One of the best ways for
kids to enjoy sweet summer weather is to get their own set of wheels and hit
the pavement. No, we’re not suggesting that your 10-year-old should rent a Zip
Car. We’re talking about the fun of wheeled sports—in-line skating,
roller-skating, skateboarding, scooter riding and of course, biking. —
The latest space to join
the ranks of New
York’s skate
oases is the High Line Rink, an all-new outdoor rink under the suspended
urban-scape, open until September 26. Take a stroll along the city’s most eclectic
green expanse then strap on some wheels and skate by the Hudson. Or if your kiddo prefers to get some air (on a
skateboard) we have great places for those sports, too.
Check out our list of city
spots (plus safety tips) where little skaters and shredders can enjoy the great
outdoors, have an awesome time and maybe even break a sweat.
SKATE PARKS
Skater dudes and dudettes
who are just learning to glide will enjoy the Pier 62
Skate Park. With its gentle curves and shapes, this spot isn’t too
intimidating. And with a carousel and other entertainment nearby, options
abound when your little one grows weary of ollie-ing.
The skate park at Pier 25 has
sharper edges and trickier obstacles, perfect for the more advanced
skater. Bonus: get a great view of the
waterfront.
Worried about noise or
bothering neighbors? Take rambunctious, albeit advanced skaters to the Coleman
Skate Park under the Manhattan Bridge. With the sound of traffic roaring above, kids definitely don’t have
to worry about the sound of wheels hitting concrete or celebratory shouts when
they nail that trick. A signed
liability waiver is required to skate here.
ROLLER RINKS AND ROLLER
HOCKEY VENUES
Most skate parks allow
in-line skating as well, but if skating up obstacles and avoiding collisions
with skateboarders isn’t your little one’s style, try a dedicated roller rink.
In addition to the High
Line Rink we already mentioned, there are a few spots in the city for
roller skating fun.
Head to Riverbank State
Park for summer skating at their covered rink, normally used for winter
skate sessions. Admission is only $1.50 per person and skate rental is $6,
making this a cheap day of fun especially for families that own their own skates.
Staten Island’s RollerJam
USA has an indoor skate rink plus free pizza and soft drinks on Friday
nights. Worth the ferry ride for sure!
Are your older kids such
pros at skating that they want to add passing a puck into the mix? If so, there
are plenty of roller hockey venues where kids can gather friends for a game, or
join one already in progress. Try Carl Schurz
Park on the Upper
East Side (and delight in
some of the city’s best dog watching while you’re at it) or Tanahey Playground on the Lower East Side. Click here for a full list of
roller hockey-ready parks in the city.
BIKE PATHS
Bicycling is a fun, practical
and eco-friendly way to get around. But for a total joyride, try one of NYC’s
great pedestrian paths. Don’t own your own set of spokes? No worries! Head to Governors Island where
kids can rent bikes for two hours ($10). Or bring your own bike and ride around
the entire island.
For a rugged experience
right here in the city, try Highbridge Park in Upper Manhattan and Cunningham
Park in Queens for mountain biking and forest trails.
Click here
for a complete NYC bike map from the Department of Transportation. The map
shows where you can find dedicated bike lines and all of the city’s greenways,
which are great, safe places to ride with kids away from traffic worries.
And for more biking
resources, check out our most recent guide to The
Great Outdoors.
SAFETY ON WHEELS
Okay, while we recognize it’s
a ton of fun to go speeding around on roller blades or a bike–what about safety? We
spoke with Emilia Crotty, Education Operations Director for Bike New York about some of her most important
bike safety tips – and many of them apply to other wheeled sports, too.
Kids can learn to ride a
bike as early as four or five (while you’re at it, check out our guide
on getting kids started in bike riding for more tips on that starter
process). Crotty said mini cyclers are usually ready to hit the streets around
nine or 10 as long as they’ve had plenty of practice with parents first.
Bike New York teaches families that there should be a biking
progression – start your little one in a seat on your bike or a side trailer.
When they’re ready for their own ride, always go with them and make sure you
explain everything you’re doing, like watching traffic and riding slow.
“That’s the best way for
them to get the messages they need,” says Crotty.
By law, kids 12 and under
can ride on the sidewalk. After that they must ride on the street. When riding
with kids who are the sidewalk, Crotty emphasizes the importance of
parents and kids stopping together at intersections and crosssing the street side-by-side,
with the child on the inside. Otherwise, a turning car might see the larger
grown-up and miss the little kid trailing behind.
Crotty also explains that
it’s also important to teach little ones sidewalk etiquette (this applies to
roller skaters and scooter riders, too). Tell them to “be predictable” – ride
in a straight line at a moderate speed, and announce to pedestrians if they’re
going to pass them on the right or left. They can also add a bell to their bike
to help announce their presence.
“Be really predictable,
audible and visible,” furthers Crotty. “You don’t want them scooting around and
making enemies on the sidewalk!”
One way to get kids ready
to “graduate” from sidewalk to street is to train kids on a greenway, Crotty explains,
where they can learn to ride with the flow of traffic, stop at intersections
and deal with other riders without the intimidation of cars. Bike New York offers a free clinic
for kids to get them ready for the road, too.
And no matter where you’re
riding, or your mode of wheeled transportation, always wear a helmet (we
featured a stylish one here!)
Kids 13 and under are required by law to wear helmets when riding bikes, but
experts say that riders of all ages should wear them. And make sure helmets fit
snugly – kids have a tendency to squirm out of them, so teach them how they
should feel on their noggins.
As for safety gear for
other wheels, in-line skaters should wear knee and elbow pads, wrist guards and
gloves. Make sure skates have good ankle support and that kids always skate
with their knees bent. And getting going is one thing, but ensure little ones
also know how to stop – find a great braking tutorial here!
Skateboarders should wear
the same kind of protective gear. Shredders are especially prone to falls, so
make sure kids know these falling tips: when losing your balance, crouch down
so the fall is shorter; try to land on softer parts of your body, like your
booty; try to roll as you fall; and try to relax when you fall, so your body
isn’t stiff. Those rules work for falls from other wheels, too.
BOTTOM LINE: no matter your wheels of choice, wear a helmet, be aware of your own
abilities and surroundings, and fall gracefully. Happy wheeling!
