The story that FasterSkier ran on Monday about the rollerskiing ban in Fairbanks,
Alaska was probably familiar to many rollerskiers.
If you haven't read the story, do so at either link below:
Fairbanks
Daily News-Miner
Anchorage
Daily News
Chances are, if you own a well-worn pair of rollerskis, at some point you have
been told that you could not rollerski somewhere. It might have been a private
drive, a newly paved bike path, or a certain subdivision. There are many places
around the country that rollerskiing is prohibited. Fortunately, there are very
few towns that ban it completely. But that could change, unless we are all careful.
As skiers, we think of rollerskiing as a serious training method, like running
or biking. Since running and biking are allowed most places, we assume that
rollerskiing should be also. But to a non-skier, rollerskiing looks a lot more
like rollerblading or skateboarding. People tend to fear what they don't understand,
and most people do not understand rollerskiing. It is easier to ban something
that looks odd, rather than to try to understand it.
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<p>Police in Fairbanks have begun prohibiting rollerskiing under an Alaskan State<br />
Law that says: "No person may operate a unicycle, coaster, roller skates<br />
or a similar device on the roadway." And while you wouldn't mistake a unicylce<br />
for a rollerski, University of Alaska Fairbanks Ski Coach Bill McDonnell says<br />
that we all must be extremely mindful of laws like these.</p>
<p>McDonnell says, "[We need] to keep a very low profile when skiing in the<br />
roads. Given the auto-centered culture that we live in, any attempt to exert<br />
any right to use of the road by roller-skiers will be met with much public resistance<br />
(calls to the troopers/local law enforcement). Despite what should be the logical<br />
reality that roller-skiers should have a right to use the roads, the fact remains<br />
that these statutes exist that make rollerskis technically illegal in many (if<br />
not all) areas of the country. Drawing attention (for most people it seems that<br />
all that takes is to be in the road at all) by arguing for your rights to use<br />
the road will only have negative consequences. While the UAF team did not do<br />
anything directly to inspire<br />
the ire of the motorized public, their consistent presence in the road ways<br />
was enough to bring the issue to a boil."</p>
<p>The episode in Fairbanks should serve as a reminder that all rollerskiers need<br />
to be on their best behavior if we are to continue to enjoy the use of our roads.<br />
If we feel we are being treated unfairly, or even if an obnoxious motorist hassles<br />
us, we need to be the bigger individuals and keep our cool. All it takes is<br />
one confrontation with the wrong person to undo years of good behavior by the<br />
rollerskiing community. </p>
<p>Former US Ski Team Head Coach and Fairbanks resident John Estle believes the<br />
problem in Fairbanks can be resolved, but he says that it is important that<br />
rollerskiers be safe and smart when using the roads:</p>
<p>"People have been rollerskiing in Fairbanks for at least 25 years. Until<br />
this time, not one rollerskier has been stopped by police. I don't understand<br />
how rollerskiing has become such a problem overnight. I have to believe that<br />
there can be a sensible solution to this perceived problem that will enable<br />
rollerskiers to continue to use the roads. I don't condone rollerskiers who<br />
rollerski in an unsafe manner. On the other hand, the mere fact that someone<br />
is rollerskiing does not in and of itself create an unsafe situation, as seems to be the contention of<br />
many motorists. This is an issue that all non-motorized users of public highways<br />
(including runners and bicylists) need to pay attention to." </p>
<p>It is very significant that this city-wide ban happened in Fairbanks, which<br />
is arguably the most Nordic-savvy town in the country. Fairbanks has a thriving<br />
cross country community, from Juniors to Masters. This town welcomes, with open<br />
arms, the best skiers in the North America for two or three weeks every fall<br />
for the best early season skiing on the continent. The article on the rollerski<br />
ban was headline news on the front page of the local paper. Even more significant<br />
was that not once did the article's author feel the need to describe rollerskiing<br />
for his readers – he was able to assume that they already knew what it was.<br />
If a ban like this could happen in Fairbanks, it could easily happen anywhere<br />
else as well.</p>
<p>Now that we are in the heart of rollerski season, remember to rollerski safely<br />
and courteously, no matter what obstacles lie in the road ahead of you.</p>
<p>
<a href=http://www.fasterskier.com/training/020910RollerSafety.html)
FasterSkier
article on rollerski safety
