Ask a Trooper

Question: I was skating the other day and wondered about how skaters/rollerbladers should behave on the roads. I am familiar with bike laws–a bicycle is treated like any other vehicle on the road with a few exceptions. What about inline skates? Especially if I’m training, skating pretty fast and consistently with the flow of traffic?
Do I act like a bicycle? Or like a pedestrian go on the other side of the road? Or just stay off the road altogether and try to stick to the sidewalk or paved paths?
Answer: With the summer months beginning, there has been an increase in rollerbladers out sharing the roads with motorists.
When on skates, you are subject to the same obligations as a bicyclist or a driver of an automobile and you must obey all traffic laws.
• Skaters may skate on all Minnesota roads, except where restricted.
• Skaters should skate on the road, and must ride in the same direction as traffic.
• Skaters should signal their turns and should skate in a predictable manner.
• Skaters should wear bright reflective-type material and have on protective equipment.

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