Maybe it’s time e-bike opportunities evolved

A long time ago when I was in high school a bunch of us kids decided it would be “cool” to build skateboards to ride down the highest hill in town. It was near a park with very little traffic at night and the street had street lights. Perfect.

We found wood boards that would work for the platform and took the wheels off our skates (because we were too cool for roller skating anymore) and attached them to our boards. They worked great.

Until they didn’t. One night one of the boys crashed going down the hill. He may have hit a bump or lost control or was just going too fast but he fell, hit his head on the pavement and was killed.

Nobody had to tell us what we were doing was dangerous and probably illegal and that we could get hurt or worse. We were kids just being kids. Nobody told us that night would be forever etched in our minds.

The parents that didn’t know what we were doing didn’t lecture us before or after the funeral for our friend. They didn’t have to. A family lost a son and brother, and we lost a friend.

I’m sure there had been something in the newspaper about the incident where a boy died while skateboarding. Were the others there that night ridiculed? I don’t remember, but I’m sure there was lots of talk about what happened. I don’t remember any of that, but I do remember what happened to my friend over 60 years ago while a bunch of us were just being kids.

The sport of skateboarding has evolved, much better and safer equipment and skateboard parks were built. The same with dirt bike tracks. Maybe it’s time to consider an area where kids can ride their e-bikes and electric scooters in a safer place than a highway or down a steep hill just for the fun of it and do it safely. Because you know kids will be kids.

Jan Siers

Gilberts