There was a good question raised on our Facebook group about being shouted at by cyclists for using cycle paths and whether skaters are allowed in them around Hyde Park. The short answer is that in the park you should skate on cycle paths rather than the pedestrian bits: the general rule of thumb is skate on black tarmac not on the orange/red pebbled bits.
When you are skating outside of the park you enter what can only be
seen as a legal grey area! A skater is classed neither as a pedestrian
nor as a road user, and so you fall into both categories. Because of
this you can pretty much skate anywhere: on the pavement, in the road,
in cycle lanes.
But, because of the slightly negative perception of skating outside of the community, we highly recommend some use of commonsense:
We'll write some more on using your skates as a form of transport at some point in the future.
But, because of the slightly negative perception of skating outside of the community, we highly recommend some use of commonsense:
- If you're skating on the pavement keep to the speed of the pedestrians around you.
- Only skate in the road if you are confident and can keep a up with the pace of a cyclist (one of those on those fold-up bikes, not bike messengers!)
- And, most of all: if you don't feel safe get off the road immediately.
We'll write some more on using your skates as a form of transport at some point in the future.
