[SkateDC] Eddy Matzger Needs Your Help

[kmb092802 at aol.com]

Carol: I would be willing to go down to and testify if need be. However - since I'm in a one car family - I'd like to go down with someone else. (my wife uses the car on Wednesday nights.) You, or anyone else, going down?
 
I would need to take some timeoff from work - so let me know.
 
Couple of things to look for but I think we have:
 
1)  There is a bill on the books in Virginia that allows local municipalities (within a size range) to legislate the legality of in-line skating as mean for transportation. The size range encorportes the population of Arlington. (This is Nat'l Park property and has it's own juridiction, but precidents will be important.)
 
2) I think there are some safety measturements by the Sporting Good Manufacturers Association that showed that Skating was a safe sport.
 
The argument I would make: 
 
Are all forms of human powered cycling permitted on the Road. Yes
So it is legal for a 4 year old with  barbie bike (little basket for stuffed animals) to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway. Technically yes.
If that bike was weaving across lanes, would it be a violation. 
Yes, because it is reckless. But not becuse it is a bike.
 
How many barbie bikes do you pike up a year? None (probably). 
Why? No cyclists of that skill level ride the Blue ridge.
 
Then I would surmise:
All we are asking is thaty the same logic and the same reasoning be applied to skaters.
 
Allow skaters to skate the Parkway, Those people that are good enought to do it - like eddie - will do it, Those people who are the equivent of the little girl on the barbie bike will not show up even though it is their right to do so. And if they do - You have the same right to pick-up the skater (as you would with the little girl) under the rule for reckless behavior.
 
 
Marshall
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: patchc at mindspring.com
To: SQSpeedteam at yahoogroups.com; skatedc at www.skatedc.org
Sent: Sun, 12 Nov 2006 2:31 PM
Subject: [SkateDC] Eddy Matzger Needs Your Help


By now most of you know that Eddy was ticketed last summer for skating on the 
Blue Ridge Parkway. Skating (the ticket actually said "Rollerblading") is not 
legal on the parkway though bicycling is legal. He has a court date scheduled 
for December 6. You can also read the Inline Planet story for details:

http://www.inlineplanet.com/2006-11/02/parkway.html

Eddy would like support from the skating community. (Marshall are you 
listening?) Your support can be either by going to court with him and being 
prepared to testify or by submiting an affidavit. Eddy wants you to use your own 
words and experience but essentially you need to cover why skating should be 
allowed on the parkway and why Eddy in particular is no more danger to himself 
or other people than bikers by skating on the Parkway. I will research what 
comprises an affidavit and post the information to this group. 

For those who can go to court,, the date is December 6th. We will need to meet 
at Skate Farm on the 5th. The court hearing is about 120 miles away from the 
Skate Farm. 

I think it is important that witnesses represent a variety of demographics 
(E.G., I have the middle aged lady demographic all sewn up), and that witness be 
comfortable dealing with authority figures and be good public speakers. It is 
also probably a good idea that we have respectable jobs and are good upstanding 
citizens. I would also expect that witnesses should be prepared to submit 
affidavits. This is an opportunity to make a difference.

I will get back to you with more information as I have it. Eddy is in China 
until December 4th.

Carol Patch
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