Skateboards in bike lanes?

How do people here feel about people riding skateboards in bike lanes (in the Loop in particular)? I bike commute 2 or 3 times a week, and the other days I skateboard to and from the train. Technically, I believe the City considers skateboards the same as bikes, as far as riding on the sidewalk (against the law if you are over 12). And some pedestrians dislike sharing the sidewalk with skateboards. I don't think I would object to skateboarders in bike lanes. But I'm interested in how other cyclists feel.

 

Jim

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Permalink Reply by BruceBikes on May 21, 2013 at 10:36am

Technically, the Municipal Code defines skateboards as toy vehicles that shall not be ridden upon any roadway, which presumably includes bike lanes.

Operationally, skateboards are usually too fast for safe sidewalk use and much better suited for use in the bike lane.

 

Permalink Reply by chixieonfixie on May 21, 2013 at 12:50pm

I would 1000x rather have a board in the bike lane than a moped, motorcycle, or roller blader.  As long as the person is aware of their surroundings and doesnt make any unexpected moves (as I would also hope from other cyclists) I have no issue with it. 

Permalink Reply by Joe Guzzardo on July 29, 2015 at 5:56pm

Agreed. I ride the LFP a lot and roller bladers require 3 lanes. Kind of ironic considering that roller blades themselves seem so innocuous.  What irritates me the most though are cars that decide the bike lane is a good place to park. 

Permalink Reply by Jim Shaw on May 22, 2013 at 2:35am

That's really interesting.  Quite the opposite of what a Chicago Cop told me (no surprise there). Apparently skateboarding is illegal in the Loop altogether (except on private property, and we know how much those folks like skateboarders). I guess that just makes it all the more appealing. Ha!

BruceBikes said:

Technically, the Municipal Code defines skateboards as toy vehicles that shall not be ridden upon any roadway, which presumably includes bike lanes.

Operationally, skateboards are usually too fast for safe sidewalk use and much better suited for use in the bike lane.

 

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on May 22, 2013 at 3:59am

What about Segways and people riding around in electric scooters?  I saw a chubby Sheriff's deputy riding one of those three wheel Segway knock-offs in the lanes on Dearborn before.  Haven't seen any CPD Segways this year but the tours have started up...

Permalink Reply by Will on May 22, 2013 at 4:17am

Better than bladers.

Permalink Reply by Liz on May 22, 2013 at 4:56am

I'd much rather deal with them in the bike lane and passing (while giving them lots of room), than having them dart around me when I'm walking on the sidewalk. 

Permalink Reply by John Wilson 6.0 on May 22, 2013 at 5:28am

Everything is.

Will said:

Better than bladers.

Permalink Reply by Betty Kennedy on May 24, 2013 at 2:34pm

Not crazy about skateboarders in bike lanes - too much weaving in and out and too much potential for accidents and falls

Permalink Reply by Thomas Casson on May 25, 2013 at 10:21am

sounds like a complaint a car driver would make re bikes on streets.  Unless, of course, you're being ironic.

El Dorado said:

Skateboards have no business in the bike lane period. They go to slow & make too many dangerous moves.

Permalink Reply by Barry Niel Stuart on May 25, 2013 at 10:37am

Were Martyn's wheels still in true after that escapade?

Evan said:

If one of those pesky skateboards lands in front of you just do like this:

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on May 25, 2013 at 11:17am

They're slower (obviously) than bikes or rollerbladers but as long as they "straight line" fine by me they don't have the back and forth kicking out of the legs like rollerbladers.

Hopefully they stop at all stop signs and red lights.

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