Dear Editor:
I am compelled to write this email both as a resident of West Vancouver in the British Properties as well as being the mom of a 15-yearold son, who is a longboarder.
There is no doubt that the many recent events involving longboarders and drivers have been both devastating and sobering. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the skaters, their parents and the drivers who are now dealing with the extreme consequences that this high-adrenaline and likely addictive sport satisfies.
My son has been an active longboarder for the past two and a half years, primarily skating in the British Properties. A wide degree of emotions have encompassed me as the parent of a child who sees this "sport" as his primary source of recreation, social interaction and competitive outlet. I must tell you that in the beginning I came from an emotional and intellectual place of uncertainty and frustration (as a driver), that led to many heated discussions in our household. However, over the past year I have learned much about the "push culture phenomena" and its culture.
You only need to go online to experience a sampling of what this far-reaching sport is about, how active the community is, how businesses (some local) generate revenue and employ local youth and how the numbers show that it is evolving and growing at an incredible pace. Five continents, thousands of participants (skaters and spectators) and millions of dollars in sales annually is only the tip of the iceberg. Media coverage, Internet and conventional, like that of NBC's Red Bull Series, highlights the growth and metamorphoses of this sport. To ignore this momentum is certain to be a mistake. To close our eyes and close our minds to understanding the draw that the youth are pulled toward is a mistake; we will be fooling ourselves otherwise.
It is far better to open the table to a full discussion and work toward a mutual recognition and solution to an issue that is not going away.
Wishing it away or legislating it away is not the reality of the day. These kids will continue to seek out thrilling rides and adventurous environments whether we as the public and our members of council admit it or not.
In conclusion, as a parent not only do I wish for a safe environment for my child and those like him to ride, but for also our community and residents as a whole.
I hope to evoke a discussion within the community and council of West Vancouver. Let's move past the autocratic heavy handedness of the past and collectively come together for a solution-based, balanced approach.
Real, working ideas, are available. Mutual compromise is attainable.
I would welcome the opportunity to participate in a public forum that would hopefully add to it a parent's perspective and point of view.
Catharine Macartney, Keenan Macartney West Vancouver
(Editor: A community meeting on longboarding will be held Wednesday, June 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Kay Meek Studio Theatre, 1700 Mathers Ave. Pre register at sd45.bc.ca/news/reg-lb-wv.php.)
