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Regarding the new anti-self-propelled-device ordinance, may I ask for some clarification? The Times reported Feb. 25 ("Gainesville councilwoman clears air on skateboarding ordinance") that "Councilwoman Myrtle Figueras wants to make sure residents understand the meaning of the ordinance."
Three additional quotes from the same article follow:
"The ordinance prohibits riding animals, bicycles as well as coasters, roller skates and similar devices used for self-transportation on public sidewalks and in public squares, public parking lots and decks."
"Riding bikes, animals and skateboards already is prohibited on sidewalks in the city limits, but the ordinance extends the prohibition to public areas where people have been known to skateboard."
And from Figueras: "I just need everybody to know in Gainesville, Ga., that no matter how it's reported ... the ordinance did not say that you could not ride a bicycle on the square; it did not say that you cannot push a baby in a stroller on the square; it did not say that you can't even come downtown. I think that people love to have an exploration on words and make words into something (they're) not."
Now I might be accused of having an "exploration on words" here, but, according to The Times' article, the ordinance prohibits riding bicycles in "public squares." The article then quotes Ms. Figueras saying, "the ordinance did not say that you could not ride a bicycle on the square."
Hmmm. Maybe I already know the answer, but I was just thinking of the old adage, "When they outlaw skateboards, only outlaws will have skateboards."
Kerry Buffington
Gainesville