Where have all the Rollerbladers gone?

[atgcpaul]

When I was in college in the mid-90s, you couldn't go anywhere without seeing someone on Rollerblades. I've always ridden a bicycle and I can't count how many close calls I've had with Rollerbladers so I don't really miss them.

But now if I see someone on Rollerblades, it's a VERY rare event.

What happened to do them? I don't think wheelie shoes did them in. That's predominantly for kids. Razor scooter? Also seems to be for younger kids, too. Skateboarding? Seems to appeal to a different type of person.

Was it lack of versatility? You couldn't really wear them to the grocery store unless you carried street shoes, too.

Just wondering,
Paul

[cabinetman]

When I was in college in the mid-90s, you couldn't go anywhere without seeing someone on Rollerblades. I've always ridden a bicycle and I can't count how many close calls I've had with Rollerbladers so I don't really miss them.

But now if I see someone on Rollerblades, it's a VERY rare event.

What happened to do them? I don't think wheelie shoes did them in. That's predominantly for kids. Razor scooter? Also seems to be for younger kids, too. Skateboarding? Seems to appeal to a different type of person.

Was it lack of versatility? You couldn't really wear them to the grocery store unless you carried street shoes, too.

Just wondering,
Paul

My wife and I ride bikes, and do rollerblades. We do that mostly in the winter months (if you can call them that ) when it's a bit cooler.

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[twistsol]

for us, moving out to the country with a half mile of gravel driveway pretty much made roller blades useless. We have five pairs gathering dust on the top shelf in the mud room.

[Knottscott]

I used to roller blade a lot. One factor that started to discourage me is that the choice for repaving of local residential streets has gone from smooth high quality rolled asphalt to a cheaper tar and stone mix that's just way too rough for my liking, meaning I'd have to drive somewhere to go roller blading. It's not a big deal to a car or bike, but it shakes the fillings out of me on roller blades. Add to the mix the fact that I'm older and lazier, and it just seems like too much effort!

[JoeyGee]

Funny you mention it. I have been seeing a lot of Rollerbladers out lately. Seems to be gaining steam again, at least around here. I was in Play It Again Sports the other day and there were 2-3 people looking at Rollerblades.

I tried in the early 90's, but I quickly found I fell a lot more than I rolled.

[Bruce Cohen]

They're no longer "cool", now its motorized skateboards.

Bruce

[Crockett]

that's an interesting observation. I used to roller blade a lot, but haven't in a bout 2 years. I didn't make a conscious decision to stop, my desire to do it just sort of faded away. I have a large park near my house and still see quite a few people there blading, but now that I think of it, they all look younger than I am....

[dbhost]

I think after a broken leg or two, most folks gave up on roller blades...

[cabinetman]

If your roller blades don't have the rear brakes, you may find out a parked car or a tree can help you stop.

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