City considers strapping on helmet law

By Penticton Herald StaffTuesday, November 21, 2006, http://www.pentictonherald.ca/article_2463.php
Skateboarders in Penticton will have the next year to get used to wearing a helmet, before the city makes it mandatory.A 237-name petition in support of the South Okanagan-Similkameen Brain Injury Society’s call for a mandatory helmet bylaw was presented to city council Monday night.Council also accepted a recommendation from the parks, recreation and culture advisory committee to make helmets mandatory in all areas of the city - including the new skate park on Riverside Drive - starting in 2008.In the meantime, a helmet education and awareness campaign will begin in January and the city will continue to lobby for province-wide helmet legislation for skateboarders. A Penticton-sponsored resolution calling on the government to enact such legislation for skateboards and rollerblades was endorsed at the recent Union of B.C. Municipalities convention.Coun. Garry Litke said initial efforts will focus on educating skateboarders and their parents about the need for helmets. Helmets would be mandatory immediately at all events, demonstrations and competitions at the new youth park. Signs advocating helmet use are already posted at the facility.Council opted against only making helmets mandatory at the skate park."We all realize that simply passing a bylaw doesn't change things. In fact, it might even have a more negative effect, because it could force kids out of the park and onto the streets where injuries might even be more likely," Litke said. A "positive" ticketing campaign is also proposed, whereby those wearing helmets could receive one of 100 to 150 discount coupons from local board shops and other youth-oriented businesses to be distributed each month.Coun. John Vassilaki said he supports the proposed bylaw, but wondered why it couldn't be implemented sooner. He said most skaters likely won't wear a helmet until they are forced to do so.City staff will review the proposed bylaw further before it is officially adopted by council after review in its 2007 budget deliberations to ensure adequate resources are allocated for enforcement. Although youth ambassadors at the skateboard park would encourage helmet use, they would not be directly involved in enforcement of the regulations.