Skateboard protective devices installed.
But not really enough.
Going back to the second photo, they took a run up from the front of our building, timing their run so that the green walk would be showing in Kingsway. They went up the left hand slope and shot off the end, without a care about any pedestrian. In fact one collided with a fellow skater and they fell out into stationary traffic on the road. Another almost hit the side of a van when he came off. One of the crew was recording the action, stomping all over the plants in the garden and damaging some. I did nothing and I don't think it will really be an appealing site for skateboarders, but should I have done something? They damaged private property, so should I have called the police?
I know here private property is a big thing. Usual the owner need to report or file a complaint with the local law enforcement. You could notify the owners on the situation, and tell them you would be glad to write out a document what you saw and give it to the owner of the property. If they decided to make a complaint they can hand your written statement with theirs.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
Dora, if it happens again, I will take action, probably as you describe and contact management of the building.
DeleteCall the police? Only if you are sure you won't be identified to the offenders.
ReplyDeleteRiver, yes, I thought of that and I think the police do that well enough to protect me. What I really wanted to do was challenge them about damaging things, but I was not brave enough.
DeleteHopefully they will tire of it before one of them is hurt or the garden damaged further. Would the police have come? In time?
ReplyDeleteEC, I really don't know how seriously the police would take such a report. It is an office building on a premier street, so maybe they would have come. My opinion is they tried it out and it is not a great skate boarding site, or at least challenging.
Deleteinteresting garden
ReplyDeleteGosia, it was quite shabby and what has been done is a great improvement.
DeleteSkateboarders used to use the planter outside my apartment on weekends late at night. They were making a lot of noise. I was so glad when Council placed metal inserts around the planters to deter the skateboarders. Hopefully the noise isn't too bad for you.
ReplyDeleteSomeone must have reported it to council, unless there was obvious damage.
DeleteYouths today don't show much respect for other people's property. Nor, it seems, do they consider the safety of others.
ReplyDeleteWaverley Council in Sydney is considering inserting a cycle path right through an outdoor market on the otherwise pedestrian precinct of Oxford Mall in Bondi Junction. As it is, the frail and elderly are as human skittles risking life and limb trying to keep out of the path of cyclists who race through the mall.
Victor, we here have shared bicycle and pedestrian paths, just across the river from where you last stayed. I does not work.
DeleteNone of us came into the world as an adult and I am sure that we damaged things with our rollerskates, but didn't do it on purpose ! Talking and explaining to them you reach more than calling police !
ReplyDeleteGattina, I was tempted to say to them that they were damaging things and breaking plants in the garden, but there were five of them and I am one old man. Maybe I should have said something to them.
DeleteNEVER report anything to the police*. let somebody else. as you said 'private/corporate property [it used to be ANZ bank and I bet they owned the freehold].
ReplyDeletebloody Skaters. and how dumb of profe$$ional landscapers/architects to not understand the External Environment to their designy indulgences.
*they turn on You before doing anything about the incident [experience, multiple].
iODyne, somewhere I posted the details of its sale last year, I think, to a Singaporean developer. Yes, the designers do need to take things like that into account. They are always retrofitting skate boarding prevention devices when what will happen is quite predictable.
DeleteThe above view of the garden is really nice. Will be interesting to see how it matures... hopefully without the skaters.
ReplyDeleteCM, it does just look so much better and I think it will mature well enough. There is some shade for the seating area in the summer afternoons from the street trees.
DeleteIn the US, the home owner would have cut dogs loose on them or just shot them all and probably be given medals by the law for doing so. When young men run in packs like that they become as nasty or behaved as their leader. You only make a dent in their collective reasoning by confronting or debating the leader. I'm just rattling on. I would have chased them away with a garden hose and curses while giggling inside.
ReplyDeleteStrayer, yes, that is an area where Australia falls down. I did wonder how far out it would go if I threw a bucket of water from the balcony.
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