Believe it or not, lawyers can be skaters too. I grew up on the west coast, so my days were spent surfing the beautiful Pacific Ocean or surfing the streets. Recently, I witnessed a friend flying down a road on his longboard and reaching speeds of 40mph! While I can comfortably say that I am a little too old to be attempting anything like that again, watching the joy in his eyes as he tucked down on his board brought back so many amazing memories. Memories good and bad led me to want to inform the public of what to do and what not to do when “shredding the streets” or whatever the kids are calling it these days.
Skating is one of the most freeing activities in the world. There is no feeling like the joy skating brings. With this being said, skating can be a dangerous activity and there are actually laws that you have to follow to ensure safety for all. Whether you are the parent of a skater, a skater, or are just tired of seeing kids fly around town on their boards, I would strongly encourage you to keep reading in hopes that you will get a better idea of why we love skating so much.
First, a few laws and safety tips to follow:
Greenville, SC is an unbelievably gorgeous town and while we would all love to be able to surf any street we want to, there are some locations where attempting that ali or kick-flip may land you a ticket or worse. As heart breaking as it might sound, according to Greenville, South Carolina’s Code of Ordinances, skateboarding or riding any other board is not allowed in down town or in any other business district. Before we start picketing City Hall however, it is good to remember that our fair city must consider the safety and well-being of all its citizens and property owners. While I hate to admit it, my skate crew marked up and damaged our share of curbing, benches and every other fixed object with a smooth surface over the years. At the time I thought that “the man” was bringing us down. Now as a business owner, I understand that it would be a costly hassle to have to repaint and repair curbing, etc.
When not in down town, you are not allowed to skate recklessly on sidewalks or on streets that have a speed limit in excess of 30 mph. Failure to follow these laws could result in a fine from $50-$500, and I do not know about you, but $500 would be much better spent on skateboarding gear or even a drink from any of Greenville’s amazing coffee shops such as Methodical Coffee or Barista Alley, or a local brew from Quest or Community Tap. ,. Where ever you decide to skate, make sure you are not trespassing or disrupting local businesses. The last thing you want is Bad Grandpa cursing at you and chasing you down with his cane.
As fun as any type of skating can be, always make sure to wear the proper safety gear, and to check your board before rolling out. ALWAYS wear a helmet (insert mom voice here), especially if you are planning to attempt difficult tricks or high speed descent. Skate parks pose a serious threat to falling and hitting your head, and my experience is that when a car collides with a boarder doing 40 mph down a hill with an unprotected noggin, the car usually wins. Sliding gloves, knee pads, and elbow pads are also very helpful at protecting your body when down hilling, and spotters are also a good idea.
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