After skate accidents in Vellmar: Who is responsible?

After skate accidents in Vellmar: Who is responsible?

After a serious incident in the Skate'n'Bike Park in Vellmar, in which two children suffered injuries after falling from a ramp, there is great unrest in the region. The parents of the affected children have filed a lawsuit against the city of Vellmar because they believe that it neglected its duty to secure the danger zone after an initial accident. In proceedings before the Kassel regional court, it will now be clarified whether the city acted negligently. The incident has also put the safety situation of the skate parks in the Kassel district to the test. HNA reports that other municipalities, such as Niestetal and Lohfelden, assure that they have not had any serious accidents at their facilities and that they carry out regular safety checks by specialist personnel.

In Fuldabrück, however, a broken arm was reported to be the most serious injury. However, the mayor there is convinced that the skate park is well built and safe. There are no notable incidents reported in Hofgeismar either, apart from isolated minor injuries. The new systems in Habichtswald, which were only built in 2023, have passed the required safety test by TÜV and there are no known accidents. Here too, a special test is planned after the incidents in Vellmar. All municipalities emphasize that use of the skate parks is at your own risk and that parents have a duty of supervision.

Increasing user numbers and new challenges

However, the situation in Vellmar is not isolated. In many cities in Germany, such as Bayreuth, Gießen, Tuttlingen and Jena, conflicts in municipal skate parks are growing. It is often children in particular who populate the skate parks with scooters, bobby cars or mini bikes, causing accidents and dangerous situations. An example from Poland shows how fatal such incidents can be: There was a fatal accident there when a BMX rider tried to avoid a child on a scooter. So the uncertainty about safety in skate parks is an issue that concerns many parents. The expertise of DSGN CONCEPTS highlights that many parents are often unaware of the dangers of uncontrolled children in these areas.

The popularity of roller sports has increased in recent years, and the Olympic recognition of skateboarding has further fueled this development. This meant that skate parks are often the last places open, while many other sports facilities had to remain closed due to corona. DIN EN 14974 also stipulates a minimum age of eight years for the use of skate parks, which further fuels the debate about the safety and accessibility of skate parks.

Suggestions to improve the situation

In response to the increased number of users and the associated challenges, DSGN CONCEPTS proposes to create roller play areas that combine elements of playgrounds and skate parks. There are already successful examples in cities like Hemer and Leipzig that could offer possible solutions to overcrowding in skate parks. It could help municipalities to closely monitor local conditions and, if necessary, work out compromises to make the use of skate parks safer for everyone, without leading to a ban on scooters etc., which should be viewed as a last option. This could be done through usage time regulations or staff support, for example by street workers, in order to promote peaceful coexistence in the skate parks.