SkateStoppers skater deterrents

It's hard enough to get your turbo on trying to thrash closed parks and secret backalley bowls, but installing anti-skater devices to otherwise completely grindable surfaces doesn't only make us think you're totally siding with The Man, but it's downright dangerous for skaters who shouldn't happen to see 'em. Granted, we're not experts in liability law, but any way you cut the deck the war between municipal (and business) property and skaters just got a whole lot more ugly, and we just hope anyone caught installing SkateStoppers is prepared to step to what they gonna get in return.

[Via Core77]

[Ryan Block @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

This one goes out to my main turbro Robb. Big ups yoself!

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

The railings around the civic center in my town have had these things for years. They installed them, and then a few months later they built a brand new skate park not even 300 feet away. Skaters usually seem to find a way around them though.

[Mr Yuk @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

See http://www.skatestoppers.com/The_Problem.htm
I would be bummed too if my granite curb was trashed in the name of "skaters freedom". The Starfish shaped skatestopper isn't half bad, but still shouldn't be necessary.

[wxrman @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Skaters have rights, but defacing public property outweighs their right to grind granite... if they can do that, then I'm going to be doing "donuts" in the town square, tonight...

... all in the name of FREEDOM!!!!

[Rich @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

This is really old. What urban surface doesn't have these already? They've certainly been ubiquitous in Philly for many years.

The true need depends on the surface and material. I've definitely seen some edges *destroyed* by skateboards, and others made very ugly. Other materials seem to withstand it much better.

[Tony Hock @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Rippin dude. Is this the year 1991? Woah time warp. Lets get turbro!!

[djSyndrome @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

"and we just hope anyone caught installing SkateStoppers is prepared to step to what they gonna get in return."

There's nothing to "step to". If you're injured while riding on private property, especially in areas where there is a legal ordinance preventing it, it's your own damn fault.

Not only do I question whether this belongs on Engadget, I question where the author's mind is in the first place.

[ben @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

"but installing anti-skater devices... it�s downright dangerous for skaters who shouldn�t happen to see �em."

uh, there's already an inherent danger to grinding, there is no way a kid who gets hurt from one of those has any right to sue- he's the one commiting the crime. That's like saying a burglar has the right to sue a homeowner should he get bit by their dog when breaking into their house

[Peter Pan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

american way of life... like they think they can ban skaters from parks, they think they can solve the terrorist problems by putting some terrorists in jails.. maybe try it with communication and democracy..

[Curtis Onstott @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I doubt you would have much of a case if you were injured by one of these.... If you run into my door trying to skate into my house...

[Foof @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

This is a good thing. I'm all for grinding, but do it on your own property or get your city to set up a skate park. Grinding rips up granite, concrete, wood, whatever the surface happens to be made of. That fucking sucks when it's on public or (someone else's) private property.

Besides, I'm sure there are liability concerns from kids getting hurt while grinding - this is at least as serious as concerns of liability from grinders not seeing the skatestoppers (and I bet more plentiful).

[Zepolcire @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Ya this type of deterent is old. In San Diego, they have had these things for 10-15 years already. Not only that, they also pour the conrete walls with indentations in them that accomplish the same thing.

[chris @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Nobody has a 'right', legal or ethical, to skate on private property without permission. And public property managers have every right to defend facilities and structures against damage by people who skate without permission as well.

This sense of entitlement ('skateboarding isn't a crime, therefore I can deface property wherever I fucking want to') is what's WRONG with the sport. If you're a fan of skateboarding, you ought to be highlighting the ways people can engage in it WITHOUT defacing property that belongs to other people. Otherwise nobody, including me, will give a shit when you get hurt.

Now that I think about it, perhaps owners of properties subject to recurring damage from skaters ought to hire snipers. It'd probably be more effective than little metal bars that make stonework less attractive.

[Gareth Burleigh @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

As a skater for 16 years now Im sad to see these things are now starting to crop up in the UK (as well as hefty on the spot fines). I understand to a degree why these are put up, but whats worse a bit of paint and metal on a ledge or ugly lumps of steel every foot. Plus wont sue we understand the risks, its when somebody shins themselves on the edges or a toddler trips and rips its cheek half off.

[ed @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

What are you talking about Peter Pan, banning skaters from parks? These skate stoppers are put onto "municipal (and business) property." And how did terrorists and the "american way of life" come about? I'm from Toronto and it's pretty regular to see skate stoppers on ledges.

[the @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

hey, #8, fuck you, skateboarding is not a crime.

[Cletus @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I personally think it would be hilarious to see some skater to unknowingly grind on an edge with one of those things attached and watch him go flying when he hits one. I know this sounds sick, but who wouldn't wanna see that?

[Nogami @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

These are already installed all over the place in Vancouver.

If you wanna skateboard, do it in a skateboard park, there are lots of them around.

[sunz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

'the'

vandalism' is a crime ..

'ben'

oddly enough i think if you break into someone's house and get bitten by their dog, you can sue. Just like you can see if you grab the goods and make it to the front door and the owner shoots you. also you can sue if the owner shoots you and you can prove you were not threatening them or that they had no reason to fear you .. oddly enough .. lol

not that i've ever been in any of those situations.

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

PREFACE: I am not a skater. I tried it in summer camp once when I was 12.

In reply to #7 and #8, djSyndrome and ben:

Please read the following paragraph and draw your own conclusions:

February 2-4 -- Crime does pay. Settling a lawsuit, the city of Denver has agreed to pay $1.2 million to teenager DeShawn Hollis, "who was shot by the police three years ago, moments after he had burglarized a house." (Michael Janofsky, "Denver to Pay $1.2 Million to Young Burglar Shot by the Police", New York Times, Jan. 31)


The link on my name will take you to the website. Of course grinding is dangerous, but most people who grind in public places have experience pulling off these kinds of stunts. I, for one, wouldn't want a public park to be my first fall while grinding - I would die from embarassment.

As for the corporations or the city being responsible for the actions of "stupid people"... well, search for yourself. There are plenty of examples where officials were held responsible for the consequential actions of others.

Soon we'll be hearing: "Hello - I'm O'Brien, welcome to Oceania."

=)

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

#15: It's not a crime, but if skaters can't do it with consideration to other people, maybe it should be made a crime.

[countzen @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I don't get it. Skaters have their own legal place to deface as much as they want, so why do they wanna go around destroying other peoples stuff?

And what's wrong with people trying to portect their own property?

[evlfred @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

As a skater from way back, and a business manager for a good sized business, I can see both sides of the aurgument. A few months ago we had to ask some skaters to leave the property as the where skating and grinding on our property, I asked them to stop, I was very polite, hell I was one of them for years. All I got was aruguments and alot of swearing out of them till I finally threatend to call the cops. If it was an abandoned lot I could care less, but these guys where skating around brand new cars, some worth $80,000 or more, one slip and it's easy to do thousands of damage. It's nice to be able to skate where you want, it's also irrisponsible and rediculous to expect someone else to pay for damage to thier property. Skating is not a crime, skating on private property without permission is tresspassing and vandelism, and both ARE crimes.

[Johnny @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

These things are the moral equivilant of tree spikes. I don't like skaters ruining beautiful granite, but I'm not willing to cripple them over it.

[Pete @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

well, i'm just happy that it's illeagle to put these skatestoppers on handrails, cauze doing so would violate a bunch a building codes about sharp objects and how there's suppose to be a min amount of space between "interuptions" on hand rails.

[Will @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Ryan: You mean "skater" deterrent, not "staker" deterrent, no?

[Don @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

#21, Actually, many times there are either NO facilities, public or private. For the money spent on installing these ugly menaces (which I could remove quickly with a cordless drill anyway), a decent facility could get started.

When I skated public places, I actually made deals with the yard staff to pick up trash in exchange for a no-hassle ride. We always tried to leave the place as good as we found it.

If a good public park is available ( that is not a 4-foot wide launch ramp at the side of a basketball court, BTW) then I agree that people should utilize them. In huge numbers, it seems they do - Some cities that have installed parks have had to expand them soon after opening as they underestimated the demand.

In the wave of rising obesity, anything that gets kids off their ass is welcome. If I have to see some paint on a ledge to prevent paying for a nation of butter-trolls, so be it.

Also, for those legal eagles here, no one needs a "right" to sue. I could file a lawsuit to anyone here just because you posted here and offended my sensibilities. Sure, it would be frivolous, and I'd lose, and the judge might even allow you to sue for counter-damages - but in any case, anyone can file a civil suit for anything.

[TheCash @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Hey #15: Fyi although skating isn't a crime, defacing public or private property by grinding in it with a skateboard or rollerblades is, and that's kind of the point of these things. In the spirit of letting everyone do what they want though, I'll be over tonight to spin brodie's on your lawn with my truck cuz driving a truck isn't illegal right?
Whoever wrote this arcticle needs to keep their political views to themselves cuz we don't really give a crap about your hippy outlook.

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Of course Skating is not a crime, however destroying public and private property is. If the owners of that property don't want skaters there they should be allowed to install deterrents.

#25
Does this also mean repainting rails or benches?

[TheCash @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

#25 how does installing these things stop the star wars lightsaber kid from doing some push ups? Besides if you feel so strongly about the subject why not get those skaters out on the streets with donation jars and, I dunno, maybe fix the problem themselves instead of being the problem? Crazy I know but it just might work!

[neale @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

i rollerblade, and a lot of you dont seem to understand these things. its those fucking bmx's and your metal trucks that fuck up the ledges. why the hell arent trucks made of the same plastic as my frames are? they dont damage anything. and for those damn bikes - they can get screwed

[thetrash @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I bought one of these to fix the twelve dead pixels on my PSP

[matt hines @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

alright i didnt really care about all the other crap on their site, because all skaters know what skate stoppers do and how they do it. But what really got to me was that they said before any skatepark is built they should be contacted. That is just retarded!!! I dont see the point of them knowing that another park is going to get built.

[SR @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Sydney Australia city is totally locked down with this stuff. No skate park for miles as well..! IIRC

[Jesse @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

#23, it is not illegal to put things similar to this on hand rails. The hand rails at the university I attend have a system to prevent skaters from grinding or sliding on them, and all the buildings there pass the code.

[sunz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

why do people always call out the numbers of the post .. i think they change throughtout the day ... depending on when people like me can verify out comments ...

[sunz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

ooops .. 'verify our comments'

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

"There's nothing to "step to". If you're injured while riding on private property, especially in areas where there is a legal ordinance preventing it, it's your own damn fault."

There have been legal cases in which trespassers who've broken and entered, have sued after being injured inside the premise they we're intending to burglarize... And they've even won!

You can sue for anything in this country, and people do...

[Cuba @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

"hey, #8, fuck you, skateboarding is not a crime."

No, but damaging property is, which is exacly what skaters are doing whether that is their intent or not.

[roy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I think it's very difficult for non skaters to understand the situation through a skater's mind. The only thing we care about your carefully crafted piece of rock is how well it grinds. Our sense of value is obviously different from the owner's. I think a good comparison is graffiti. Graffiti artists don't care that they are 'defacing' someone's property. They are doing it for their own reasons, usually it's an artistic expression. The same goes for skateboarding.

I've skated in front of some of the richest buildings in New York City (and probably the world, sadly) and all I really worried about was landing my trick. I value a perfectly timed movement of body and board alot more than how a piece of rock looks in front of your building.

I don't expect you to understand my art but I'm going to do it anyway. And I understand that if I get caught I'm going to get a fist to my jaw or my board exchanged for a big fat ticket.

There will never be a solution to this situation, it will remain as long as there are street skaters and people who place value in the oddest of things.

[eMarrs @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

all i have to say, is kids are gonna get Fux0Red UP!

"those things wont do shit, just watch ..."
or "lets just steal those things, and figure out a way to use them against them. Maybe we should take them all off with our crowbars (you say we dont have them?) and drop a "load" in their public restrooms inside. "


It may work, but not to the outright enraged individuals who feel it is their right to skate. Its like taking your kids car away, then telling him to mow the grass after he takes out the garbage. -the kid will not cooperate, and instead find something else (but thse skaters DO love their skating, so I doubt they will up and leave it) or the kid will call a friend with a car ov3r, and win in his own little way.

the point- these COULD work, but WILL they work? remember, it only takes ONE BAD doughnut for a cop to refuse a whole dozen.

-think about that

[Andrew @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I'm sensing a lot of skater backlash on here. Society has this negative connotation towards skaters being hippies, potheads, vandals, etc. But all the skaters I grew up with became truely upstanding Christian citizens. We only skated public settings because we had no place to go. And to this day, the closest skatepark to my hometown is over an hour away. I think Don's comment said it best. We should be glad kids are getting exercise. Skateboarding is no different than baseball. Every now and then you get a busted out window, heh.

A lot of people probably won't see this comment but it's just really discouraging that skaters get such a bad rep. Just a few weeks ago, we had a soccer player get stabbed six times just because of a stupid school rivalry. And football players are the main source of drugs, alcohol, and teenage pregnancy here. That's okay though, because everybody loves traditional sports.

As far as the legal thing goes, the property owner can be held liable for anything that happens on that property. So if I walked into your yard and fell, I could sue you. Even if it's my fault. It's RIDICULOUS how our legal system works.

If anyone wants to argue with me or learn more, just click on my site and IM me.

[James @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Apparently you've never had $30,000 worth of granite destroyed by a bunch of burnout tresspassers. Punji sticks would be more appropriate.

[Carlos @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I've seen these around town for quite a while and I must say I'm glad they are there. My reasons are basically the same as everyone else's, vandalism and damage to property of another person. And plus, skateboarding is annoying even if they aren't grinding on something.

I feel nothing if someone were to not pay attention and do a "trick" up on a bench with these and fall face-first into the asphalt. Public menaces, I'd say ;)

[Dave @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Also, fat people on wooden benches. Warps the wood. Should be outlawed.

People who smoke outside. Hurts the environment. Should be outlawed.

Trees that spread pollen. I'm allergic. Should be cut down.

People having fun. I don't get to have fun. Should be outlawed.

[Andrew @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Are you some sort of granite distributor or something? Why is that even necessary to put that much in front of your business? If you can afford to waste money like that, you can certainly afford to fix it. Hey, let's just cover the sidewalks with gold while we're at it.

Thirty grand isn't enough for a public park, but it's surely a good start. People should be contributing to a solution, rather than complaining about it. Even if you don't support public parks, with that kind of money, you could hire a security guard or something.

[Andrew @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

And to contribute to the actual story... These things have been used for years and people always find ways around them whether it be removing the stoppers with tools or placing flat boards over obstacles. I don't condone any of that, but my point is that skate-prevention products are a waste of money.

[Marc @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

These have been around for atleast 5 years now.. I remember first seeing them in Irvine, California - home of the heartless and sterile

[Phillip Hilton @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

"we just hope anyone caught installing SkateStoppers is prepared to step to what they gonna get in return."

Which is what exactly? A bulls%&$ lawsuit? I love that 'we' bit too......who exactly do you mean 'me,myself and I?'. Because from the vast majority of comments you can tell you are pretty much on your own.

People need to start taking responsibility for their own actions. Judges need to clamp down on this kind of crap. If I was presiding over this kind of ridiculous case where some chump had bust himself up on one of these devices the conversation would go a little something like this.......

'And you are suing the defendant because?'
"I'm suing him and his facist company because while I was exersizing my rights by trespassing on his property I hit a newly installed piece of metal, fell off the railing I was skating on and broke my neck. Now I want millions of dollars in damages because 'its my right'"
'Really? Did you have permisson to be there'
"No, but thats not the point because I can go where I like and do as I wish. So I entered the property illegally and did just that"
'Really? Tough s$%& then....enjoy your new set of four wheels.'
"But my life has been ruined by this company's ridiculous policy of protecting their own property from skate related wear and tear........where is my hand out.....they owe me"
'No you ruined your life and then tried to make someone else pay for your mistake. Try begging in the street or getting a job. Now someone wheel this ignorant little s%&$ sack out of my sight. Next case please'

Judges in civil suits need to be more pragmatic.........and people need to be aware of the consequences of their own stupid behaviour. Nuff said........

[Foof @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

38, about your comment about people placing value in the oddest of things: are you talking about people placing value in expensive granite slabs, or skaters/graffitists placing value in the expression of their art? Because it sounds like it goes both ways.