Skateboarding on campus

[mocos]

When I went to college at a large university, I would ride my longboard to class. During class breaks, there were a lot of people walking on the sidewalk, so I would use the bike lane. I had campus police tell me they could write me a $180 ticket for not using the sidewalk. I told them it didn't make any sense because people are walking on the sidewalk which is a much slower speed than skating. I remember people getting mad at me for skating on the sidewalk and scaring them (clak-clak clak-clak) when I would come up behind them. I remember one time I skated up behind someone and scared them so bad, they turned around and chewed me out. They told me that I shouldn't use the sidewalk and I needed to get off the sidewalk. I wanted to tell her that it was against the law for me not to use the sidewalk. (Plus it was a busy road without bike lanes anyway.) When I would use the sidewalk, I never ran into anyone - I would always hop off my board if it was gettin too thick (and if there were cops around to write me a ticket if I jumped in the bike lane). Anyway, I was just wondering what everyone thought about skateboarders on sidewalks vs. bike lanes on campus.

[Adam]

Wow, what state was that? I see a lot of longboarders around campus, but they're always in the bike lane or the road. Makes sense. I was told by a police officer that a skateboard is a class-(something) vehicle and that's why i couldn't ride it through campus. Maybe he was bullshitting me to get me to stop skating, but riding on the sidewalk vs the bike lane sounds like a dumb idea.

[naldo^3]

Wow, what state was that? I see a lot of longboarders around campus, but they're always in the bike lane or the road. Makes sense. I was told by a police officer that a skateboard is a class-(something) vehicle and that's why i couldn't ride it through campus. Maybe he was bullshitting me to get me to stop skating, but riding on the sidewalk vs the bike lane sounds like a dumb idea.

Mocos must live in the same state that I live in. I have had cops impound my board with no prior warning. I have been forced to get off my board and cops have written me tickets for riding my board on the sidewalk and on the road. I started to ride longboards because of the negative vibes I was getting on my shortboard plus they were better transportation (a speed real close to what a bicycle can do). I figured if I were to ride a longboard where it was much harder to do stunts then maybe five 0 would not mess with me too bad. That is not the case. I got ticketed and even warned if they see me again that they would arrest me. What really sucks is I can ride a bike all day and nothing gets said but the minute I hop on my board I am all of the sudden breaking the law. Last time I checked skateboarding was NOT A CRIME. Skaters are a society that is widely misunderstood. People wonder sometimes why skaters are rebels. Well there you have it. When you are considered an outcast - that might be the position you take in with open arms.

Mocos this one is for you


Later on in da day:

I just went to the store on my longboard inspired by these post. On my way back, 2 people were walking side by side on the side walk. Do u think they moved? Nope. If I was on a bike, they probably would have moved and let me pass right on by, but I was not on my bike that time. I thought about ur post on the way back home from the store. In my city it is illegal to sk8. They will take ur board, write u tickets or the public might treat u as a low-life member of society. I am pretty use to it but every now and then I get pissed off. I should not be discouraged to do something that I love. I know when I ride the bike which I love to do too, I get treated as an equal member of society. What is crazy is something like fishing is considered a sport and some people still don't consider sk8in a sport. This is so weird to me.... Instead they consider u as someone that is up to trouble, which might make me get into trouble.

ck it out

[mocos]

Haha that video is funny. Skateboarders are definitely judged, that's for sure. When I was in med school, the dean definitely did not like me riding my long board to class. He was so concerned with "professional image" and he thought I was bringin it down. But what I don't understand is, if I was riding a bike, or roller blades, or a segway, then it wouldn't have mattered. But a skateboarder, no way. That just looks bad to them uppity white collars. Oh well. It was funny cause when I graduated at the top of my class he made a joke about me riding my longboard across the stage to get my diploma. I was thinking he he he, isn't that ironic. Just goes to show you Mr. Dean Man, skaters can do anything.

[naldo^3]

I think people feel like skating is some kind of clique that they can't join or somethin. It's a life-style that a lot of people will never understand. The fact that it is somewhat rebel, scared people away!