BROTHERS FIGHT FOR RIGHTS OF BMX BIKERS.Byline: Jennifer Jennifer became a common first name for females in English-speaking countries during the 20th century. The name Jennifer is a Cornish variant of Guinevere, deriving ultimately from Proto-Celtic *windo-seibaro- "white ghost", via Brythonic *wino-hibirā (cf. Hamm Staff Writer All that brothers Steven and Neil Scofield want is a place to ride their BMX BMX abbr. bicycle motocross BMX Noun 1. bicycle motocross: stunt riding over an obstacle course on a bicycle 2. bikes. Now, having persuaded the City Council to appoint them to a city panel designing a new Burbank skate skate, fish: see ray. skate Any of nine genera (suborder Rajoidea) of rounded to diamond-shaped rays. These bottom-dwellers are found from tropical to near-Arctic waters and from the shallows to depths of more than 9,000 ft (2,700 m). park, they have a chance to fight for the rights of their BMX brethren. `It really stinks that skateboarders and Rollerbladers have a place to go but BMX bikers don't,'' Steven Scofield, 20, said Thursday. ``I want to push these guys because we need a place,'' he said. The city prohibits BMX bikers from using the temporary skate facility set up at Valley Park. A state law exempts cities from being sued if someone breaks an arm on a skateboard at a city facility but leaves the city open to liability if he or she breaks the same bone on a BMX bike. The Scofield brothers complained to the City Council this week that the situation amounts to discrimination against BMX riders. City officials say they are in a bind. They can either give the BMX bikers free rein free rein n. Unlimited freedom to act or make decisions: gave me free rein to reorganize the department. Noun 1. in the park and open themselves up to lawsuits or protect themselves from potentially costly litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. . ``It is a risky activity, and the city should not be liable,'' said Mary J. Alvord, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation. Neil Scofield, 16, said he knows about the law but still wants the city to make it possible for BMX lovers to ride safely. ``Bikers, skateboarders, rollerbladers all go together,'' said Neil. ``A lot of my friends ride (BMX bikes). What are we supposed to do?'' Up until a year ago, the brothers and their friends used dirt trails in Burbank to practice tricks and stunts. But the trails were plowed plow also plough n. 1. A farm implement consisting of a heavy blade at the end of a beam, usually hitched to a draft team or motor vehicle and used for breaking up soil and cutting furrows in preparation for sowing. 2. . That prompted Steven Scofield to ask the City Council a year ago why the trails were eliminated and what was going to be done to accommodate BMX riders. But he got no response. Since then, the small group of riders has been biking around town late at night, using closed businesses for their practice ground. ``The cops pull us over. We tell them we're riding,'' said Steven Scofield. ``They never believe us.'' Along with riding around town, the BMX bikers also travel weekly to Ventura County to use a private park, where they have to pay to use the facilities. ``Recently, we got sick of it,'' said Steven Scofield, who has been riding for six years. City officials say they are paying attention Noun 1. paying attention - paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people); "his attentiveness to her wishes"; "he spends without heed to the consequences" attentiveness, heed, regard now and want to accommodate BMX bikers, although they have no estimate as to how many there are in Burbank. The new skate - and biking - panel is expected to begin meeting this month. Youngsters looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a place to practice their BMX tricks are probably common to every city, said Alvord, but she knows of no municipality MUNICIPALITY. The body of officers, taken collectively, belonging to a city, who are appointed to manage its affairs and defend its interests. that has tried to tackle setting up a BMX-friendly facility. As plans proceed to make the park a permanent site for boarders, bladers and eventually bikers, the city will also have to deal with the liability issue, said Alvord. ``The kids are doing it anyway,'' she said. ``The smart thing to do is set aside facilities. We're not being really responsible if we don't provide something.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Steven Scofield, 20, left, and his brother Neil, 16, feel that BMX bikers are discriminated against by not being allowed in Valley Park. Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer |
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