Jeff Ament: Pass the Bucket for Vans Off The Wall TV.
Western Maryland needs to adopt this method of thinking, instead of automatically pigeonholing skateboarders and BMXers as criminals. The reason kids in our community resort to disobedience and drugs is because we shut down every expressive outlet they otherwise attempt. While there are always bad seeds, I think you’d find that a very high majority of kids just want to ride or skate. And they want to do so without having to look over their shoulder for authorities ready to chase them away for no other reason than being on a bike or board.
If we had a well-maintained skate park that offered kids a place to go to express their freedom and creativity, that promoted rider safety and mentoring, I think you’d see a huge change in attitude in this area. And the teens that ride could pass this mentality on to their little brothers and sisters, instead of passing on the mentality of melancholy and disobedience we have now.
Despite what you believe, kids and bikes and skateboards are not the enemy.