On Your Left

Skating Safety: On Your Left

On Your Left Cover Along with the Massachusetts Medical Society, in 1995 the ICB produced On Your Left, a skate safety flier. More than 100,000 of these brochures have been distributed through schools, hospitals, and medical offices throughout the Bay State. The brochure has received national attention in medical and skating industry publications.

From the Beginning

Do not dominate the entire path
Avoid carrying things in your hands or wearing heavy backpacks
Wearing headphones is not recommended
If you stop to rest, pull off the trail to get out of the way
Wear reflective gear and safetly lights at night.
If you must skate in the street, move with the direction of the traffic. Always use extreme caution to predict a car's path; look at the driver not just the car. Be prepared for opening car doors.

Skate Smarts and Etiquette
Starting Always wear wrist, elbow, and knee guards, and a helmet. Practice on flat surfaces, in parks, playgrounds, and other recreational areas, not on hills or busy streets. Stand still with yourfeet in a "T" position or with the back wheels touching in a "V".
	Stopping Lower your weight further in a "seated" position with skates parallel, not more than chest-width apart. Slide the brake skate forward, so the brake lines up with your other toe. Raise your toe and slowly apply pressure to the brake by shifting your weight to your heel. Continue increasing pressure until you stop. The more pressure you apply, the faster you will stop.
Moving Crouch slightly, as if you are about to sit; always keep your knees bent and your ankles flexed forward. With your weight on your left (balance) skate, push off to the side using the inside edge of your right (power) skate. Glide on the balance skate. Bring your skates together and push off again with the other skate this time, alternating the power and balance skates. For better balance, keep one foot slightly ahead of the other as you glide.
BE AWARE of traffic in front of and behind you Stay to the right, except when passing Do not pass with oncoming traffic. Just before passing, look behind you to make sure no one is passing you and calmly call out "Passing on your left." Avoid sneaking up on people.