I don't know if you have heard anything else about the so-called skate park being built in Bamberg. But instead of trying to make things better for the kids, Bamberg City Council has now outlawed skateboarding, making it illegal to even ride down the side walk! The funny thing is in this town you can drive down the sidewalk in golf carts, lawn mowers and bikes.

I have asked many of the cops, when stopped for skating, how is it right to stop us when grown men drive golf carts, lawn mowers and bikes up and down the sidewalk every day. When asked, they refuse to say a word.

I went to a council meeting once and one lady stated the fact that "we can never spend enough money on our children," then proceeded to ask for I believe it was about $20,000 for a basketball program in order to repaint the civic center floor.

Yet this town won't cough up $9,000 for the liability insurance needed for a skate park. So the just make it illegal one week after the meeting.

It goes something like this:

* First offense: skateboard taken for 30 days

* Second offense: A $200 fined and so on!

I think it is crazy to do this to children. I have been skating for almost five years. I just wish someone would bring attention to this. Many people are not even aware of this law and others think it's outrageous. I know kids like me who drive an hour away just to go to skate in Columbia or Charleston. Yet we can't walk outside and skate on the side walk in front of our house. I know 12-year-old kids who run when they see a cop down the street just because we are doing what we love ...

I know some people think skating is a nuisance, but this town is just making things worse.

-- Richard Lance Wootton, Bamberg

You must be logged in to comment.