FOR the third time in two weeks, we bring you a story about serious injuries sustained by longboarders colliding with vehicles - all of them in West Vancouver where the activity is banned, without exception.
West Vancouver police can issue a $45-fine, or chase the riders off to another hill in the District of North Vancouver where it's still legal, at least for now.
As evidenced by a look over their Vancouver Longboarders Facebook page, the majority of riders are deeply concerned about safety. They worry about their own and look out for each other. However, there are a handful that appear committed to marrying the daredevil sport with a rebellious attitude.
The District of North Vancouver, meanwhile, is likely taking notes as it takes a "wait and see" approach to whether it should ban the boards as well. Residents who want to see longboards piled up in bonfires most assuredly are.
The longboarding question requires a co-ordinated and nuanced approach that involves all three North Shore governments, and the longboarding community, not a fractured patchwork of bans and free-for-alls. Unlike most recreationists, longboarders lack an organized user group and leadership that can help them keep their sport safe and legal. That needs to change.
It's an inherently risky sport, for sure. That's part of what attracts people to it. So was skiing, once. But it is better to manage risk than to delude yourself into thinking you can legislate it away.
