I find this whole thing funny in a disgusted sort of way.
When I was racing BMX in the early- mid '80s, I could ride all over town without ever getting a second glance. Keep in mind I graduated high school in '82 and was 6' 1" 180 lubs, so it wasn't the typical little kid on a bike rolling around the neighborhood. No hassles... ever.
I also liked to ride skateboards. That was a different story. People giving me grief all the time. Cops pulling me over for no reason, etc.
We had two BMX tracks in town and it seemed like everybody had a bike.
The city counsel got together with some high profile residents and banned ramps in a person's own backyard. When concerned parents approached the city counsel about getting a place to ride skateboards for the community, it was a no-go. Liability issues are what they claimed. Too many safety issues.
Fast forward to the present and we still have two BMX tracks, but we also have a couple of nifty skateparks in two of the city parks here. Helmets are not required (what happened to liability?) No age limits. Supervision not required. But, no bicycles allowed. BMXers and parents hit up the city counsel about a place to ride for the BMXers. Sorry. No can do. Can we ride on certain days at the skateparks that are already there? Nope. Too dangerous.
Go figure. It is all in the current state of things. Whatever is perceived as the "thug" activity at the time, is the one that gets the shaft.
I guess that's what we get for Tony Hawk being a successful business man...