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Skateboarding

Ways to Get Around Campus

Best Ways to Get Around Campus

The parking situation across many college campuses is a struggle, to say the least. A statistic at the University of Wisconsin showed that there is one available parking spot for every five college students. With the average cost for a student parking permit at about $280 per semester, it’s certainly worth exploring cheaper alternatives for getting to class on time. There are many transportation options and they each have advantages and disadvantages. We share our two cents on the various means of transportation, ranging from skateboards to taking the bus. So how will you cruise to class this semester?

The Madness Of Motorized Transportation

Some may prefer to drive their cars, which offers privacy and comfort by way of temperature control and cushioned seating. However, the price of a car is high when compared to the price of non-motorized means of transportation and the cost of gas is near all-time highs. Some may opt for a moped. Many of the students at the University of Florida find riding to class on a moped to be common and convenient. Regardless, mopeds require fuel, finding space for parking and confidence in your ability to navigate to class safely. Another alternative is public transportation which offers a handful of other options. Trains, buses and ridesharing will all allow students to get to class in a timely manner, but these modes of transportation require the purchase of either individual fares or a pass as a more long-term option.

Traditional Transportation

When boiling down bicycles vs skateboards you should consider the storage and the maintenance required to have your wheels at your disposal. Many class commuters opt for transportation on two wheels. For example, many students in Portland, Oregon choose to bicycle to and from campus because it is a relatively bicycle-friendly city. However, a bicycle requires finding a safe place to lock it up and preparation in the case of a maintenance emergency; meanwhile a longboard or cruiser doesn’t require as much storage for tools, locks or finding a bike rack.

Some of you may be thinking, “Why don’t I just walk?!” If the distance of your commute isn’t far, this is a very valid option. It carries no cost, offers physical exercise, and with proper planning will get you to class on time. It’s an especially attractive choice when the walk to class is a scenic one or offers the opportunity to socialize or network. You don’t even have to search for parking as you might with a car, moped, motorcycle, or bicycle. However, for many students, walking to class isn’t an option because they simply live too far away for it to be reasonable.

Commuting With Style

Skateboarding, in addition to its popularity, is a sensible and effective way to roll to any lecture or study group that may come up. And, after the initial investment, it’s free! It is even cheaper than buying a bicycle or paying for daily public transportation, and on a tight student budget, this carries major clout. It’s an individual pursuit, so skateboarders don’t need to share air with others on a bus or train and risk getting sick.

Let’s break down the difference between longboards and cruisers, shall we? Both longboards and cruisers tend to have larger and softer wheels. Softer wheels make for better movement on rough surfaces like the road or sidewalks. Softer wheels also offer more grip for turning. Larger wheels come in handy when you have a longer commute because they cover more ground which makes for less pushing and more cruising. Lastly, board (deck) size is the biggest deciding factor when comparing longboards and cruisers. A longer board doesn’t maneuver as well as a cruiser when it comes to turning. Imagine how much easier a car can turn a corner compared to a semi-truck. Longboards and cruiser decks are usually at least eight inches wide which makes for a more stable ride at higher speeds. Which will you choose?

Most importantly, skateboarding is a form of transportation that can also introduce one to a rich culture beyond the college campus. Skateboarding, while an individual pastime, offers a community that is global, inclusive, and loads of fun! Skateboarding offers a relaxing outlet that we all need, especially after an all-nighter of studying, while providing a winning method of cross-campus movement.

How do YOU prefer to commute?

SEE ALSO: The Importance of Saying Yes

Sector 9

Alternative Energy Vehicles by Sector 9

For years, one of the biggest challenges facing college students has been finding the best way to get around campus and Sector 9 Skateboard Co. believes their products provide the perfect solution! Since the 90s, the brand has consistently created premium quality skateboards for a wide range of consumers, made from various materials including wood and fiberglass. Their most popular boards are made from 100 percent sustainably harvested Bamboo, highlighted by their “Save a tree. Ride a weed.” campaign.

They’ve never been shy about sharing their mission statement, which is ‘We Make Fun’ and are both inclusive and transparent when they say, “We don’t care if you’re six or 60, we just want to put a smile on your face! We love making skateboards for the young and old, that give them the gravity defying speed and sensation they crave!”

Sector 9’s story actually began in 1993, with a group of college roommates, living in La Jolla, CA. Their house consisted of a bunch of good friends, a pool table, a mini-ramp, a ping-pong table and a surfboard shaping room all across the street from some nice smooth hills that led down to the local beach.  As you can imagine, with all of these fine features, it became quite the hangout spot. At the time, the group had a friend from Hawaii who used to always razz people by calling them ‘Nine Balls’.  One day he called to see what was going on at the house, but everyone was out ‘studying’, so he had to leave a message on our answering machine and asked, “What’s going on over there at Sector 9?”, which to the roommates meant a house full of ‘Nine Balls’.

Coincidently, one of their favorite neighborhood hill cruisers, that was a snowboard-turned-skateboard, had recently been stolen.  A few replacement boards were almost finished and just needed the finishing touches of a logo. The answering machine message was heard, and Sector 9 not only had a nice ring to it, but also seemed fitting, so it stuck, and the 9-Ball logo was born.

When people saw the Sector 9 crew skate by on these odd-looking longer boards, many times trying to alleviate the time between the campus parking lot and their lecture halls, the interest was immediately apparent, and production began in the backyard of the house. Lots of learning, and a couple of evictions later, they were forced to move into their first warehouse that would become the Sector 9 skateboard factory.

Entering the market at a time when every part of a skateboard was getting smaller, Sector 9 purposely went against the grain and began producing longer, wider boards, with bigger wheels.  This combination not only made the boards easier to ride, but also allowed them to travel much longer distances, with less effort required on behalf of the rider. After the initial launch, it seemed like the brand had more hecklers than they did fans, as people outside of their local area didn’t quite know what to make of these unique skateboards that were ‘built for surfers, by surfers’. But the 9-Ball slowly began rolling, first from coast to coast, then from continent to continent.

Sector 9’s following grew and grew and their families, employees, friends, followers, believers and customers all simply became known as 9’ers. Today, the brand is very much aware that the simple reason they’ve been able to persevere over the long course of this 25-year journey is because of their people: The 9’ers, worldwide. Like most long journeys, theirs has been filled with a number of road-blocks, breakdowns, wrong turns, mistakes, jump-starts, peaks, valleys, backseat drivers, victories, defeats, and occasional periods of smooth sailing on the open road.

Today, Sector 9 is a global brand, selling a wide range of skateboards, components, safety gear and softgoods in over 90 countries.  The company has always been headquartered in San Diego, CA, and they remain committed to creating a wide range of highly functional and innovative products for use by anyone and everyone—from the mountains to the sea, and everywhere in between!