degggendorf

t1_jdhyrhx wrote

> . I responded that places like that generally ban such activities to avoid the liability issue.

Except they don't.

> There are exceptions, but Lincoln Woods being one doesn’t change the general trend.

What's your evidence of that "general trend"? As a rule, public parks allow all nonmotorized transportation.

RI law: "No person shall operate or ride a bicycle, scooter, skate board or other operator propelled vehicle or device in any unit or portion thereof, of the Division of Parks & Recreation after the Regional Manager has made a finding that conditions are unsafe for the operation of such vehicles and has issued an order prohibiting such activity."

Meaning nonmotorized is allowed everywhere by default, and only not allowed where specifically banned.

If you have some data showing how often certain activities are specifically banned, please do share.

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t1_jdhglrh wrote

> That being said, I can see how making a state owned motocross area could have a lot of issues like this come up.

For sure; that will certainly ramp up the severity of both bodily and property damage.

I wonder how close to profitable a private business could be. $1 lease of that land from the state, modest amount of capital investment in track fencing, signage, clubhouse, track building/maintenance. Significant investment in security and insurance. What would someone pay, $40 for a 4-hour session? Then a clubhouse slinging $5 tall boys of Gansett after your session is over (strictly enforced) to pad the profits. It seems almost conceivable, but also, I know nothing.

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t1_jdhdag2 wrote

Oh yeah, good analogy with sledding. I kept thinking about mountain biking which is allowed (and expressly encouraged) in a bunch of municipal parks around, and which also must have a pretty healthy injury rate too...but I guess not as high as sledding...?

Does the state actually have any liability beyond gross negligence in state parks? I guess I've just been assuming it's all at your own risk, and that I can't get the state to pay my bill if I trip while hiking and break a pinky finger.

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t1_jdg3d8r wrote

>Places like Yellowstone and Lincoln Woods generally ban skateboarding in large part to avoid liability issues.

Skateboarding is 100% allowed in Lincoln Woods, what are you talking about? Not really a stellar venue for it, but it's allowed. All sorts of other potentially dangerous activities are expressly encouraged there too...mountain biking, horseback riding, pond skating, etc.

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t1_jcf85d7 wrote

Electric supply is deregulated in our state, you are free to choose a different supplier.

RIE has a monopoly on distribution, which is why any distribution charges they charge have a capped ROI (essentially, profit) percentage, approved by the PUC. Whether they are taking a fair ROI is a matter of opinion, but I personally see any external profitability as unreasonable; it's a universal need, it should be run by the municipality and not turn a profit, just like our water, sewer, road, etc. systems. That said, if we're stuck with a commercial model, them taking (IIRC) 5% profit seems at least less bad than it could be.

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