   |
 |
    |
|
|
|
|
Friday, May 20, 2005 Alameda Cityview Skatepark Rally BBQ Another rally ride is coming up June 11, 2005.
 It's time for the first summer rally at Cityview skatepark. Skatepark, sun, bikes, barbecue. Bring your bike and ride, or bring a lounge chair and lounge, or both. Saturday, June 11th, 2005 Some pics from the last ride, May 7, 2005.  Words of support from a proud BMX mom - July 23, 2004.  Most of you are not aware that there's a political barricade that the Parks and Recs Department and the City of Alameda's District Attorney has put up to prevent BMX riders from using the skatepark at Alameda point, which was built by funds that were initiated, sought out and raised, primarily by BMX riders. The opposition contends that bikes in the park are dangerous and have imposed fines on anyone who rides in the park. Recently, the cost of a ticket has been bumped up to $82.00, I don't know if this tactic is used as a tool to discourage, or to generate revenue, either way, it's wrong. There is going to be a quick uprising between BMX riders and the parents who support them, against the Alameda Parks and Recs department, the City of Alameda and the District Attorney, for the injustice and unjustified exclusion that is being forced upon the BMX riders. It would take one afternoon for the opposition to sit and watch the unspoken respect and etiquette that these young riders have for everyone in the park, to understand that their concerns are unfounded. However, it's much easier to impose ridiculous laws and fines, than to actually care and do some investigative work. The officials in the City of Piedmont listened to the citizens and took the time to investigate the issue of having BMX riders and skateboarders use their park, and I'm happy to report that since April 2002, their park is used by both groups, and is a huge success. http://bmxriders.org/bro/news.view.cfm?contid=80 BMX IS NOT A CRIME! Olivia Garcia - proud mother of two! From Sam Pederson 7/13/01: The meeting went really well last night. There were over 50 people who attended. In fact, there were so many people that they had to move the meeting to a larger room. The Recreation Commission presented a memorandum and recommendation to deny our request for bicycle access to the park. In response, over 20 people from the community spoke out, all of which were in favor of BMX access. These speakers included adult BMX riders, children, parents, skateboarders, business owners, a representative from the nonprofit advocacy group Bike Alameda and several members of the BRO Steering Committee. Robert Woods and Sam Pederson presented BROs official response to the Recreation Commission's memorandum and recommendation, including a proposal for a program that would insure bike riders at the park. After only a few minutes of discussion, the Recreation Commission voted unanimously to do more research on the issue of bikes in the skatepark and to meet with us again. BRO considers this meeting a success, especially since the Recreation Commission were originally planning to give us a definite "no". At this point, most members of the Commission seem to be leaning in the direction of finding a way to allow bikes. Remember that even if they do vote to recommend bicycle access, the City Council must also vote on the issue before it becomes official. Rob Darden at Cityview, BMXPlus! May 2001  Brief History: Cityview Skatepark in Alameda California was built with the support of BMXers as well as skaters. BMXers donated thousands of dollars, worked on the design of the park, and spent countless hours helping with construction . In the end, we were denied access to this "public" park. Current anti-bicycling park rules are being enforced with $55 tickets handed out by local police. Bike riders were fined over $11,000 in the year 2000 alone. The BMX Riders Organization (BRO) has begun a monthly rally (Saturdays 10-12 noon) to make this unfair situation known, and hopefully help find a solution. Sign up for the BRO e-mail list to keep informed of dates and times or check here later. PHOTOS FROM RALLIES: Click on photos for larger view.
See more pics Here Check out a flyer from our first rally (in pdf, requires adobe acrobat reader) Here Download Acrobat Reader from ADOBE CITYVIEW SKATEPARK NEWS: From Bob Woods : Report on Park and Rec Meeting 5/10 Alameda BRO was represented by about 10 kids, Bob and JonPaul on Thursday May 10. The park will soon be fenced (they had no choice on this) due to after hours vandalism and hours will be dawn to dusk. It will be unstaffed so there is no real change for BMX access yet. An APD officer had a great suggestion for bike access. Have two gates in the fence. A small one for Skateborading days (so bikes can't get through) and a big one for bicycle days. Our position is that if they fence and staff it, they can control the use, and that means BMX days and separate skateboard days. A suggestion was made that a BRO representative could volunteer to open and close the park to keep the city from hiring extra staff. I handed out a sheet with the Santa Clarita BMX trial BMX access info as well as news from Oregon and Utah that I got from the BRO site. The next park and Rec meeting (June 14 I think) will directly address the legal issues regarding BMX access to Cityview Skatepark. They will contact the city attorney and suggested we contact her as well to get any info we can. I explained she has been unresponsive to our requests for info, but we will try again. I will be attending the next city council meeting just to keep them up to date and will hand them the same info. Directions to Cityview Skatepark: FROM NORTHBOUND 880 (S.F.) Take Broadway/Alameda exit, turn right at end of exit, go straight for about 6 signals. Upon entering Alameda turn right at signal (Atlantic). Turn right on Main. Follow Main around to entrance to Alameda Point. Stay right when entering the gate, turn right at first corner. Skatepark is one block on right. FROM SOUTHBOUND 880 (S.J.) Take Broadway exit, turn left at end of exit, turn immediately left into tube. Upon entering Alameda turn right at signal (Atlantic). Turn right on Main. Follow Main around to entrance to Alameda Point. Stay right when entering the gate, turn right at first corner. Skatepark is one block on right. Please Note: BMXing in Cityview Skate park is still prohibited and tickets may be written ($55) to violators. So far, only one ticket has been written at an Alameda BRO Rally. No matter how many police show up-we will still rally. keywords: alameda cityview public skatepark |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|