Today, Californian skateboarders requested that Governor Gavin Newsom recognize skateboarding as a viable and essential mode of transportation, and designate skate repair shops as essential businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. As millions of people in California use skateboarding as an essential means of transportation, it also serves as a critical connector to the various modes of transit in the transportation sector. California Senator Ben Allen, State Assembly Member Richard Bloom and Santa Monica City Council Member Greg Morena have joined the Go Skateboarding Foundation and the International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC) to advance this cause. Those that wish to raise awareness and support those that rely on skateboarding for transportation can help by signing the petition here: http://www.change.org/skateboarding.
“We feel that skateboarding is a critical form of transportation for many Californians, and it’s especially important as we grow our cities’ rail systems,” said State Senator, Ben Allen. “Skateboards help to address our first and last mile commute challenges in a clean, safe manner, and we hope the Governor will promptly update the Executive Order to address the needs of those relying on skateboards for transportation. This will help skateboarders, their employers, congestion on our streets, and the local skate shop owners who have been impacted by the COVID-19 Crisis.”
“Like bicycling, skateboarding serves as a frequent and sometimes sole mode of transportation for many individuals. So, we hope that skate repair shops will be added to the list of essential businesses, just as bike repair shops are,” said State Assembly member, Richard Bloom.
“Across Santa Monica, Los Angeles and throughout the nation, skateboards are utilized as essential means of transportation, especially to and from public transit stops,” said, Santa Monica City Council Member, Greg Morena. “We want Governor Newsom’s current Executive Order and subsequent orders to designate skate repair shops as essential businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.”
This is in a response to Executive Order N-33-20 issued by Governor Newsom on March 19, 2020, directing all residents immediately to heed current State public health directives to stay home, except as needed to maintain continuity of operations of essential critical infrastructure sectors and additional sectors as the State Public Health Officer may designate as critical to protect health and well-being of all Californians.
In accordance with this order, the State Public Health Officer designated bicycle repair shops as an essential business. Similar to bicycles and bicycle repair shops, skateboarding and skate repair shops should be recognized by the state as an essential mode of transportation and essential business. Essential skateboard and skate repair shops are inclined to assist in transportation, not recreational participation or activities.
The Go Skateboarding Foundation and its sister organization, the International Association of Skateboard Companies, represents more than 3.5 million Californian skateboarders and 150 skateboard industry brands employing more than 60,000 workers. Along with the Go Skateboarding Foundation and IASC, Senator Ben Allen, State Assembly Member Richard Bloom and Santa Monica City Council Member Greg Morena respectfully requested that skateboarding is recognized as a legitimate means of transportation and designate all California repair shops and supporting industry as essential businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.
Please sign the petition, share the flyers for Instagram, Facebook and the web, and forward this email to as many people as you can. http://www.change.org/skateboarding
Further reading on why skateboards are an integral part of the first and last miles of commuting: https://www.metro.net/projects/first-last/
