Living Car Free - Skateboards and car free

I have been really intrigued by them lately, I ride with a group bi-weekly which two of the member occasionaly ride skateboard on the ride and have been pretty impressed with the distance and speed that they can cover. Also that they can easily be carried inside easily, elimaninting the need to carry a lock. So does anyone here also use this as a form of transprtation?

It is a really in-efficient mode of transportation, even in the city.

Yeah, I sometime used my old-school board for transportation; the larger wheels make it much quicker, but even so, it's incredibly wasteful. I used it regularly for shorter rides below 1 km, and occasionally longer. A few times I've covered 10 km. Not recommended! Better to get a beater or a cheap folder. Or even inlines, although as a former skater I abhor inlines.

Skateboards might be useful when you have a gentle downhill run from home to your time critical destination (work, class, transit connection).

I used to see a college type guy riding a Razor scooter downhill from his apartment to the bus stop. That would have been about a half mile. It probably let him sleep an extra 10 minutes every morning.

I ride with a group bi-weekly which two of the member occasionally ride skateboard on the ride and have been pretty impressed with the distance and speed that they can cover.

I am having trouble seeing how skateboard and bicycle can group ride together.

I have been in a 25mph paceline passed by a inline skater (a very good one)

Al

I am having trouble seeing how skateboard and bicycle can group ride together.

I have been in a 25mph paceline passed by a inline skater (a very good one)

Al

This is a leisure ride we do at midnight in our area and by no means do we keep a 25mph pace or paceline. The average speed of this ride is about 12-13 mph and maybe covering 10-18 miles and very laid back, more a social ride and a safe way to see the city at night.

I once clocked a skateboarder at more than 20 km/h. The guy wasn't even pushing for speed.

There's also longboarding where the more extreme skateboarders use specially designed boards for high speed downhills.

Sure, you could easily reach 25 km/h, but to maintain that kind of speed on the flats is a tough job. Not much more efficient than sprinter running.

I am having trouble seeing how skateboard and bicycle can group ride together.

I have been in a 25mph paceline passed by a inline skater (a very good one)

Al


Bicycles can offer a nice tow :)

I am always ready for either

http://www.bikerubbish.com/rubbish/july2008/electraswingtandem12.jpg

Or even inlines, although as a former skater I abhor inlines.

Why? I much prefer inlines to the old-fashioned four-square type; perhaps because, having grown up in Minnesota, I learned to ice skate and cross country ski almost as soon as I could walk, and the action of inlines is much more like either of those than four-square rollerskating.

Why? I much prefer inlines to the old-fashioned four-square type; perhaps because, having grown up in Minnesota, I learned to ice skate and cross country ski almost as soon as I could walk, and the action of inlines is much more like either of those than four-square rollerskating.

Perhaps this is not the case everywhere but in Stockholm skaters absolutely loath inliners. I think it mostly stems from them coming to skateparks and looking silly. There is no getting around the fact that most inline tricks look stupid. That and the undisputed truth that since you can "ollie" with inlines straight away, without the need to practice for 3 weeks. Only sissies strap their wheels to their feet!

I have been really intrigued by them lately, I ride with a group bi-weekly which two of the member occasionaly ride skateboard on the ride and have been pretty impressed with the distance and speed that they can cover. Also that they can easily be carried inside easily, elimaninting the need to carry a lock. So does anyone here also use this as a form of transprtation?

Skateboards have an image problem. Unless you're under 25, you look kinda silly riding a skate board. I think it's more efficient than some micro folders like the A-Bike and CarryMe. However, it's still kind of large and then there are the stares.

In addtiion, you also have to wear sneakers all the time too. The only real kick scooter for adults would be the Zooter.

http://www.xootr.com/xootr/Zooter.htm

The closest grocery store to me is only a few hundred yards away. The post office is a little farther. I use my Xootr for those trips. It is much faster than walking and even faster than using the bicycle because the Xootr comes inside with me, no locking and unlocking involved in the trip.

The Xootr is better than a skateboard because it won't get hung up on road cracks and rocks as easily as the small skateboard wheels. Many people use them as part of their multi-modal commute.

Small skateboards or Xootrs are good as auxiliary transportation tools. In 2004 I brought my motor scooter to the shop and had to leave it there. It was almost five miles away from home. I used the Xootr to get me to the shop to pick up the scooter. It was twenty minutes faster than taking the bus.

Skateboards are great on smooth sidewalks and roads. As a young teen I spent a year using my skateboard so often that I went through several sets of wheels.

I have been really intrigued by them lately, I ride with a group bi-weekly which two of the member occasionaly ride skateboard on the ride and have been pretty impressed with the distance and speed that they can cover. Also that they can easily be carried inside easily, elimaninting the need to carry a lock. So does anyone here also use this as a form of transprtation?

When I was in the lower grades, college, and a little beyond that, yes I used skateboards as transportation. At my present age, I turned to folding bikes for same reason and more listed above.

Although skateboards aren't the fastest mode of alternative transportation they certainly can serve the intended purpose if one puts their mind to it. Rob at www.14degrees.org has skateboarded through half of Europe, across North America, and is now making his way across mainland China.


Lazarus
www.fattiretour.org

Although skateboards aren't the fastest mode of alternative transportation they certainly can serve the intended purpose if one puts their mind to it. Rob at www.14degrees.org has skateboarded through half of Europe, across North America, and is now making his way across mainland China.


Lazarus
www.fattiretour.org
Wow, thats pretty amazing.

My son used a skateboard till he was 30 years old. Borrowing my bicycle or someone elses when he needed it. Last year he bought a Bianchi Pista. He has never owned a car but his girlfriend had one which he used occasionally. As he lived in Chicago for a few years a car was not needed. Living in Albuquerque the bike is sufficient.

The bain of any form of car free living is other peoples cars. They just don't pay attention or yeild to pedestrians or cyclists,at least not where I live.

Although skateboards aren't the fastest mode of alternative transportation they certainly can serve the intended purpose if one puts their mind to it. Rob at www.14degrees.org has skateboarded through half of Europe, across North America, and is now making his way across mainland China.

www.fattiretour.org
Hi Laz! Still stuck in Azerbaijan, I presume. If you can't get those tires fixed you may get to be the 2nd person to skateboard across China...

http://http://www.dougsports.com/images/prod_images/CARVIN-9ER-PIN-RASTA.jpg

yeeeee boyyyy

Skateboards have an image problem. Unless you're under 25, you look kinda silly riding a skate board.

some think that cyclists over 25 are also "silly"

fwiw, on the seattle to portland 200-mile ride, a few long-boarders do it (in two days). impressive.

i've used a skateboard to get around to bus stops, but i hate falling down, which is all too easy with hard , tiny, wheels mixed with rocks/cracks in the sidewalks.

Actually, some think that cyclists over driving age are either silly or have suspended licenses ;-) . As long as it has wheels and is car free, I'm all for it. If you're within 2.5 miles of your destination or have a way to get on some public transportation, you can skate and not be too far off from those that bike. I'd rather use a longboard with at least 70mm wheels, though. I usually skate in the fall and winter instead of biking, because it's too hot here in the summer to get anywhere on a skateboard without arriving in a puddle. I'd like to direct those who are interested in longer distance skating over to www.pavedwave.org.

The only thing that would deter year round skating would be rain and snow. It would be fun to point the bikes and skateboards downhill on this bi-weekly ride and see who's waiting for who at the bottom of the hill. :D

I always love BAH's bikes/skateboards, and think that the only thing I'd add to that setup would be a crashpad so I could do a little buildering if I get tired of bombing hills/garages.

as a former skater I abhor inlines.

as a person that ocassionaly rides on bike trails, i do as well

but my friend who's going to college in montana is going to commute by longboard

I used to have a longboard that I would consistently ride about 4 miles one way on. (almost daily) It was so easy to push with big soft wheels and I never had a problem with it. Terrain probably is a deciding factor, though. Going uphill on that thing was teh suck.