Rolling through campus

Skateboarding proves to be a popular way to get around

Georgia College students travel to campus many ways: driving, riding a bike, walking or taking the shuttle. Recently, skateboarding has become an increased method of transportation for students.

Skateboarding offers the ease of riding on sidewalks and has the benefit of carrying a small skateboard to class.

Junior general business major Charlie Rearick said he has seen an increase in the use of skateboards within the past year on Georgia College campus.

“I think that skating in general is on the rise,” Rearick said. “Look at how much more coverage things like the X-Games get on TV.”

Rearick rides to class on his longboard daily.

Patrol Sergeant Jeff Miller of Georgia College’s Public Safety also agrees that there has been an increase with skateboarding transportation. He said he sees a rise in long boards. A long board is usually longer in size compared to a regular skate board and regular skate boards are easier for tricks while long boards can gain more speed.

“In general, more people have picked up long-boarding in the recent years,” said sophomore environmental science major Colin Maldonado. “I wouldn’t call it a fad; it’s a sport on the rise.”

Maldonado sees the benefit of skating because “it’s quick, easy, (and) no lock required,” but does admit to riding his bike majority of the time. He said the sidewalks aren’t generally “skateboard friendly.”

Rearick uses skating as his main transportation.

“The ease of bring(ing) your board to class makes it easier (than other forms of transportation) and the ability to ride whenever and wherever,” Rearick said.

Miller said the college doesn’t normally have problems with skateboarders.

“It’s fine (but) (skateboarders) have to be considerate of pedestrians and not running out into traffic,” Miller said. “The college has a problem with it when you start tricks, grinding on stuff.”

“If I see you skating on the road and you’re obviously not going to be keeping up with traffic I’m going to tell you to get on the sidewalk.” Miller said.

Although Miller said Public Safety police doesn’t have a problem with skateboarders, Maldonado and Rearick said they have had multiple interactions with police for skating.

“I have been pulled over around five to six times for no other reason than just skating,” Rearick said.

Maldonado said he continues to get contradicting statements from police telling him he can’t ride on the sidewalk or the road.

Miller said skateboarders are fine and should remain cautious to pedestrians and remains unaware of any laws forbidding skateboarding.