FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

The BMX freestyle community, which is typically a straight edge and working class community, feels outcast since it has nowhere to go where its interaction with the community is accepted, including its natural setting of the streets, yet is an important part of the creative community.  It has been well documented that the rising creative class majority takes part in the more individualized sports such as BMX and skateboarding.  The class’s presence in an area, according to Richard Florida (Author: ”The Rise of The Creative Class”, Florida is the Hirst Professor of Public Policy at George Mason University, a senior scientist with the Gallup Organization, and a Senior Fellow with the Brookings Institution. He has taught regional economic development at Carnegie Mellon University, and has been a visiting professor at MIT and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government), actually predicts economic and positive social growth.  As well the decrease in crime seemed to correlate with the presence of these activities in public settings in VanCouver, the only legal city to ride or skate in North America.

These subcultures can be used as a tool to influence public space design and build positive social capital within neighborhoods.  Also they directly address the increasing regulations on public space and parks that has affected more than just the BMX and skateboard community.  In order to empower the BMX community to control its own destiny, the not for profit BMX activist group is starting here in Philadelphia to advocate the communities positive use of public space. 

This group will try to strengthen and empower the local BMX community to offer its concerns and designs for its future by working together as well as with SAN (skateboard advocacy network).  Its first project is to give to the city a network of public parks where positive cultural and neighborhood activities occur including but not only BMX and skateboarding.  By offering the city a positive, feasible and necessary solution to fill its urban voids and to strengthen its communities, it will be the first step in the BMX community giving back to the city.

-John Murray 

John Murray is starting a group in Philly called BMXactivists and he needs your help:

We are trying to present communities with positive designs for BMX in the public setting in Philadelphia.  We as BMXers are taking it upon our selves to help solve Philadelphia's vacant land epidemic through a network of parks which serve the community as well as advocate the use
of BMX.

I am trying to get as much support as possible from inside and outside of Philly, as well hope to bring this idea to other cities in the future. We are looking for passionate people to join the board and participate in getting the BMX community together here n Philly.  If you know anyone who would be interested let me know. As well if you are interested or have questions let me know.

Thanks for your time,

John Murray
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732-674-3483