From: Adam Thaler Subject: [sfskaters] Police crack down on Friday Skate Date: Thu, 24 Oct 1996 18:20:18 -0700 (PDT) Main News Sports Business Style Commentary Examiner Home The Gate ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thursday, Oct. 24, 1996 7 Page A 21 )1996 San Francisco Examiner ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Police crack down on Friday skate City ordinance bans skating on business district sidewalks or any public street Diego Bun OF THE EXAMINER STAFF A group of San Francisco rollerskaters have taken a bad turn - right into a showdown with city police, who are blitzing the skaters with $55 fines. Skaters say they're just showing off their moves in the weekly Friday Night Skate - a get-together on wheels that began in 1989 and has become something of a city institution. But police say the event has become so huge - with as many as 600 skaters some nights - that it's become a nightmare for pedestrians and traffic. "It's my understanding that skaters have caused problems with pedestrians and vehicles," said Lt. Rick Bruce of the Northern Station. "We are concerned about it." Police began issuing tickets to skaters in Cow Hollow in August after Sgt. Jim Hughes wrote a memo to his squad pointing out that skaters caused problems by running into pedestrians and hanging onto cars, Bruce said. Although a police spokesman said the department doesn't track the number of tickets issued to skaters, at least 60 skaters were ticketed last week, according to organizers of the event. The Friday Night Skate is a huge rolling circle that gets started weekly at 10 p.m. at the Ferry Building, heads north to Fisherman's Wharf, the Marina and the Palace of Fine Arts, then down to Union Street and ultimately back to the Ferry Building. Skaters are getting tickets on Union Street between Van Ness Avenue and Fillmore Street. Skaters have been cited for skating after dark and impeding traffic, and fined $55. Skaters are wide-open to tickets because it's technically illegal to skate on streets anywhere, and on sidewalks in business districts. The San Francisco Traffic Code says it is "unlawful for any person upon roller skates or riding in or by means of any coaster, skateboard, toy vehicle or other similar device to go upon any sidewalk in any business district or upon any roadway within the City and County of San Francisco." It's also illegal for skaters to travel on "any roadway or sidewalk" in The City after dark, according to the law. Skaters blasted the crackdown on an activity they view as good, clean fun. "We have been doing this since 1989 and we never had any problems," said David Miles Jr., 40, president of the California Outdoor Rollerskating Association. "People come here after working all week, they exercise and meet people at the same time. "When the cops give us fines, they are apologetic," he added. "People who come here are doctors, lawyers or construction workers. We are all law-abiding citizens." Miles joined the skating group when they first came together Thursday nights on a roped-off section of the Embarcadero after the Loma Prieta earthquake. To help remedy traffic problems, Miles recently created a volunteer Skate Patrol, including himself, to regulate the flow of skaters and clear intersections. But he said members of the Skate Patrol seem to be a particular target of the police. Miles and his two teenage children were all fined last week for participating in the nighttime roll. Jack Gescheidt, a photographer who joined the Friday Night Skate about a year ago, said he met the love of his life during the event. "Like in any large group there are always some that are rowdy," Gescheidt said. "But for every person that complains there are 60 that smile and say that we are a blast." Police say they've received many complaints about the skaters. Reviews on the street on a recent day were mixed. "It's really bad if you try to drive in it," said Amy Watt, a hostess at Prego restaurant on Union Street. "But from our perspective, tourists in the restaurant like it and say that San Francisco gets so crazy." Supervisor Tom Ammiano has drafted a bill that would allow adults or children accompanied by a parent or guardian, to skate on sidewalks and streets between 7 p.m. and midnight. But the bill is not expected to be approved until January, said Ammiano. "Until then, the skaters are out of luck," he added.