The Chainlink

Skateboards in bike lanes?

How do people here feel about people riding skateboards in bike lanes (in the Loop in particular)? I bike commute 2 or 3 times a week, and the other days I skateboard to and from the train. Technically, I believe the City considers skateboards the same as bikes, as far as riding on the sidewalk (against the law if you are over 12). And some pedestrians dislike sharing the sidewalk with skateboards. I don't think I would object to skateboarders in bike lanes. But I'm interested in how other cyclists feel.

 

Jim

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Permalink Reply by Tricolor on May 17, 2013 at 2:18pm

Just stay consistent and there's rarely a problem.  On the sidewalks too many boarders weave around and cut people off.  It's the same when bikes on the street do this with cars or one another.

Permalink Reply by Blatherskate on May 17, 2013 at 2:23pm
As long as they're not salmoning I could care less.
Permalink Reply by Rich S on May 17, 2013 at 2:33pm

My only concern with skateboarders is when they bail.  They kick off the board and it goes wherever it was just pointed.  If it hits your moving wheel at a bad angle it would suck.  

Permalink Reply by Sarah Lewert on May 17, 2013 at 2:36pm

I feel like as long as you're considerate of those around you, you're fine. There is a lady that rides one of those razor scooters in the bike lane all the time. She goes much slower than all bike traffic and cuts to the front at all stops. THAT is totally annoying. 

Permalink Reply by Melissa on May 17, 2013 at 2:41pm

I'm for it.  Roads are for transportation. I think anything wheeled and moving is entitled to - and belongs in - the street.  Though I imagine it's even harder for skateboarders to avoid the door zone. 

Permalink Reply by Rich S on May 17, 2013 at 2:48pm

It certainly could but then they wouldn't be able to do a lot of the tricks they do like kickflips.  And that's after their friends are tired of making fun of them.  


Cameron 7.5 mi said:

I wonder if that problem could be solved by a board leash like snowboards and surfers wear.

Rich S said:

My only concern with skateboarders is when they bail.  They kick off the board and it goes wherever it was just pointed.  If it hits your moving wheel at a bad angle it would suck.  

Permalink Reply by Rich S on May 17, 2013 at 3:33pm

I forgot all about longboards.  I was thinking of regular skateboards.  

Brett would still be looking for his board if that skier didn't catch it!  

Cameron 7.5 mi said:

I'd assumed we were talking about long boards since that's all I've seen in the street and didn't think about tricks. Is wearing a board leash really more embarrassing than having to ask a skier to go chase your board down the for you.

Permalink Reply by El Dorado on May 18, 2013 at 6:48pm

Skateboards have no business in the bike lane period. They go to slow & make too many dangerous moves.

Permalink Reply by Sarah D. on May 19, 2013 at 7:51am

Good question - I haven't had the pleasure of riding with a skateboarder in the sharrow, personally, but was just talking to a coworker who roller skates (old-school 4 wheels) in the street with bikes. I didn't know what to think about that, either. It seems like we're already battling so many variables (moving cars on one side, doors and peds on the other), that adding more chaos in the bike lane (and I include other noncommunicative or jerky cyclists here) isn't my favorite idea.

That said, I'm pro-skateboard, and if they're illegal on the sidewalk, hell yes, take to the street!

Permalink Reply by Blatherskate on May 20, 2013 at 3:19pm

This is a joke right? If not, it's a little bit too familiar and generalized.

 I used to ride a zip zinger (not a long board!) up and down Milwaukee, often passing slower cyclists, all the while getting compliments from other cyclists about how fast I was.

"Bikes have no business in the lane period. They go to slow and make too many dangerous moves."

El Dorado said:

Skateboards have no business in the bike lane period. They go to slow & make too many dangerous moves.

Permalink Reply by Jim Shaw on May 21, 2013 at 3:46pm

The responses have been really informative! I espected more hostility to the idea. It is true that there is enough going on in bike lanes that adding an additional element, skateboards, may seem too much. But I have found that skateboarding is a great way to get around the Loop (and for those not comfortable with boards, scooters work, though they lack in "cool", I suppose). It's quick, fun and you can pick it up and carry it to your office, restaurant, wherever.

 

And for those who wondered about board type, I use two. The best one for Loop riding, I think, is a "mini", a short board that has longboard style/size trucks and wheels. Smooth like a longboard but far more manueverable, and it makes almost no noise, which is more comfort to pedestrians when on the sidewalk. The other is a regular "street" board, which is fine too.

People's concerns about what happens when you bail are legit. I rarely fall, but it happens, and controlling where the board goes at that point is difficult...

 

 

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on May 21, 2013 at 4:09pm

I don't think falling is the problem as much as the weaving through pedestrians when it's crowded.  Hopefully in a bike lane that's smooth enough for a board weaving isn't needed as much.

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