Rollerskiing Banned?
June 21, 2011
While some skiers have the luxury of paved bike trails to rollerski on, many have to hit the open roads to get in their rollerski K's. As seems to be the case about once a season, there has been recent chatter about rollerskiing and rules of the road. The biggest points are whether rollerskis are allowed on public roads, and if so, which side of the road should they ski on: left side (against traffic), or right side (with traffic).
We dug into the issue, researching the statutes in Wisconsin and Minnesota. While our results are in no way complete (and absolutely should not be considered legal fact), they did turn up some interesting details.
As may be expected, neither Minnesota or Wisconsin state law specifically addresses the issue of rollerskis.
However, when rollerskis are specifically addressed at the city or county level there are two recurring (and rather obvious) themes:
1) Most ban rollerskiing "in a careless, reckless, or negligent manner in disregard for the rights or safety of property or any other person."
2) Neither Wisconsin or Minnesota will let you hitch a ride from (or on) a vehicle with your rollerskis.
Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, there are laws regarding bicycles, in-line skates and play vehicles (statute 340). Wisconsin state law defines inline skates as "skates with wheels arranged singly in a tandem line rather than in pairs". Play vehicles are defined as "a coaster, skate board, roller skates, sled, toboggan, unicycle or toy vehicle upon which a person may ride." In-line skates are specifically noted as not being play vehicles. In-line skates are allowed on roadways according to statute 346.94 sub 17. However, this authority can be overruled by a city or county ordinance. Play vehicles are not allowed on the roadways, except for at crosswalks (statute 346.78).
Because rollerskis are not defined, it would require a legal interpretation to determine if they are classified as in-line skates (wheels arranged singly in tandem) or as a play vehicle.
Wisconsin state law does not specifically mention on what side of the road in-line skates should operate, but all vehicle traffic, including bicycles and recreational vehicles, is expected to operate on the right-hand side of the road (statue 346).
So while Wisconsin state law leaves things slightly in the gray area, there are indeed a number of cities and counties that specifically regulate roller skis.If you are planning on doing some rollerskiing while on your summer vacation, then you might want to avoid these towns. The following towns all ban rollerskis specifically from roadways:
Adell (10-2-4)
Albany (79-8)
Belgium (newsletter)
Belleville (12-2-1, not clear though -- however 12-2-1-d states Roller Skis Not to Be Pulled By Moving Vehicles)
Brown Deer (10-2.02)
Colfax (10-2-4)
Dane (10-2-4)
Eagle (4.29)
Eau Claire (13.12.025)
Fox Point (23.06)
Grafton (9.46.010)
Greenfield (8.25)
Hales Corner (2.16)
Holmen (180-7)
Howards Grove (10-2-4)
Kenosha (7-14, 085-28)
La Crosse (7.04-u)
Lake Delton (42.11-B)
Marshall (10-2-4)
Menasha (10-2-8)
New Glarus (police dept)
Oak Creek (10.105)
Shiocton (10-2-4)
South Milwaukee (24.22)
Sparta (7.16)
Stevens Point (24.37)
Union (4-2.0120)
Viroqua (10.42.010)
Watertown (11.43)
Wisconsin Dells (23.16-2)
Nearly all of those communities treat rollerskis the same as roller skates, referring to them as "play vehicles", even though rollerskis are usually not listed in their prior definition of play vehicles (see most of the 10-2-4 ordinances).
Many cities specifically ban rollerskis from sidewalks, public ramps and parking lots, and private property (without permission). And numerous cities ban rollerskis (and similar devices) from specific public areas (usually places where someone might be tempted to skateboard) including tennis and basketball courts. In a few cities, rollerskis are prohibited on state highways.
Interesting Notes:
- The city of Marshfield includes roller blades and roller skis in the definition of in-line skates (allowed on right side of road).
- The city of Stephonson defines rollerskis as "a pair of narrow strips of wood, metal, or plastic curving upward in the front with a set of wheels attached for the purpose of moving by alternate action of the legs."
Our research did not find any instances where "play vehicles" were defined to use the left side of the road (but we did find a number of references allowing them to use the right side of the road).
Minnesota
Minnesota appears to have no specific laws governing the use of in-line skates or roller skis. This leaves the topic quite wide open.
There is very little mention of rollerskis in Minnesota city and/or county ordinances.
Rollerskiing specifically banned on roadways:
Plainview (712.2.1)
The following cities ban rollerskiing within a business/protected district of the city (generally a small area of the town that has high traffic levels):
Avon (74.26)
Belle Plaine (409.03)
Detroit Lakes (805.03)
Madison (74.26)
Park Rapids (74.26)
The following cities/counties ban rollerskiing on roads with speed limits above 30 mph:
Anoka County (62-131-c)
Hastings (130.04-c-d)
Interestingly enough, one town actually requires you rollerski on the left side of the road:
Silver Bay (1030.04)
Additional Notes:
- Some Minnesota towns prohibit rollerskis on state highways.
- Many Minnesota park districts and the University of Minnesota include inline skates and roller skis in the definition of roller skates.
- Washington County Parks prohibit roller skiing on park roads (paved trails are OK).
- Three Rivers Parks considers it a petty misdemeanor to cause damage to trails with sharp-tipped ski poles. Three Rivers also does not allow volunteer Park Patrol to rollerski (or use off-road skates).
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