Longboarders take note: the City of Vernon does not support the use of its streets for longboarding practice or play.
In a press release issued Thursday, the city states that its traffic bylaw “prohibits non-vehicular uses, occurring in the right-of-way, that have the potential to create opportunities for unsafe activities or conflict with motorized vehicles to occur.”
Those prohibitions include longboards, as well as other methods of transportation such as skateboards, skis, rollerblades, sleighs and snowmobiles that may create conflict with pedestrians or vehicles.
Bicycles are not on the list but their use is strictly controlled through the city bylaw and Motor Vehicle Act.
Minimum fines are $75.
Strata communities in hillside developments should be aware that the city’s traffic bylaw and prohibition on longboarding are not applicable on private roads.
“Should they wish to restrict this activity within their developments, they would need to sign the roadway appropriately, notify the longboarders of their requirements, and use the Provincial Trespass Act and the RCMP to enforce their restriction,” states the city’s release.
Recently, a series of accidents between longboarders and motorized vehicles in the Greater Vancouver area have brought the use of public roadways and conflict between these two user groups to the media forefront.
As longboarding attracts more younger riders, the opportunity for accidents to occur also increases.
“With Vernon’s hillside development continuing to occur, and as roads with steeper grades are created, our streets have become more attractive for this new sport,” said the city, which does support the sport of longboarding by allowing the closure of a steep roadway on Middleton Mountain in order to accommodate a well-run, official longboarding race event.
Anybody who would like more information can call the city’s bylaw division at 250-550-3505.
