Skateboarding on campus is not allowed anywhere, according to campus regulations; however, skateboarders can be seen rolling through campus sidewalks every day.
Cal State Long Beach’s campus is 5,101,896 square feet, and some students use skateboarding as a convenient way to get around the massive campus. Most students who skateboard on campus know it is not allowed, but they do it anyway.
“The rules say, technically, there is no boarding allowed but it is such a good way to get around and all the parking lots are far away from my classes,” senior biology major Sabrina Ramos said.
Students mostly use their skateboards to get from the parking lots to class, rather than to do tricks.
According to Long Beach municipal code and campus regulations, skateboarding on campus is not permitted because skateboards do not have a “mechanism for steering.” Many students walking on campus do not seem to mind the other students skateboarding around them.
“It doesn’t bother me,” junior Laura Kraienhorst said. “They just need to watch out when it’s crowded.”
Most skateboarders on campus use their boards primarily as a way to get around, but there are some who weave their way dangerously through crowds and skate fast down hills.
“There are quite a few reckless people, but, for the amount of people on skateboards, it’s not that many,” Ramos said. “The reckless ones ruin it for everyone else.”
Skateboarding accidents on campus happen occasionally, yet this does not stop regular student skateboarders like Ethan Cure.
He continues to ride even after witnessing other boarders colliding with pedestrians.
“Some people suck at riding and I’ve seen people get hit,” Cure said.
Attempts by University Police to stop skateboarding on campus have had little impact on students and it is difficult for them to stop every student on a skateboard. Students usually receive a verbal warning first and then a citation if stopped again.
Lt. Scot Willey deals with skateboarders using a non-official “wheels on the ground” policy. Police try to be as friendly and understanding of commuters on skateboards as possible, but if they see someone doing “any type of tricks, causing damage or being reckless” a citation is usually given, according to Willey.
Safety is the police’s main concern when dealing with skateboarders, Willey said. They have been stepping up enforcement lately and stopping people on a daily basis.
“We are stopping more than usual,” Willey said.
For skateboarders on campus, changes in the skateboarding policy do not seem likely to happen any time soon.
The university follows the Long Beach Municipal code: “No person shall operate, drive or cause to be propelled a skateboard on any street, alley or sidewalk.”
Students also use bicycles to get around campus on sidewalks but according to regulations bicycles are not permitted on “campus sidewalks or inside buildings.”
“Bikes are more of a problem than skateboarders,” senior marketing major Gina Michael said. “I’ve seen people who’ve gotten hit on bikes.”
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