Politics & Government
Skateboard 'Bombing' Ban Pushed by Councilman
The motion calls for the City Attorney's Office to draft an ordinance prohibiting reckless skateboarding at excessive speeds while disobeying traffic laws on city streets.
City Councilman Joe Buscaino introduced a motion Friday seeking to ban people from using skateboards to ride at excessive speeds, an activity commonly known as "bombing."
Buscaino said he introduced the motion after a 15-year-old boy died in late January from a crash riding downhill near a San Pedro park at an excessive speed. Another 14-year-old boy died in November from a similar accident.
Buscaino said bombing is fairly popular in San Pedro because of the area's steep hills and terrain. He said some skateboarders have been clocked at speeds upwards of 40 mph.
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"I don't want to ban skateboarding in the San Pedro streets," Buscaino said. "We are raising awareness on not 'bombing' the streets."
Earlier in the week, Buscaino asked pro skateboarder Rob Dyrdek to send a message to other skaters in the area who might be "bombing" city streets. Dyrdek helped raise funding for the popular Rob Dyrdek Safe Spot Skate Spot in North Hollywood. See the story here:
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The motion calls for the City Attorney's Office to draft an ordinance prohibiting "bombing," or reckless skateboarding at excessive speeds while disobeying traffic laws on city streets.
"We want to prevent another tragic death in our streets," Buscaino said.
Police from the Harbor Division have been conducting a "hot spot" task force and issuing citations for illegal and unsafe practices, but they are limited in what they can legally enforce, Buscaino's office said.