Current mood:

annoyed

Rollerblading Not Legal?
Inline skating is prohibited on sidewalks and roads in Ottawa? Since when??
http://ottawa.ca/residents/onthemove/travelwise/inline_skating/is_4_en.html

I am really confused here.
I have not rollerbladed for a year now, due to a recurring tooth problem that skating affects. But in the past I rollerbladed often enough (a few times a week), and at least 4 of my friends rollerbladed on a regular basis as well. None of us ever got fined or even spoken to by the cops. So is this bylaw even enforced? Or is it just brand new?

How about skate boarding? Is that pretty much illegal too? Cause if not, that seems pretty unfair.

I am curious about this whole thing because someone asked abut the legality of longboarding in Victoria, BC on that comm, and it came up that it (and rollerblading) is only illegal in the downtown core, but that it's not exactly enforced.

Why is rollerblading illegal pretty much everywhere but paths here? And yet not wearing a helmet well bike riding is perfectly legal? It seems like the laws are a little bit backwards here.... I cringe every time I see someone without a helmet, and can't believe that it's not a law here... People still get hurt biking in my home town, despite wearing helmets, so I can't imagine what it's like here.

I'm so glad my tooth problem is preventing me from even considering going near my rollerblades, because otherwise I'd spend my time in fear of the bylaw officers getting me. I'm sorry, but sometimes I just wanted a quick 15 minute jaunt around my quiet neighbourhood streets. I'd go during the middle of the day when there was hardly anyone about to potentially annoy. I really wouldn't want to involve buses into the mix and extend my whole quick jaunt into an entire outing where I'd feel guilty if I didn't spend like an hour skating.