Let the "Good Times Roll"

Good idea. I hope the focus of the show doesn't stay cheezy. It has the potential to do very good things.

Good Times Roll from 2HeadedHorse on Vimeo.

Hastings (UK) Needs and New Skatepark

Any riders facing the same issues should do something like this to get the attention of their town.

Sign the Petition to Let BMX into NC's new park in Raleigh

http://bmxnc.petitionhost.com/

Do it.

A response from Peg Weber - Tucson Parks and Rec. Administrator

Here is a transcript from 2 emails that have been sent to Peg Weber. She is very attentive and personally replied to my email. Check out what she had to say and let me know your thoughts!

My First Email to Her:
"I am writing you because of an article I read on Tuscon Weekley, about the two BMX riders that are trying to get bikes into the skate park.

Thank you for listening to them. This is an issue all over the states, and there is no one decision on how to handle this. I've been riding for 10 years, with skateboarders, bikes and inliners. We know how to get along. BMX needs to be a part of the skate park community.

That article has been making it's way around some of the biggest BMX sites in the world. These local Tuscon riders are going to have a lot of support behind them.

http://ridethebay.blogspot.com - They have mine.

Thanks for your time,
Ridethebay "

Pegs Response:

"Hello Jamie, Thank you for writing in support of BMX. I look forward to future parks that are designed for multi-use, as clearly they can be planned that way. I agree that BMXers and skateboarders can get along, and do at parks in our state, and around the country. It is important for you to work together to have parks planned for both, and for other roller sports as well. You need safe and exciting places to play. I have added you to our growing list of contacts so that we can have much more involvement from BMXers in our next park planning. P"

My Response:

"Peg,
Thank you for the personal reply. I'm sure you can understand that a response from anyone on behalf of parks and recreation is usually not expected, so thank you for that.

I've been dealing with the discrimination of BMX not being allowed in skate parks for over 10 years. It's a shame that I have to be worried of getting kicked out of a fun session with my friends, or getting a ticket. I think that most parks and rec people aren't educated enough on any of the sports that use skate parks. I would love for them to give it a shot.

Skateboarding and BMX are bigger and more accepted than ever. They help keep kids away from drugs and gangs. Both sports are also very individual, and require lots of confidence, self esteem, and self motivation. It's terrible that any person should face fines, ejection from a park, and ridicule because of a different choice in wheels.

I'd like to know more about how you handle these situations. Maybe you can shed some lights on this for me since I live in San Francisco and this is a VERY heated issue.

Thank you for your time,
Ridethebay "


Her Last Response:

"I agree with your comments regarding being educated in the sport....that's why I asked Mike and Chris to a meeting with us. I now clearly know how to plan for the future.

I believe part of feeling left out is that, although the particular sport is the central activity to the user, the sport they think about, practice, read about, film, etc, others that are not part of that "culture" may not be aware at all of the challenges and needs. They are not necessarily prejudiced, but just not informed, or are ill-informed. I believe several "extreme" sports are now being better highlighted, but it is crucial for the sport users to get to their rec. departments, councils, etc. and let them know what's going on. P"

Comments from both parties are original and have not been edited.

Bike Paradise

In Tuscon AZ, Riders are planning a protest, if the new skatepark opening up will not allow bikes.

Two riders; Chris Miracle and Mike Hines have been talking to the city to try and educate them on the issue. They are doing the right thing.




Here is the link to the story

"...But I think part of it is getting over these negative stereotypes that these are bad kids. They need a place to go and it would be wrong to keep them out of the park."

Peg Weber Tucson Parks and Rec. Administrator
peg.weber@tucsonaz.gov

Mayor’s Office
mcweb@tucsonaz.gov

Ward Supervisor
steve.leal@tucsonaz.gov

NYC Planning a Skatepark Underneath Manhattan Bridge

This is a great opportunity to get bikes involved in the process.

Go here to make a donation: http://www.openroadny.org/

Get involved! Donate materials. Get the local bmx shops involved to get a skatepark made in manhattan!

More to come...

Ride The Bay Protest Update

I was at the Berkeley park on the 9th. There were tons of riders there, along with skateboarders. That park get's crowded with 5 people there because of the shitty layout. Anyways; we all rode together swimmingly.

A cop did show up and we all exited the park without being asked to leave. Almost everyone waited for a few minutes for the cop to leave, and decided to hit up the biker friendly park Alameda.

Before leaving, I noticed the cop talk to a skateboarder for a bit. I waited to talk to the skater after the cop left, and it seems that the police dept of Berkeley does not want to be called about bmxer's in the park anymore! The cop also said that they legally can't do anything, because a huge majority of skaters were not wearing helmets and pads, so theoretically; everyone is breaking the law.

Keep up the presence at Berkeley park. This place will be the first park on the list of Single park protests in the coming year.