Recently I blogged about my neighbor Joe and his bike. Like many of us, Joe is outraged by the skyrocketing price of gas and uses his bike as an alternative means of transportation. Every evening, I see him in his work shirt, slacks, and helmet pedaling down home from work. I (along with other neighbors) applaud his efforts (from our air conditioned vehicles), all the while knowing full well we would likely not be following in his two-wheeled tracks. I admire Joe’s steadfast commitment and willing share his story with anyone who rants about the price of gas. I was doing just that yesterday, when I was done one better. I found out from a friend that my former colleague (who is also fed up with high gas prices) has decided to boycott driving and instead rollerblades to and from work.
By now most of us know that inline skating is one of the fastest-growing recreational sports in the United States. But, using roller blades as an alternative mode of transportation? I thought that idea was reserved for people who live in major metropolises like New York City and don’t own a car. Guess I was wrong. Don’t get me wrong. I am by no means suggesting that you lace up a pair of inline skates in your suit and tie and head off to work to save money on gas. I am merely suggesting that rollerblading can be considered as a legitimate mode of transportation and not just a recreational activity.
Whether or not inline skating is an alternative mode of transportation YOU would consider employing is entirely up to you. However, if you decide to strap on a pair (be it to get to work or simply to ride along a recreational trail) there are some safety guidelines you should follow:
· Perform warm-up exercises before and after skating.
· Learn how to stop properly, before venturing into an area where there is a lot of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
· Wear protective gear, including a helmet, wrist guards, and knee and elbow pads.
· Properly maintain your skates.
· If you feel that you are going to fall while skating, try to fall on your left or right side, instead of falling on an outstretched hand.
· Obey traffic signals, stay at the right side of the road, and do not weave in and out of lanes.
· Avoid skating on crowded sidewalks.