Whether you’re new to skateboarding or have been doing it for years, you might be considering the advantages of using your trusty board as a mode of transportation instead of relying primarily on an automobile. Although cars are obviously much faster, consider the following 5 reasons why you might actually want to use your skateboard more often than your vehicle:
1. Experiencing New Places Up Close
When you drive by something in your car at normal traffic speeds, you’re not getting the full experience of actually being there. With a skateboard, you’re there for all of the smells, sounds, textures, and moods that the surroundings have to offer. All of this allows for more fulfilling travel experiences versus the alternative of simply being a passer-by within the comfortable confines of your vehicle’s air-conditioned cabin. A great way to find cool skating spots is to subscribe to a local skating magazine. For example, many UK skaters have a Thrasher subscription specifically for this reason.
2. No Gas Expenses
Other than the calories you’ll be burning as your feet propel your board forward, you won’t need costly fuel to go places as a skateboarder. While it might not seem like much in the short-term, this can add up to thousands saved over the course of a year.
3. Getting in Excellent Shape
Most modern humans have to deal with being sedentary for long periods of time during work, school, and while being entertained during their leisure time (i.e. – sitting on the couch watching TV or at a desk on the computer). All this sitting down is unhealthy, so it doesn’t make sense to also be doing nothing while you’re on-the-go. Skateboarding is a superb workout for your entire body and is good for building stamina and overall wellbeing.
4. Meeting New People
Unless you’d like to look like a crazy person in traffic by rolling down your window and shouting at the driver next to you, there’s not really much socializing going on in a car. Skateboarding on the other hand is a very social activity, and by visiting local skate parks you’re almost guaranteed to meet cool friends.
5. Finding a New Hobby and Challenging Yourself
If you’ve been looking for a new hobby to take up or you haven’t put your skateboard to use in a while, ditching the car altogether is a great way to get out there and try new things. Even if you’re not planning on becoming a trickster, just coasting down a hill on a longboard can be an incredibly fulfilling and enjoyable experience.
Don’t Forget About the Environment
All of the above reasons have mainly been related to the personal benefits you stand to gain by skateboarding instead of driving your car. However, another incredibly important and unselfish reason to consider ditching the combustion engine is the preservation of our environment. If you could reduce your vehicle usage by as much as 50% in favour of manual methods like skateboarding and cycling, you’ll be having a significantly positive impact on your carbon footprint.
