CfSC Policy: Inline Skating

In principle CfSC supports inline skating as another environmentally-friendly, healthy mode of transportation that benefits not only the skater but the whole community. CfSC does not support inline skating on sidewalks.

Sidewalks are for pedestrians. Inline skaters who travel on sidewalks are substantially more at risk than on the road, just as cyclists are. Inline skaters who travel on sidewalks increase their risks of colliding with cyclists turning across the sidewalk or at intersections with the road.

The speed differential between cyclists and inline skaters is no more likely to cause conflicts than the speed differential between fast and slow bicycles or motor vehicles and bicycles. Conflicts are most frequently caused when road users are not predictable or conspicuous, not by speed differentials.

The following safety requirements must be met before inline skaters can be successfully and safely share roads, including bicycle lanes, with bicycle traffic. Until then, CfSC does not support the increased use of those roads now used by cyclists by inline skaters. CfSC encourages inline skating users, industry and government agencies to address the following issues promptly and proactively:

Adherence to common rules of the road
Inline skaters must be legally required to follow the same rules of the road as other road users, including cyclists, adapted as appropriate for inline skating. Road safety and efficient movement occur when all road users follow the same rules and are predictable.

Minimum braking performance
An inline skater must be able to stop in the same distance both on a level surface and on a 5 percent downgrade as a 80 kg cyclist with bicycle.

Conspicuity and lighting
When skating on public roads between one-half hour before sunset and one-half hour after sunrise, inline skaters must be legally required to use a white front headlight and rear red light that are both visible for a distance of 150 metres.

Improved road surface
Road surfaces, including ironworks, and maintenance must be improved to the level that inline skaters are not required to swerve frequently to avoid hazards. Sudden, unexpected swerving could cause collisions with cyclists.

Requirement to identify when stopped by a police officer
Like cyclists, inline skaters must be required to identify themselves to a police officer when stopped for an HTA offence; otherwise laws that direct safe behaviour are unenforceable.

Laws and regulations required to ensure safe inline skating should be incorporated in provincial highway traffic acts, and only as absolutely required by regional municipal bylaws. CfSC does not support the creation and enforcement of new bylaws to regulate inline skating by local municipalities.

CfSC does not support the use of poles by skaters on public roads.

Young and inexperienced cyclists are responsible for a high portion of their own crashes. CfSC encourages inline skating user and industry groups to make instruction on safe skating and traffic skills widely available, as cycling skills courses are now being made available to cyclists of all ages.

All users of the recreational path system must cooperate in sharing the path, and must ensure that they do not obstruct other users who are operating according to usage guidelines. Cyclists should be able to safely pass or ride on the opposite side of the path without concerns about skaters' unpredictable side-to-side motions.

Where paths are twinned, skaters should share paths with cyclists and not with pedestrians.

approved by the CfSC Board of Directors, 1995 August 21