SUBJECT: PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AT SOMERSET SKATE PARK

*Skate park users may refer to skateboarders, longboarders, bmx riders, scooter riders, etc.

Being a regular visitor of Somerset Skate Park and a user of its facilities, I can't help but notice a persistent problem in the area. The safety of both the park users and the pedestrians are constantly at risk! To be honest, for years that I've been going there I haven't seen a slightest improvement with the situation.

So what risk am I actually talking about?

You see, non-skate park users are pretty much free to roam around the park. I'm talking about pedestrians. Pedestrians, who in my opinion are oblivious to the danger they are posing to themselves and the users of the park every time they walk across it.

Just what dangers do they actually face?

1.  Getting knocked down by skateboarders, rollerbladers, bmx riders.
2. Tripping on skateboards, bmx (bicycles) and whatnot on the floor.
3. When skate park users cross paths with pedestrians and they feel that their safety is being compromised, the latter usually end up outraged. This is a very recipe for arguments/fights!
4. Numerous skate park users have a 'bad habit' of parking their motorcycles within the park's vicinity and sometimes even riding in the park. And accidents do happen! Not very good for both the skate park users and pedestrians.
5. Second-hand smoke. Let's face it, smoking is part and parcel of life in the skate park. Although, it doesn't directly affect safety, the health of non-smokers of both non-skate park and skate park users is affected.

The list of dangers within the skate park is really long but I feel that these are the main problems that need special attention.