Enriching Public Space
Principle 1: Educate Yourself
If you want to practice and experience parkour in public spaces to the fullest, you need to take education and learning in your own hands. A lot of people are stuck in the myth that training outdoors is dangerous – and it definitely can be. However adequate preparation begins with the right information; which in turn will help you to accomplish your goals and to exercising safely.
Are you familiar with your personal rights? What do you know about the spot you’re training in? Do you share these tips with friends? Like other sports, a good athlete must learn to play by the rules of the game to win. Education equips practitioners with the rules to navigate both the expected and unexpected challenges that may come with training in public spaces.
In this day and age, it is very easy to obtain the information you need to learn about safe practices or public safety. Few people take full advantage of these opportunities. If you are one of the few that would like to enrich public spaces and build strong advocates for parkour, knowledge is the way.
Know Your Rights
Before you can stand up for your rights, you need to know them! How are your personal rights protected? Are you able to freely exercise in any public space? There are universal rights for all of us, regardless of our nationality, gender, race, religion; and there are national rights that protect those residing in their respective countries. Understanding your rights gives you the freedom to choose how and where you train and the protections for equality, justice, and peace.
It is up to you to know what your basic rights are, how to exercise them, and what to do when those rights are violated. Knowledge is the strongest tool to carry before, during, and after interacting with local authorities. Where appropriate, we also suggest learning about local laws and ordinances to better be equipped for training outdoors. Inform yourself on what is happening and the potential threats and opportunities.
Know Your Space
It occurs to us that many practitioners do not give planning enough time. What happens most is that they just head outside to a spot and rely on what may happen. Being a parkour practitioner, you would definitely like to plan for your training beforehand. Whether you are practicing alone or in a group, planning in advance is the way to make the best use of your time. This is where knowing your public space matters most.
In addition to getting outdoors for stress relief and fresh air – there are just as many reasons to know about your local training ground as there are reasons to visit them. Think about the things you may need to consider before visiting a public space to run, jump, or climb – what’s the weather like? Are there any property restrictions? How secure is the area? Is there lots of pedestrian traffic? What do I want to do? The better prepared you are in knowing about the spaces you plan to train in, the safer and more enjoyable your sessions will be.
Share Information
How can you safeguard and promote the practices of parkour in outdoor spaces? Share information to help spread knowledge among your friends and training partners. Online forums have been important to the spread of parkour since the early 2000’s. The push for open discussions has led to the growth of parkour practices and acceptance. What hotspots are safe to train at? Is there a sweet buildering challenge in this one spot or great precisions at another? Giving information to others allows them to know the best spots to practice safely, how to leave no trace, or what to do when stopped by local authorities. Openness for and with the parkour community will strengthen local relationships and promote strong advocates.
- Respect the privacy of others
- Be open and honest
- Share with consent
- Consider safety
Enriching Public Space - The Six Principles
Click Any to Learn More
EDUCATE
YOURSELF
PRACTICE
RESPONSIBILITY
SHARE ACCESS
WITH THE
PUBLIC
COORDINATE
WITH
OTHERS
ESTABLISH
REGULARITY
BE
APPROACHABLE
OVERCOME OBSTACLES WITH ENSO MOVEMENT