Skateboarders will no longer be allowed to roll in some Southwest Portland neighborhoods after 10PM. Portland City Council enacted a limited ban to skateboard activity Wednesday for neighborhoods around Washington Park.
The steep hills around the park are very attractive to some skaters, who come to the neighborhood for a fast ride. This area is also home to the so-called "Zoobomb" ride that sends bikes flying downhill every Sunday.
After vigorous debate over traffic controls and even an outright ban, skaters met with police and city leaders to work out what stakeholders say is a compromise.
Between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., skateboards, scooters, and rollerblades won't be allowed in Arlington Heights. The agreement also calls for skaters to wear appropriate lights after sundown.
Billy Meiners, a skater who goes by "Bones", says working on the ordinance built important channels of communication between skaters and the neighborhood association.
"We'd really like to keep that line of communication open, so that if something comes up, we're going to be here. We're not going away and we're going to continue to hold up our end of the bargain."
Mayor Adams ordered that police only issue warnings for the first week the ordinance is in effect, switching to tickets after that.
