Skaters threatened unwelcome on the roads, finds new study

A 20-year-old Dunedin skater was shocked after being chased by a motorist and abused for riding his board on a north Dunedin street.

Joel Field said he and a friend had to jump off their skateboards to avoid being hit by the vehicle recently.

“We were skating along the road and this guy stood very close to us and was like, being really aggressive.

“We were on tour and he wasn’t happy about it.”

Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.

Field is one of many people who have had similar experiences, new research from the University of Otago has found.

Lead author Dr. Aimee Ward, who completed the study while in Otago’s department of preventive and social medicine, said that more than half of the teens surveyed for the research said they felt unsafe while traveling.

“Skateboarders are classified as vulnerable road users, but they are often made to feel uncomfortable no matter where they travel.

“New Zealand law states that skaters can legally travel on the road, but they are often forced to go to the sidewalk where they can threaten the safety of other sidewalk users, and the statutes vary by city.

“Among vulnerable road users, those who bike and walk tend to be the most vocal in support of their respective causes.

“However, those who use other forms of equally vulnerable transportation options must also be considered in transportation planning,” said Dr. Ward.

She believed that cities and towns could come together to formulate policies that encompass all vulnerable transport users.

Shared ride spaces, or the redeployment of existing bike lanes and pedestrian paths for multiple uses, could help overcome the problems of where to skateboard, in particular.

Dr. Ward’s study also found that youth licenses dropped dramatically in the last decade.

“It is not known if this is a permanent change, but it is important to know that currently young people are turning to different modes of transport outside of private car use, such as public transport and active forms such as walking, cycling and riding skateboard, as well as other modes such as the use of scooters, car-pooling and car sharing “.

He said this suggested the need to consider long-term changes in transport policy and infrastructure, to keep up with the demand for alternative modes of transport.

Field said he did not have a license and did not have the ambition to obtain one.

“I don’t need a license. Dunedin is so small, it’s so easy to get around.

“You don’t have to worry about parking a skateboard and it costs nothing to fill up with fuel.

“And every time I go somewhere, I exercise and it’s fun. It’s all in one.

“If I have to go further, I just take a bus.”