6 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago Maine city votes to ban skateboarding Play video

(Amy Sinclair, NECN: Portland, Maine) - During the summer, exchange street in Portland's old port is a busy mix of tourists, business people, cars, bikes, and... Skateboarders.

Aaron: "this is a nice smooth street right in the old port next to our hang out spots."

But shop owners say the skaters have turned the busy street into a virtual skate park

Many of the skaters are into what's called "sliding"---- using gloved hands to slow, turn, and do tricks on skateboards.

Jerry: "It affects our business people come in and say why do they allow this. Customers come in..."

Not surprisingly, the skating community disagrees

Aaron: "we have people lining up taking photos. Kids love it!"

But after years of merchant complaints and calls to police, the city council voted Monday to ban skating on the busiest section of exchange for the rest of the year.

Mavadones: "I supported it primarily because it's a public safety issue."

Councilor Mavadones says he worried that someone -either a skater or bystander--could get hurt. Skateboarding advocates say the ban doesn't address the real problem.

"if the ban doesn't work, the city may turn to stone. As in cobblestones. repaving the smooth street with cobblestones would put a quick end to skateboarding."

Andrew: "I'm upset this is one of my favorite streets to skate"

But merchants are breathing a sigh of relief. Hope that few skateboarders will

The city has approved a new location for a skate park, but most of the funds are being raised privately and it may be years before the park is built.