lowly person on my way back to San Jose, official, and is not afraid of legal consequences after being banned from the city for 36 years. Led by council member Raul PeralezThe San Jose city council recently voted to repeal a 36-year ban on establishing “No Excursions” zones across the Bay Area in 1986, ostensibly to curb gang violence and crime. related, but is really nothing more than an excuse to stop Mexicans from driving Chevy Impalas, Bel Air and Chevelles.
The history of San Jose’s low-riders and that of the Mexican-American community that made them after World War II is fraught with tension, but after more than three decades, the city is finally accepting custom cars. special tuning. I encourage you to read this new article from Atlas Obscura about the return of these machines are painted sweet apple red and lovingly modified to drive low and slow on white walls and spoked wheels. Even if you’re not a born fan of lowly person (like myself) at least it’s clear that owners feel the love for these classics is the very definition of car fascination.
The map article about how low riders have become cultural icons in California and the rest of the United States, if not world. But the best part is the affinity many people in San Jose feel for cars that aren’t stuck in the past. Lovers of avant-garde art cars have waited their time, keeping the culture alive through clubs and meetings that aren’t illegal but lack the “low and slow” journey. made these cars famous in the first place.
Indeed, the argument on which Raul Peralez relied to call for the repeal of a specific section of California’s traffic code – to which the “No Crusing” road signs are famously referred to – was formulated. about 20 years: Peralez argues that traveling by your car is unlikely. enough to make someone a criminal, and, nevertheless, that is the duty set for low class drivers until they are relegated to the parking lot:
Although the ban was passed in the mid-1980s, Peralez still remembers his car club excursions in the late ’90s. But that all changed when police began closing some roads. city. “You can’t really enjoy sailing as fast as you used to,” Peralez said.
Peralez says the ban is used as an excuse to entice anyone to look like they’re part of a certain culture. “The focus should and should be on criminal activity that can actually happen,” he said. “Not the act of driving your classic car slowly through the streets.” […]
Peralez realizes that it has been more than 20 years since the police actually issued tickets for the journey, proof that the law doesn’t actually prohibit harmless activity; it simply gives the police an excuse to stop and search low riders. He said that because the ordinance has never been vigorously enforced, “there is more evidence that cruises have never been an issue.”
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Officials on city councils have previously confused the low-driving scene with criminal activity, but in reality, customizing the Chevys and Pontiacs with an emphasis on art and aesthetics is primarily one response to the tuning and hot bar culture, which is expensive and out of reach for many. Latinos love cars.
really attractive intuitive history is worth reading in its entirety at Atlas Obscura. Not just because it’s about these amazing cars, but because it has a happy ending, with the final “No Roads Zone” sign being solemnly removed earlier this year. .
