Blacksburg mulls what to do about skateboarders

By TARA JENNINGS

Ledger Staff Writer

Just because they have four wheels doesn’t mean they’re welcome on Blacksburg’s streets.

There’s similar sentiment about the use of skateboards on the town’s sidewalks.

Several Blacksburg businesses and citizens have voiced their concerns recently to Blacksburg Police Chief Jamie Ham about the damage caused by the skateboards being used in parking lots and across the porches of churches. There’s also concern about the safety of the youngsters who are riding the skateboards on the streets, some of whom ride them in traffic.

“I’ve probably received about 10 phone calls in the past three weeks,” Ham said, adding that he stopped a couple of children recently who were riding in and out of traffic. “We don’t have anything on the books to prohibit them from doing it.”

Mayor David Hogue agreed that it was an issue of safety for the children as well as the town’s senior citizens who walk along the sidewalks.

Because many of the skateboarders are juveniles, Ham suggested during last week’s town council meeting that parents be held accountable for their children.

“I would like to see some way of holding the parents responsible. It’s a lack of supervision,” he said.

Ham provided copies of the City of Gaffney’s ordinance banning skateboarding as background for council.

Council will consider the adoption of a new ordinance after hearing from town attorney, Larry Flynn.