There is a sign at the entrance of Mobile's new Skateboard Park. It says, quote: "Any person skateboarding in this facility must wear appropriate protective equipment including a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads."
MUST and INCLUDING are the key words. I watched dozens of skateboarders in action this afternoon. The media was out in force with cameras to record the celebration of the grand opening of the City of Mobile's new Skateboard Park. Some City of Mobile Commissioners and City Park authorities were present. Even the Mayor of Mobile was present.
The UGLY part was ALL ignored the fact that everyone using the Skateboard Park was in violation of the skateboard park rules. Not a single skateboard participant was wearing a helmet, elbow pads or knee pads. Therein lies the basic problem with Mobile. Mobile wastes money making laws and municipal codes and signs then neither officials or enforcement personnel have the balls to enforce the rules when there are people breaking the rules right in front of them.
It pisses me off to see $300,000+ dollars of taxpayer money be spent catering to the desires of the Skateboard community by building them a facility which then all the participates recklessly disobey the rules of the park on opening day.
The eventual injury and death of skateboard participants is on the hands of City of Mobile council members and Mayor Sandy Stimpson for sitting there and ignoring the people using the facility not using appropriate protective equipment. They are the ones who set the precedent of how participants are to use the park on opening day. Yeah boy, everyone just ignore the rules. Hope there are some horrendous injuries to the idiots who ignore the skateboard park rules.
On the bright side, the Skateboard numbskulls who refuse to wear safety gear are all nicknamed, "Organ Donor." After they smack their head on the concrete pavement, their body still lives after they are brain dead so the organs can be harvested. This is a good thing for those waiting on organ transplants.