is transport. They recognize the obvious, that thousands and soon hundreds of thousands of citizens shall reach for a skateboard as their chosen vehicle for urban transportation alternative for short simple commutes. This cannot be stopped now. A ban will simply not be an option. The people will not allow it in New York. A ban would create mayhem and over burden the police. There is critical mass on this issue at this point.
The skateboard is the quintessential transport vehicle for urban distances of quarter mile to 2 miles. Nothing can match it's hyper efficient use as means of transport as well as storage efficiency. Not to mention, there are kids aged 3-7 on every corner riding three wheeled scooters these days. What a massive opportunity they pose as a means of generating a new generation of alternative transport commuters. T.A. is missing this as well.
Elena please, the next time you see more then four unicycles, rollerbladers or segways, throughout the course of just one week in NYC commuter traffic, let me know. Because I am seeing 10 skateboarders a day every day and often many more. All machines are worthy of some use. When they reach mass appeal and use, some reach noble status, the skateboard has reached this status. With an open and progressive mind T.A. should see this, if not, then Portland will help.
"We support you." Is what I was told as well by T.A. OK, so publicly, what is it T.A. will do to support skateboard as transport? We (all of NYC) are waiting for a formal reply.
Regards,
Enrique Cubillo, T.A. Member
Enrique Cubillo
SkateBoard is Transport, Your Advocate For Safe SkateBoard As Transport
http://skateboardistransport.blogspot.com/
FB : http://on.fb.me/rtaxLc
Twitter: @boardistransalt
__
Hi Enrique,
Thank you for continuing to support Transportation Alternatives. We appreciate your tenacity on the subject of skateboarders in NYC - advocates must be tireless and you certainly are!
As you know, being a member, T.A. fights for more equitable use of street space for everyone - anyone on New York City streets will benefit from saner and better use of our street space. There are many other modes of transportation that we are not able to directly address at T.A. (scooters, unicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, segways, etc.). We are a non-profit with a specific mission statement that we plan our work around. However, we encourage you to start organizing skateboarders and to perhaps start advocating for that option in ways that you find meaningful and have impact.
Good luck! In the meantime, please respect the multiple responses you've received from our staff on this issue; we hope you understand that we do not have unlimited resources here at T.A.
Thank you,
Elena, (T.A. Representative)
__
Hi Elena,
In Portland, OR they have resources for skateboard as transport awareness initiatives and for public policy on the issue. Portland is a far smaller city. What am I missing here? NYC is much larger? Not only do they have resources but they have the clear sighted vision to see that skateboarding is the third most popular sport in the U.S. It dwarfs cycling in interest and participation. It is more than likely the very first VEHICLE an American will have and operate on the traffic grid. Portland's transportation alternative organizations and local governments consider the skateboard a vehicle. T.A. recently told me at NYC Summer Streets that your organization did not consider a skateboard a vehicle.
The skateboard is so clearly a vehicle, that citizens are using it as ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION by the hundreds in NYC and across the entire country on a daily basis. University students across the land transport themselves to class each and every day on skateboards. These numbers continue to rise steadily. Yet an organization named Transportation Alternative's is to blind and regressive to take note and makes "budgetary reasons" the excuse to not focus attention no matter how small on this critical issue.
If it were only to protect the mission T.A. serves presently, T.A. should immediately begin to study skateboard + bicycle mixed, traffic flow. This mixed traffic flow will begin to exhibit characteristics with turbulence resulting in safety statistics and your organization does not so much as think to get a few interns on the case to study it.
With all the interest in alternative transport, I find this very hard to believe. It is extremely hard to believe when this critical vehicular mix is going unchecked and statistics will go completely overlooked while your present members, (Me. I want this studied, I commute by bike) begin to have collisions generated due in some part to no guidance given to the public. With no leadership other than antiquated, regressive (regarding skateboards) New York State, D.O.T. law to serve the citizenry and politicians that could care less about "one less car" progressive policy how else but the school of hard knocks will this go?.
What I believe is, T.A. considers the skateboard a toy and not worthy of even a student level glance at being a possible public policy implement for progressive urban transport change. This is short sighted to the extreme and clearly Portland's "Ture Choice" policy proves this without a shadow of a doubt.
The skateboard is so ingrained in the American public I assure you there are graduate level, transport policy students more then willing to take on this kind of study and TA is to blind to make a simple request, nor put their good name behind the effort? Incredible.
This is because T.A. imagines that politically the fall out shall be to big. Have some courage and at least tell it to me as it is. T.A. fails to have the political courage to stand up and do what is right as they have in Portland OR, plain and simple. I am asking again as a T.A. member in good standing that T.A. begin to examine skateboard traffic flow and help to implement policy for the citizens of this city and the country to follow safely. People need rules to follow for us all to be safe. Skateboard commuting is quickly growing as an alternative transport modality and we shall see many avoidable accidents begin to happen in the absence of safe skateboard commuting safety policy.
I will advocate and I will begin to take these simple facts to the media so the conversation might begin to include more then you and I. The story will be, "Why does T.A. not have the interest to make the right choice, same as Portland, OR has, on supporting safe skateboard as transport traffic policy, when it's own city has hundreds, nearing thousands of skateboarders entering it's traffic grid?" This is the issue here. Portland has proved it is possible and T.A. refutes it blindly on weak political will and completely negates even the study of skateboard+bicycle mixed use lanes, when it is clearly occurring by the hundreds daily.
Elena, you mention (scooters, unicycles, rollerblades, segways, etc.) and compare them to skateboarders as if there was one of these kinds of commuters on every corner every day. This is not the case at all. Yet there is a skateboarder on every corner using their humble vehicle to alternatively transport themselves across town, everyday. All the while an organization devoted to alternative transportation organization will not so much as support the very description of the machine as a "vehicle."
I encourage you to take note of the efforts of Tom Miller, Director of the Transportation Bureau in Portland, OR and his progressive "True Choice" approach to urban commuting. Mr. Miller and his constituents have chosen to implement skateboarder stick figure traffic signs. People need guidance. Imagine the days when streets had no traffic lights. Spectacular four way crashes on a daily basis occurred. This is the same guidance issue T.A. should be dealing with now.
Tom Miller and the city of Portland very much believe skateboard is transport. They recognize the obvious, that thousands and soon hundreds of thousands of citizens shall reach for a skateboard as their chosen vehicle for urban transportation alternative for short simple commutes. This cannot be stopped now. A ban will simply not be an option. The people will not allow it in New York. A ban would create mayhem and over burden the police. There is critical mass on this issue at this point.
The skateboard is the quintessential transport vehicle for urban distances of quarter mile to 2 miles. Nothing can match it's hyper efficient use as means of transport as well as storage efficiency. Not to mention, there are kids aged 3-7 on every corner riding three wheeled scooters these days. What a massive opportunity they pose as a means of generating a new generation of alternative transport commuters. T.A. is missing this as well.
Elena please, the next time you see more then four unicycles, rollerbladers or segways, throughout the course of just one week in NYC commuter traffic, let me know. Because I am seeing 10 skateboarders a day every day and often many more. All machines are worthy of some use. When they reach mass appeal and use, some reach noble status, the skateboard has reached this status. With an open and progressive mind T.A. should see this, if not, then Portland will help.
"We support you." Is what I was told as well by T.A. OK, so publicly, what is it T.A. will do to support skateboard as transport? We (all of NYC) are waiting for a formal reply.
Regards,
Enrique Cubillo, T.A. Member
Enrique Cubillo
SkateBoard is Transport, Your Advocate For Safe SkateBoard As Transport
http://skateboardistransport.blogspot.com/
FB : http://on.fb.me/rtaxLc
Twitter: @boardistransalt
Saturday, August 6, 2011
The Word "Vehicle" Defined For Transportation Alternatives
Recently we were told in no uncertain terms by New York's leading advocate group for safer and saner urban commuting, Transportation Alternatives, a curious irregularity that led to the formation of this advocacy group for SkateBoard as Transport. T.A. told us the SkateBoard was not a vehicle.
We were quite taken by the comment, so much so, we doubted our own minds and even if we had ever understood the English language at all, ever. The most basic principles of common sense or common high school historical knowledge had taught us the skateboard is indeed a vehicle as it relates to humans getting from point A to point B while assited by any wheeled, mechanical or sliding means. As you will see in the definitions below. Yes, even a sled is a vehicle leaders at T.A. Transportation Alternatives, Transalt.org.
We had transported ourselves by means of a skateboard to the NYC Summer Streets, Transportation Alternatives event booth. Since we were sure we had not floated on thin air to the event, nor been cosmically tele-ported, and as far as we knew, a board with four wheels that transported load from one place to the next had constituted a vehicle for billions of people over thousands of years the globe over, our curiosity was peaked and we resolved to seek the definition from various sources so as not to imagine we had landed in an alternate universe where common, simple terms had lost their meaning. What we found was reassuring. We are not in a parallel universe where words have no meaning. Quite the contrary.
What has begun as a lame excuse by T.A. to not so much as even investigate and study the recent massive influx of skateboarding commuters onto the daily traffic grid of NYC's shared road ways, has spawned a new advocacy organization. Here below are a few definitions of vehicle T. A.
In the months and years to follow we shall as a group begin to advocate for safe and sane SkateBoard as Trasport. One day in the not to distant future, not only will T.A. refrain from such ridiculous and regressive ideas that are clearly holding back ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION and TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES for all citizens by way of skateboard, but the entire country shall recognize the noble skateboard as the quintessential, alternative transport vehicle, for short urban distance that offers it's operator a daily does of healthy balance, the third leg of full body life long fitness while getting them across town a 10-20 blocks carbon free (fuel-wise-OK nothing is carbon free I know). Alternatively, naturally. Can you imagine the morning rush hour coming off the tri-state Metro North and L.I.E lines and dropping a deck for the last 15 blocks instead of MTA and Bus usage? I can. I see a massive wave of children on three wheeled push scooters. What does T.A. think that sets those kids up for? T.A. needs a little help still. Lets begin with simple English shall we. The SkateBoard meets all the definitions below and then some. The SkateBoard T. A. is clearly a vehicle and it is high time you recognize it as such. Not doing so is regressive to the blind extreme.
We were quite taken by the comment, so much so, we doubted our own minds and even if we had ever understood the English language at all, ever. The most basic principles of common sense or common high school historical knowledge had taught us the skateboard is indeed a vehicle as it relates to humans getting from point A to point B while assited by any wheeled, mechanical or sliding means. As you will see in the definitions below. Yes, even a sled is a vehicle leaders at T.A. Transportation Alternatives, Transalt.org.
We had transported ourselves by means of a skateboard to the NYC Summer Streets, Transportation Alternatives event booth. Since we were sure we had not floated on thin air to the event, nor been cosmically tele-ported, and as far as we knew, a board with four wheels that transported load from one place to the next had constituted a vehicle for billions of people over thousands of years the globe over, our curiosity was peaked and we resolved to seek the definition from various sources so as not to imagine we had landed in an alternate universe where common, simple terms had lost their meaning. What we found was reassuring. We are not in a parallel universe where words have no meaning. Quite the contrary.
What has begun as a lame excuse by T.A. to not so much as even investigate and study the recent massive influx of skateboarding commuters onto the daily traffic grid of NYC's shared road ways, has spawned a new advocacy organization. Here below are a few definitions of vehicle T. A.
In the months and years to follow we shall as a group begin to advocate for safe and sane SkateBoard as Trasport. One day in the not to distant future, not only will T.A. refrain from such ridiculous and regressive ideas that are clearly holding back ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION and TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES for all citizens by way of skateboard, but the entire country shall recognize the noble skateboard as the quintessential, alternative transport vehicle, for short urban distance that offers it's operator a daily does of healthy balance, the third leg of full body life long fitness while getting them across town a 10-20 blocks carbon free (fuel-wise-OK nothing is carbon free I know). Alternatively, naturally. Can you imagine the morning rush hour coming off the tri-state Metro North and L.I.E lines and dropping a deck for the last 15 blocks instead of MTA and Bus usage? I can. I see a massive wave of children on three wheeled push scooters. What does T.A. think that sets those kids up for? T.A. needs a little help still. Lets begin with simple English shall we. The SkateBoard meets all the definitions below and then some. The SkateBoard T. A. is clearly a vehicle and it is high time you recognize it as such. Not doing so is regressive to the blind extreme.
l
1.
any means in or by which someone travels or something is carried or conveyed; a means of conveyance or transport:.
2.
a conveyance moving on wheels, runners, tracks, or the like, as a cart, sled
______
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