Is longboarding illegal in neighborhoods or downtown?

**sbowers** · 02-22-2010 05:20 PM

Is it illegal to longboard in neighborhoods in NC? We were longboarding down a sort of long road and we try to obey the law when cars are nearby and stay on our side of the road... usually we wave cars passed and they go around us but today the drivers ed lady got behind us and started honking her horn so we waved her past and she didnt go so we got into the opposite lane and she wouldn't pass us and when we got to the bottom she yelled at us and called the police? I didn't think it was illegal to longboard down neighborhood roads.

Also is it illegal to longboard downtown... i'm asking this because i can actually longboard to my job from my house and it would save me some gas and be fun. if you longboard downtown should you stay on the raod, in a bike lane if there is one, or on the sidewalk?

**Bookworm** · 02-22-2010 05:21 PM

bike lane is the best place to be. it's almost impossible to say we can't be there.

**JY Jelly** · 02-22-2010 05:34 PM

Just skate anyways, most cops wont say anything.

**jbrandona119** · 02-22-2010 06:25 PM

I doubt it's illegal. but in my old town Milford, PA...if the cops saw you on a board, or carrying it around, they would just take it from you. Whether or not that was legal, I don't know. But it happened a lot.

Just be respectful, not destructive, and if a police man stops you or something just be polite and keep your cool.

So...yeah.

Just have fun boarding because haters will be haters.

**Midway** · 02-22-2010 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by jbrandona119

I doubt it's illegal. but in my old town Milford, PA...if the cops saw you on a board, or carrying it around, they would just take it from you. Whether or not that was legal, I don't know. But it happened a lot.

Just be respectful, not destructive, and if a police man stops you or something just be polite and keep your cool.

So...yeah.

Just have fun boarding because haters will be haters.

This.

In my hometown it was illegal to ride any kind of "coaster" on the roads, but that didn't stop me from tearing up city streets at 2 am. Cops are basically the only people on the road then, and they never stopped me. Got lots of "hang loose" hand gestures though. If you're not doing anything destructive or getting in the way or risking the well-being of others, cops won't care.

**wby0001** · 02-23-2010 08:04 AM

i skate on campus (auburn, alabama) and got pulled over by a cop once. he told me skateboarding of any type in the street is illegal because skaters are still technically pedestrians and therefore obstructing justice by impeding traffic. so it was cool with them to be on the sidewalks, only problem is you cant carve and have fun on the sidewalk. i believe this is a city law though and may be different for you.

but like everyone else said, just play nice and they shouldn't bother you (haven't been stopped by a cop since, just powerless security)

**Soaker** · 09-18-2010 09:45 AM

For the most part, the adadge (sp?) that you should just be respectful when longboarding goes a long way to not being harrassed by anyone about your actions. Most/many college campuses do not allow skate/longboarding at all just because so many people are walking everywhere. I think a lot of flap about boarding is due to disrespectful and arrogant young skateboarders (no they are not all that way, just enough...and longboarders can be that way too) who hang in specific spots and cause damage and trouble. IMO this is not really a problem and certainly not rampant, but there are plenty of uptight citizens that do not like it. Keep it cool and be respectful. Never ever been stopped by a cop for boarding on the streets (just by ranger rick for boarding down mount tamalpais years ago).

**p2y2r7o** · 09-18-2010 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by Bookworm

bike lane is the best place to be. it's almost impossible to say we can't be there.

In Greenville, SC all of the CBD (central business district) is off limits to skating including sidewalks, garages, roads, and bike lanes. I know he asked about NC but I imagine there are other cities with silly laws too.

Anyways, OP you just need to check your local laws. I'm sure you can find it online. I found everything including a map with the exact area that makes up Greenville's CBD so I know exactly where I can and can't be. Sometimes I even carry around the little map folded up in my wallet so I can show it to a cop and be like "WHAT NOW B!TCH!". Just kidding...I wouldn't do that.

**Gorsh Dangit** · 09-19-2010 06:36 PM

It really shouldn't be illegal, the lady was just being rude. I guess if you ride downtown and stuff, don't slow anyone down if you can. People don't like people skating as it is, but people who hold up a row of cars or something don't help

ALSO! You're in High Point? I'm at UNCG right now. If you're ever over here, hit me up with a PM

**spookyblulite** · 09-19-2010 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by jbrandona119

I doubt it's illegal. but in my old town Milford, PA...if the cops saw you on a board, or carrying it around, they would just take it from you. Whether or not that was legal, I don't know. But it happened a lot.

Just be respectful, not destructive, and if a police man stops you or something just be polite and keep your cool.

So...yeah.

Just have fun boarding because haters will be haters.

I'll fight someone if they try to take my board.

I come from a small town and when i visit i bomb all the hills there. cops have followed me for about a mile and then just talked to me afterwards.

one got shitty with me, so i got shitty back. i played the card where i say "i'm in the military" and he shut up... and i continued my rounds.

'm not saying be a douche. be polite they hate it. just stay out of trouble unless you can handle that type of fun.