Roll on.
Victoria has lifted its decades-old ban on skateboarding downtown.
Councillors Thursday unanimously decided to allow skateboarders to use downtown streets, provided they follow the same rules of the road as cyclists.
“I think it’s turning the page on an unfortunate chapter in the city’s history when there was, I think you could say, a war on the youth culture,” said Coun. Ben Isitt.
“This wasn’t about safety for cyclists. This was about getting young people out of the downtown and I think we want a city that’s open for everyone.”
Victoria banned skateboarders from the city core in 1991 after merchants complained they were frightening customers.
Council began to revisit the idea two years ago when long-time skateboarder Jake Warren organized a petition after having his skateboard seized by bylaw officers. Warren said Thursday he’s proud to be a part of the process.
“We really have to get past this idea of the road sort of belonging to just cars,”he said. “The future of downtown, I think, kind of depends on it. I think it’s just going to be a different look.
“People want to skateboard. They love it. They do it by the hundreds when the weather is good and we need to provide for that. There’s no way you can ban it.”
Coun. Jeremy Loveday, a skateboarder, said the bylaw is something he’s been interested in changing since he was 15.
“As it stands, it’s antiquated, it’s discriminatory and it’s time that we move into this century,” Loveday said.
Councillors also lifted provisions allowing for impounding of skateboards and directed staff to give skateboarding on downtown streets the lowest bylaw-enforcement priority. Skateboarding on downtown sidewalks will still be prohibited.
Coun. Pan Madoff said what’s most needed on the streets is courtesy.
“Because the problems that I see associated with motor-vehicle drivers, with cyclists and with skateboarders is a lack of courtesy.
“And if we had [courtesy], we wouldn’t need these regulations.”
Cycling advocate and transportation consultant John Luton said he has no problem with skateboarders using bike paths “as long as they’re well behaved.”
Coun. Chris Coleman said boarders will have to remember that the change allows skateboarders on streets — not on sidewalks.
“The test will be: ‘Boarders, use the roadways. Get off when you hit the sidewalks. Don’t scare other people by coming up behind them.’ That’s going to be the test of whether it works,” Coleman said.
Council asked for an update on the change in a year’s time.
