mcours2006

I was going about 30 kph already when this dude on a motorized longboard passed me like I was standing still. I could see with those smallist rubber wheels that if he hit a big rut, or even a piece of gravel, that could be disastrous. At least he was wearing a helmet. And what about coming to a quick stop? No such thing, I suppose.

caloso

Depends. On a wide, quiet, well-paved suburban street like that, I suppose it's as safe as anything else. On my commute -- narrow, busy, with cracks and potholes and lightrail tracks, not to mention jaywalkers and salmon? Not so much.

Korina

I'm guessing he's still in the 'I'm young and immortal' stage of his life.

Bluesfrog

At least the person has a helmet. Some folks don't care if they end up a veggieburger. I've had enough injuries over the years I don't need extras. But if I can get the first leg on the floor in the morning I'll drag the rest out until I'm going again. Be Well. Bluesfrog

noglider 

I don't know if it's safe, but I see it all the time. I don't know how they do it.

wipekitty

My SO used to skate...we always joke that longboards are for people who can't handle riding real skateboards.

It's probably not safe, but longboards are a bit more stable than regular skateboards. What really scares me is when the guys go down the big local hill on them at 25+ MPH.

Darth Lefty 

I was much more bothered by the guy on the goped I encountered a few times in 2015-16, who had it hopped up to go 60 mph but rode it in the bike lane

Daniel4

I've seen this a couple of times. The first time, downtown on Toronto' Queen Street and the second time, about two weeks ago in the bike lane on Millwood and Overlea.

They go pretty fast and can even pass me on my bike.

rumrunn6

doesn't matter to them

reminds me of "don't do the crime, if you can't do the time"

I know a cpl skaters w a history of injuries. I think it goes with the territory

no motor?

I don't care if others think it's safe, I'm not doing it. I've had enough injuries.

RidingMatthew

i am not sure how you stop one of those things quickly. #soIwillpass

groovestew

I used to encounter longboarders regularly in my evening commute home, flying down a hill with a few switchbacks. They slow down/turn/stop by getting low, turning the board sideways and sliding, like a snowboard. I'm sure it's hard on the wheels, but the guys I saw were pretty skilled.

yamsyamsyams

So he's doing like 25mph+? seems like with his build that the engine would very quickly overheat or run out of battery very quick.

robertorolfo

Yep, you see tons of these in NYC, and normally in the bike lane. There are a lot of imperfections in the roads here, but from what I have seen those boards handle them surprisingly well.

How well they stop, I have no idea, but there are some sort of brakes incorporated.

Got passed by one in the bike lane the other morning being ridden but a guy in scrubs, no helmet, coffee in one hand and controller thingy in the other. A few months ago a guy pulled along side me in the bike lane, on a slight incline, and was going more or less my speed. He said something like, "nice night," and I said something like, "yeah, so why don't you ride in the street?" His response was that it "can only go, like, 20mph." They don't like potentially being passed by a faster class of vehicle, so they decide to be the ones doing the passing. Society...

robertorolfo

Quick google, and you can't even make this stuff up. The fun starts about halfway through, with the highlight coming at 4:21 (and remember, this is a recommendation)....

noglider 

I've taught a similar rolling technique while teaching people how to ride a bike. Some people are more ready to learn to ride once they know how to fall. And then I found myself using the technique, unexpectedly.

Gresp15C

Any ideas of videos that show this? I can see jumping off a skateboard, but having a hard time picturing how to do it while on a bike. With the amount of race footage out there, I imagine there must be some examples. Not doubting, but curious, since I never learned how to do this.

noglider 

search link

I don't teach rolling off a bike. I start from standing and do a "stage fall" rolling onto my ankle, knee, hip, elbow, and shoulder. Do it in slow motion on a grassy ground. It's amazing how practicing this in slow motion, doing it gently, has helped me in my recent crashes. I got up unscathed. Once I even had people rush over to help, and the adrenaline had me bounce back onto my feet and laughing. I couldn't believe how there was little or no pain at all. It has become a reflex for me, though it's time to practice it again, as I haven't done it in a year or so.

Korina

autonomy

Among the people making poor/unsafe decisions around me, I would still rather deal with longboarders, e-bikers, etc. over drivers piloting heavy vehicles with uknown to them dimensions.

unterhausen

One of the LBS mechanics used to ride one from the shop to his car. His had regenerative braking. I'm sure he was relatively safe on it, he is a highly skilled bmx rider. I used to have a video of him doing a back flip on a fatbike, but I can't find it.

mecheic

I think always we need to prefer safety first.

52telecaster

+100

denada

i see these and a gyroscope version in chicago all the time. yet to see one of the riders being scraped off the road, but they sure don't look safe.

is relative. when i tell people bike is primary mode of transportation, they think i'm a reckless fool. and voice that thought.

Junkbeast

I started skating at age 6 to throughout my teenage years. IMO longboards are for people who want to want to identify as "skaters" but don't want to do hard stuff like tricks! I will admit that bombing a hill on a longboard where they hit 50mph-60mph or more is totally legit, but trendy hipsters who get a longboard as a fashion accessory are posers in my book. Half the kids I see with these things are CARRYING them most of the time I see them.

Whenever I see a kid on a real board I try to stop to talk and bust out a quick pressure flip or something to see if I can still do it 25 years later. I've learned that skateboard tricks are not like "riding a bike" for me and it doesn't come as naturally as it did when I was a skinny little rubber person. I also can't just ollie off of stairs even a few feet tall without fear of crashing and bailing at the last minute. My first real crash on a bike happened just 2 years ago and it put me out for over 2 weeks; I fell like that 20 times a day skating in the 90s! I feel like Ben Stiller in Walter Mitty!

I'm pretty sure skateboard wheel technology hasn't advanced much in the last couple decades, so just know that one tiny pebble can stop all forward movement of a board regardless of the durometer of the wheels. Therefore the person keeps moving forward and at high speeds it can be a brutal fall. I'd hate to slam from a pebble at 25 mph or more!