Skateboarder protest on Schelde Quays
Skateboarders yesterday launched a protest against the ‘skate stoppers’ that the city authorities recently installed on the Schelde Quays in Antwerp. Skate stoppers are metal plates that hamper skateboarding at a particular area.
“There are skateboarders, who live around the corner. Everyday they come here to exercise their favourite sport. The skate stoppers prevent this. We believe a solution should be found that suits the youngsters as well as walkers” says Amina Vandenheuvel of Redfox, the youth league of the far-left Labour Party.
The city authorities are suggesting the creation of a skatepark in the neighbourhood, but that will take two years to get up and running. For skateboarder Finlay this isn’t an option: “Skateboarding is an expression of creativity for many of us. In a skatepark all you can do is follow a pre-designed route. Skateboarding in the city is important. The skate stoppers bring it to a halt!”
So far 1,300 people have signed up to a petition against the skate stoppers.