To longboard to work?

[GreyCritic]

DW worries a lot about what other people will think.

I turned 33 and was appalled at the state of my fitness. Ditched the car, ditched the heels for nice trainers, and started walking to work and everywhere else. A month and a half ago I bought a longboard. I used to be an avid snowboarder in my teens and this longboard has honestly been such a good purchase as I not only feel fitter but also actually find myself looking forward to the morning commute!

DW hates it. She thinks it's childish and that I should get a bicycle like "a normal adult". AIBU to longboard to work? I have no interest in bicycles and I don't see how long boarding to work is "too try hard".

It's not 'specialist terminology'. It's literally not the same thing as a skateboard.

The fact that he's longboarding rather than skateboarding is relevant because a longboard is a more stable, controllable, safer piece of equipment than a skateboard. A skateboard is designed for tricks and stunts. A longboard is designed for getting around and is more appropriate than a skateboard for the purpose the OP wants to use it for.

If you can do it safely, without annoying anyone, then fine. I bet you can't though. Get a bike.

When I was at college 45 years ago there was a lad who used to skateboard around campus. I found it bizarre.

Are you on the pavement? Do you not get in people’s way?

I imagine you get in peoples way though, zooming about on your skateboard.

Another vote for not using the cycle paths. They’re for cyclists not longboarders, runners, skaters, pedestrians or cars (I’ve seen all in cycle paths and they’ve all caused problems!)

Who cares if it’s childish 🙄

If you’re enjoying it and you can do it without endangering or inconveniencing other road/pavement users, have at it!

Absolutely anyone should move and get about in whatever way gives them joy and inspires them to use their body for better quality of life. Team op.

Anyone who judges your motives as attention seeking is just revealing their own prejudices and shouldn't put people in boxes when they're just having fun and getting to work - win win!

Only one condition, don't be an inconsiderate pain to other pavement/road users... But that goes for all humans however they get around.

One of our corporate offices is by a beach and has storage for surfboards. I thought op was talking about the longboard style surfboard at first, but couldn’t figure out how that would work on a commute.

use whatever mechanism you want to get to work as long as you are polite. I used to bicycle. There was a very nice place to keep them next to the surfboards.

Watch out for yourself and wear a helmet and knee-wrist protection. Your partner will make your life miserable if you break something and they must take care of you.

My dh is 45 and he sometimes skates and wonders if he should buy a longboard ( but not to work because he mostly wfh)

That's what I thought, too. I assumed OP must live near a body of water that would take him close enough to work to where "longboarding" would be practical. Kind of disappointed now! (:

Unless OP is going on at work about how "I came here by longboard today! Do you want to see my longboard? drones on about the longboard and previous snowboarding" ad nauseam, how is it attention seeking? It has nothing to do with anyone else how OP gets to work, providing that OP isn't causing a danger to others and looks presentable at work.

I'm all for being yourself and doing what suits you regardless of what others thing.

Then I imagined OH longboarding it to work.

I'm sorry, hypocritical as I am, it's a turn off. It just is.

Plus they are an uninsurable nuisance to other road users.

I once knew someone who used to in-line skate to work, and he was one of the greatest dickheads I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet. So I wouldn’t take the risk, tbh

I'm all for you using one but not in an urban environment.

My son has broken both his arms at different times whilst at disused locations/skate park and if you collide with a pedestrian then you could easily hurt them.

%3D%3D

It's not 'specialist terminology'. It's literally not the same thing as a skateboard.

Its wiki page says it's a type of skateboard...

Anyway, OP - if you're capable of doing it safely and considerately then I'd say carry on! I'm 63 and I'd happily scoot if I lived somewhere that was feasible (skating or long boarding are beyond my abilities, sadly!)

Exactly.

I think it's great. I take any opportunity to jump on my son's skateboard because I was damned good at it as a youngster and I'm 54 now. Go for it. It's fine!

Are you suggesting that there’s a causative link between non-bike wheel-based personal transport and being a dick?

Like the OP is a perfectly lovely human, then buys a longboard and instantly becomes a massive arsehole? 😂

As a pedestrian that would piss me off. I'm sick of dodging this sort of thing going faster than average walking pace. May not be dangerous for the skateboarder but painful for an injured pedestrian

You alright mate?

To be honest, a longboard to me is a longboard surfboard. And it would be pretty cool to surf to work.

Skateboarding to work? It depends. Is the route suitable, or would a skateboarder piss off / cause alarm to nearby pedestrians? There’s a reason that a cycling commute is a thing, and a skateboarding commute isn’t.

Do it, I used to skateboard to work so this question made me smile nostalgically. Only downhill, got a lift home! As long as you're safety-conscious, as others have said. And ignore grumpy judgers.

Did anyone else immediately start singing Surf Wax America by Weezer in their head?

”You take your car to work, I’ll take my board…”

Do you live in London? If so, crack on.

You'd probably be judged if you live out in the sticks and probably get run over if you live around here, as the narrow roads are very windy with no pavements for miles. Drivers wouldn't expect to see a cyclist let alone a skateboard in these parts.

Interesting how many posters assumed the op is a male 🙃

Go for it. I'm all for doing as many things that bring you joy as you can. There is no age limit on skating, shred the paves!