Is it illegal to skateboard on the sidewalk, or just frowned upon? Do people actually get tickets for that?
It is indeed illegal to skateboard on the sidewalk, and you can get ticketed for doing so. According to section 100(a) of the San Francisco Traffic Code, it’s unlawful for any person “upon roller skates or riding in or by means of any coaster, skateboard, toy vehicle or other similar device to go upon any sidewalk in any, business district or upon any roadway within the City and County of San Francisco.”
Since 100(a) states “any roadway,” the definition of a business district isn’t really necessary, but I thought it was interesting: according to the Police Code, a business district is “that area adjacent to a public street in which: (1) 50 percent or more of the property fronting upon one side of the street, for a distance of 600 feet, is occupied by structures in use for commercial purposes; or, (2) 50 percent or more of the property fronting upon both sides of the street, considered together and for a distance of 300 feet, is occupied by structures in use for commercial purposes” (Police Code Article 4, sec 366).
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