Pelham residents are concerned for the safety of local longboarders and skateboarders, and Niagara Regional Police confirms there are indeed reasons to worry. During their regular meeting on July 15, 2013, Pelham Council learned about the impending dangers that face longboarders and skateboarders who speed down steep hills, around blind corners, and among busy traffic.
“If a vehicle travelling 50 kilometers per hour were to come in contact with a boarder going 30 kilometers per hour it would be a horrible accident that no one wants to see happen,” said Niagara Regional Police Constable David Brown.
So far this spring and summer, Niagara Regional Police has responded to dozens of complaints from residents and motorists citing safety concerns. Most notable are the hilly and winding roadways of recently paved Overholt Road, Shoalts Drive, Elizabeth Drive, and Effingham Street, which provide perfectly smooth boarding and racing conditions. Unsuspecting motorists are surprised to encounter boarders on the road and end up swerving around to pass them or come to a sudden stop. The same tends to happen when boarders are trekking up hills alongside traffic to do another run.
“We fully support the longboarding and skateboarding community in Pelham and want to ensure they have safe areas to ride and have fun,” said Mayor Dave Augustyn. “We are prioritizing the boarders’ and motorists’ safety and look forward to working together to develop creative solutions that benefit all.”
As an interim measure, “No Skateboarding” signs will be installed along Overholt Road, Shoalts Drive, Elizabeth Drive, and Effingham Street later this week.
Niagara Regional Police who notice boarders along these roadways will advise them of safety precautions and repeat offenders may be subject to a $50 fine.
Amendments to Pelham’s Parking and Traffic By-Law are also in the works, as well as designs for a possible longboard track at the new Isaac Riehl skate park at Marlene Stewart Streit Park.
In the coming weeks, the Town of Pelham and Niagara Regional Police will jointly develop a safety and education campaign to encourage partnership between boarders, parents, area residents, By-Law Enforcement, and Police.
For additional information, please contact:
Craig Genesse, Pelham By-Law Officer
(905) 892-3943
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