Enrique Gonzalez | Contributing Writer
opinion@fiusm.com
The restrictions on skating on campus are modestly fair, to say the least. Simply put, we can’t skate in places which could turn into a liability for the University, such as parking garages.
I’ll plead the fifth on that, but there’s nothing wrong with a little skating on the downhill ramps, or in the breezeway under the library, where people skate all the time. It makes a lot of noise, but it’s only temporary and does not get in the way of anyone.
As the number of people at the University grow, so too will the neo-skaters and the walkers. Could you imagine the University being as packed as the main stage at Ultra Music Festival? Now imagine skating in that.
That’s sort of how it feels at times around campus. In those instances, I call upon skaters to get on their feet and walk, even if for just a second. Riding into a crowd is not smart, it’s rude and you could fall.
Now that we’ve addressed skating etiquette, let’s move on to a different, yet relevant topic: People, also known as moving targets.
Now, I’m not out here to criticize all of you walkers out there. After all, I used to be one myself before I picked up a skateboard many, many moons ago, but it has become my primary mode of transportation. Nine times out of 10, I’ll have a board on me and skate – it doesn’t matter if it’s 10 feet forward or across campus.
However, nowadays it seems that even if I move only 10 feet on the board, there will almost always be someone directly in front of me. It often leads to awkward interactions, sighing head shakes and shame. The student population is growing at a fast pace, which is good in the long run, but it makes it just a bit harder to get around.
With all the changes taking place at the University, the amount of students enrolled is much greater than three years ago. Not only does the student population factor in, the construction that takes place changes the routes we can take on four wheels.
Skating has now become somewhat of a chore. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still pretty easy to get around, but with all the people, it seems to me like we get blamed for almost hitting someone, yet the opposite can’t be true.
I’m all for mutual respect of the sidewalk, but keep in mind one thing: You’re on two feet, and I’m on a board with four wheels. A simple sidestep would curb so much panic out of our respective lives. You could sidestep and I could swerve in the opposite direction. Crisis averted. This well-kept secret is the holy grail to re-establishing a relationship between walkers and skaters.
We don’t intentionally want to mow you down with our finely crafted wooden planks or small plastic toys (looking at you, penny boards). This isn’t a critique of the average walker. This is a call for understanding, for us to get along and share the sidewalk.
We can respect the right of way, something pedestrians have done as per the University regulations, but a little bit of courtesy our way also helps in the long run. In short, let’s develop a bit of common sense and we will all get along just fine.
About Post Author
