Skating rule frustrates many

Stanley Mathews, assistant professor of Art History, was appreciating a tranquil day of inline skating on and about the ample streets and roads encompassing the city of Oberlin. While at Columbia University Mathews enjoyed similar trips through the streets of New York City, with one notable exception; the police didn't detain him for illegal rollerblading.

According to City Ordinance 88-97 AC, "No person upon roller skates or riding in or by means of any sled, skateboard, toy vehicle or similar device shall go upon any (Oberlin) roadway..." This effectively bans inline skaters from traveling the Oberlin streets.

Mathews claims, "I've been stopped three times. It's ridiculous. Rollerblading is a means of transportation and recreation, along the same lines as biking. The city council envisions four-year-olds on plastic skates. This is not entirely a diversion for me."

City council member Ken Sloane concurred. "I, too, find the ordinance to be ridiculous. People are doing this responsibly and I want the ordinance repealed or changed to allow those that inline skate sensibly to continue. Unfortunately, this is a conservative council and I don't know if it will have the votes for change."

Oberlin law allows for skating on the sidewalks, but many rollerbladers find the surface to be more treacherous than the road, citing that the grooves and obstacles make skating impossible. Without access to roads and sidewalks many skaters find themselves at a frustrating loss.

Dick Lathrop, longtime Oberlin resident and council member, maintains that the issue is clear-cut. "These things are banned for reasons of safety. Just the other day I almost hit one of (the inline skaters) that was riding smack down the middle of 58. The college students that use them have an immortal mind set. To repeal the law would be to legalize a dangerous situation and once again, for reasons of safety and city liability, it seems wise to leave the ordinance alone."

Other city council members are unsure as to what action is appropriate. "I would like to talk to more people. We're going to take a look at it again. At this point I don't think I could give an honest opinion," council member Fran Baumann said.

City Manager Robert Despirito agreed. "I think the age issue should come into play. I'm not personally opposed to inline skating as a form of transportation; rather, I'm more concerned with the children who play on the skates."

Many students and professors, however, see the ordinance as an infringement on their rights.

"People should be allowed to skate where they wish. I'm sure that many are responsible enough to take their own safety into account and way the risks themselves. It sounds like the council may not be adequately addressing the concerns of it's constituents," college junior Jason Sokol said.

The issue is still currently being debated and, according to Oberlin Police Chief Robert Jones, "The ordinance will be enforced until the council declares differently."