Longboarding has come under public scrutiny after two young adults in West Vancouver swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle and hit a truck, injuring themselves in the process. Is this an issue that other municipalities - including Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody - should take on?
On hilly streets, some risk-taking longboarders have taken their lives into their hands and some have sustained injuries. But is that any reason to ban longboarding from some or all streets, as West Vancouver and White Rock have done?
Probably not. For responsible longboarders, the sport is a form of transportation. These are the boarders who follow road rules, watch out for cars, wear proper gear and know how to stop in an emergency.
True, there is always the risk that a young, unskilled longboarder could get seriously hurt. But with education, skill development, understanding and driver awareness, longboarding could become as accepted, and safe, as cycling.
What do you think?Should municipalities ban longboarding from some or all city streets? Vote in our online poll.
