It is good to read that some attention is being given to the issue of prohibiting skateboarding in certain areas of the City of Malibu. I often see skateboarders whizzing around parking lots -especially at the Heathercliff/Pavilions shopping plaza-with no apparent concern for their own safety or for the safety of drivers and pedestrians in the parking lot. These youngsters on their skateboards seem to view any space as theirs, with no regard or courtesy for anyone else. Unfortunately, if one of them were to have the misfortune to collide with a vehicle, the driver of the vehicle would stand a good chance of being cited when, in fact, it was most likely reckless behavior by the skateboarder that caused the accident. There have been “No Skateboarding” signs posted at several shopping areas for years, but there seems to be no enforcement, either by the management, or by sheriffs who happen to be in the parking lot.
While I don’t know how the City expects to enforce the fine structure, tickets should be handed to skateboarders in locations where skateboarding is banned. My question would be: Why is skateboarding banned on “10 public streets” when, in fact, there should not be skateboarding allowed on any public thoroughfare?
Laura Michener