Portland Streets

Skating street is difficult and can have consequences, but Portland offers up being very skateboard friendly. The city passed a ordinance making skateboarding legal on the streets, recognizing it as a form of transportation. Because of this ordinance street skateboarding has often gotten ignored by law enforcement, though it is still illegal in the trick sense. Street Skating is an advanced aspect of skateboarding, and skaters should be confident in skating parks before they attempt to skate street. Street skating can turn intimidating and sometimes volatile when dealing with security guards and certain business owners. Situations such as these encounters can be smoothed over with politeness and respect, though they often end with the participants leaving. As Portland expands and is gentrified more spots to skate will appear, new difficulties will arise, and new positive changes will occur. Portland will always be a skate friendly city and the future could open up more to street skating, but at present Portland is a fantastic location to participate.

Street skating holds a variety of unspoken rules, which are held with importance to the community. Performing the same trick on a feature as someone who has previously performed the trick and documented it is ill-advised. Secrets tend to spread over time, but keeping spots secret is highly important. Also, skatepark etiquette often crosses over to the street realm. Respecting others, the location, and businesses will assist in keeping the locations mostly open for skating and under the radar.