pavedwave longboarding

pavedwave · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 1120 Location: seattle wa usa

Seattle, WA Ordinances regarding skateboarding...

SMC 11.40.250 Playing in streets.

No person upon roller skates, or riding in or by means of any coaster,
skateboard, toy vehicle or similar device, shall go upon the roadway
of any arterial street or transit coach route, except while crossing
such street at a crosswalk; or engage in any sport, amusement or
exercise or play in the roadway of any street.

SMC 11.40.255 Use of skateboards or roller-skates on sidewalk
or public path.

Every person using a skateboard or roller-skates upon any sidewalk or
public path shall use the same in a careful and prudent manner and at
a rate of speed no greater than is reasonable and proper under the
conditions existing at the point of operation, taking into account the
amount and character of pedestrian traffic, grade and width of
sidewalk or public path, and condition of surface, and shall obey all
traffic-control devices. Every person using a skateboard or
rollerskates upon a sidewalk or public path shall yield the
right-of-way to any pedestrian thereon.

VERSUS

Portland, OR Ordinances regarding skateboarding...

16.70.410 Roller Skates and Skateboards

16.70.410 Roller Skates and Skateboards.

(Replaced by Ordinance No. 175211, effective January 26, 2001.)
A. No person may use roller skates, including in-line skates, skateboards, scooters, or other similar devices powered exclusively by human power upon any sidewalk within the area bounded by and including SW Jefferson, Naito Parkway, NW Hoyt and 13th Avenue. The middle and bisecting sidewalks in the Park Blocks are considered sidewalks for the purposes of this subsection. The penalty for failing to follow the rules of this subsection shall be a maximum fine of $25.

B. No person may use roller skates, including in-line skates, skateboards, scooters, or other similar devices powered exclusively by human power upon any street, roadway or sidewalk on SW 5th or 6th Avenues between SW Lincoln and Burnside, and on NW 5th or 6th Avenues between Burnside and Union Station. The penalty for failing to follow the rules of this subsection shall be a maximum fine of $25.

C. All persons under 16 years of age shall wear protective headgear when using roller skates, including in-line skates, skateboards, scooters, or other similar devices powered exclusively by human power upon any street, sidewalk, or bridge. The penalty for failure to wear protective headgear as required in this subsection shall be a maximum fine of $25.00.

D. All persons using roller skates, including in-line skates, skateboards, scooters, or other similar devices powered exclusively by human power upon any street or sidewalk between the hours of sunset and sunrise must be equipped with and use lighting equipment that shows a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front of the device.

^^^ THIS ROCKS!! ^^^

All persons using roller skates, including in-line skates, skateboards, scooters, or other similar devices powered exclusively by human power upon any street or sidewalk between the hours of sunset and sunrise must be equipped with and use lighting equipment that has a red reflector or lighting device or material of such size or characteristic and so mounted, carried or worn as to be visible from all distances up to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlights on a motor vehicle.

^^^ THIS ALSO ROCKS! ^^^

The penalty for failing to follow the rules of this subsection shall be a maximum fine of $25.

E. Persons using roller skates, including in-line skates, skateboards, scooters, or other similar devices powered exclusively by human power upon any street, sidewalk or premises open to the public shall be subject to the provisions applicable to and shall have the same rights and duties as the driver of a bicycle as provided by the Oregon Vehicle Code, except when those provisions by their very nature can have no application. The penalty for failing to follow the rules of this subsection shall be a maximum fine of $25.

^^^ AND THIS IS WHAT WE ALL NEED TO STRIVE FOR ^^^

F. A copy of a citation issued for violation of this section by persons under 16 years of age shall be mailed to the parents or guardians of the cited person at their home address, if known.

G. The Portland Police Bureau shall monitor and maintain a record of injuries and deaths attributed to riders of roller skates, including in-line skates, a skateboard, or other similar device in the City of Portland and report their findings annually to City Council. The first report shall be made on or before October 1, 2001.

H. Before this ordinance takes effect, the Portland Department of Transportation shall consult with the Bureau of Risk Management to minimize claims resulting from defects in City streets.

I. The Council directs PDOT staff to meet with members of the Police Bureau’s traffic safety division to recommend and designate "preferred skating routes" in the downtown core area as well as throughout the rest of the City. PDOT will report these recommendations back to Council by March 1, 2001. Signage and informational materials will be prepared for distribution by April 1, 2001.

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SEATTLE, YOU'RE BEHIND THE TIMES!

To be fair, what is unwritten in Seattle, is what the police will tolerate versus what is legally permitted.

I'm spotted commuting by skateboard on the streets regularly, but rarely pulled over. What goes a long way toward keeping this tenuous relationship civil is 1. wearing a helmet 2. wearing something bright, particularly at darker hours 3. not blowing through lights / intersections 4. not carving across the road, sticking to the bike lane or extreme shoulder, and lastly, if pulled over 5. listening and not arguing with the police.

Still, Seattle has a long way to go...

pavedwave · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 1120 Location: seattle wa usa

Thanks to Jack Smith's watchful eye, spotted this Wall Street Journal link on his TSJ site, skateboardersjournal.ning.com:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1...0204119704574238073660408040.html

Portland Oregon is indeed THE capital of skateboarding!!!

boarder's mom · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Beaverton, OR

Does anyone know what if anything is the helmet law in Washington? Or is it up to each community to pass their own ordinance? Thanks!

pavedwave · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 1120 Location: seattle wa usa

Since skateboards are merely "toys" in all WA state laws I'm aware of, I don't think that helmets even enter into the equation -- legally. Although wearing them is obviously good common sense and the only way we'll ever hope to get laws changed.

These are the WA state helmet laws for bicycles, which are regarded as vehicles:

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike/helmets.htm

boarder's mom · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Beaverton, OR

Thanks! That was very helpful. I'm going to broach the idea of a helmet regulation to Cathlamet. I was chided by Rob McKendry for letting a local kid ride around without a helmet, but since he wasn't participating in the race, there was really nothing I could do.