Rollerblades vs bike vs scooter – Which is better for commuting?

Nowadays it is increasingly common to use alternative transport to the car or motorcycle to get around the city. And with a growing environmental awareness, many people are seriously considering using skates, bicycles or scooters to get around town for work, shopping or any other small trip they may need.

It is then when the question arises as to what is better for getting around, whether inline skates, a bike or a scooter. At Inercia we are active users of these three means of transport, so we will try to shed some light on the subject.

Main benefits of using skates, bicycles or scooters as a means of urban transport

Health benefits

Rollerblades, bicycles and scooters are very beneficial to our health as they require our effort to propel them. In other words, by using any of these three means of transportation, we can activate our muscles, circulatory system and, in general, our cardiovascular system.

In addition, skates, bikes and scooters do not require impact to propel us, so they do not damage our joints.

And, not least, any physical activity is tremendously beneficial for our mind, helping us to reduce stress, anxiety or improve our mood among many other benefits.

Pocketbook benefits

We are living in somewhat complicated times in which everything is going up in price, especially energy, whether electric or from fossil fuels. A motor vehicle is expensive to buy and maintain. In addition, it is mandatory to be insured, get a license and pay fees.

On the other hand, skates, bicycles and scooters have a much lower initial cost and practically no maintenance costs, taxes or insurance.

From about 150 € we can have a more than decent skates to move around the city. For a bicycle the price will depend on the type of bike we want, to which we will have to add the locks, and can start from about 250 €. In the case of the scooter, it is the most economical of all and for about 100 € we can have a more than decent model.

In any case, both for the initial cost and for the legal and maintenance costs, both skates and bikes or scooters are much cheaper than combustion or electric transport and that is something to take into account.

Benefits for the planet

There is no longer any doubt that we are in the midst of a climate crisis and although there is much to be done, we can do our bit by trying to pollute less. Using a sustainable and environmentally friendly means of transport such as skates, bicycles or scooters can certainly help to reverse this situation.

Rollerblading vs. biking vs. scootering, main differences

Now that we have more than justified reasons to use skates, a bike or a scooter to move around, let’s see the difference between them, their advantages and disadvantages.

Inline skates – Advantages

• Agility: Inline skates are very agile to negotiate any obstacle.
• Weight and size: They are relatively light and can be carried in a backpack.
• Easy to transport: If we have to alternate between public transport and skates, it will be very comfortable to do so.
• Easy maintenance: Because they are so mechanically simple, they are virtually maintenance free. At most it will be necessary to change tires or brake pads from time to time.
• Muscle toning: Skating forces you to use muscles that are not normally used, such as gluteus muscles, abductors and basically the entire lower body. It also strengthens the abdominal and lumbar muscles.
• Improved coordination and balance: The activity of skating forces us to improve our coordination and balance and that helps us with many other facets of life.

Inline skates – Disadvantages

• Learning: To skate with a certain fluency in the city, it requires a learning period that can last a few months depending on the person and whether he/she takes skating lessons or not.
• Foot pain: If you skate for a long time or if you are not used to it, blisters and chafing may appear on your feet, which are annoying and need to be taken care of.
• Falls: Although skates are safer than popularly believed, the risk of falling always exists.
• They do not have a gear shift: On climbs, we will have to work harder.
• They are not all-terrain: Skates require a well-maintained floor. On very rough, dirt or wet ground, they are not easy or pleasant to use.

Riding a bike – Advantages

• Ease of use: for someone who has never ridden a bike before, the learning period is relatively short.
• Safety: The fact that the brakes are easy to apply is a great advantage.
• Carrying capacity: We can carry almost anything on a bike, even hitch a trailer or take our children.
• Shifting gears: We can play with the gears to reduce fatigue.

Riding a bike – Disadvantages

• Theft: Unfortunately, in big cities, bicycle theft is the order of the day, even if quality locks or chains are used.
• Pain and chafing: Lack of habit can make it difficult to ride the bike for a long time because of saddle chafing.
• Weight and size: If we have to alternate the bike with other means of transport, the task can be somewhat complicated.
• High maintenance: As it is a vehicle with a lot of mechanics, we will have to give it more maintenance, such as chain lubrication, brake pads revision, brake cables, tires, etc.

Scooter – Advantages

• Ease of use: The learning curve is minimal.
• Lightweight and easy to transport: Being foldable and made of aluminum, they are easy to transport.
• Low maintenance: All and have some mechanical parts such as the folding mechanism or the brake, usually do not give many problems and require little maintenance.
• Quite agile: They can move quite easily between pedestrians or other obstacles that we find.

Scooter – Disadvantages

• Low speed: It is difficult to reach speeds similar to skates or bicycles.
• Discomfort in the hip: When we propel ourselves with only one leg, it is common that we tend to do it more with one leg than with the other. This can lead to discomfort or even injury in the long term if we do not alternate legs.
• Not very stable in turns: Having a very vertical angle of attack and a small wheel, they are not very stable in curves if we go a little fast.

Which is better for city travel, inline skates, bicycle or scooter?

Here comes the million-dollar question: Which means of transport is better for getting around the city: roller skates, bicycle or scooter?

The answer is: it depends. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and in certain circumstances one may be better than the other.

For example, if we have to take our child to school or we have to transport something relatively heavy, the bicycle will undoubtedly be the best option.

If, on the other hand, we have to take another means of transportation such as a train or subway, skates or scooters will be much more comfortable.

In the case that we have to go through crowded pedestrian areas, skates are the winners without a doubt.

We could find an endless number of cases in which each of these means of transport would provide an advantage over its rivals. Sowhen you consider using a skateboard, bike or scooter to get around town, think about all the needs you might encounter in your day-to-day life.

Is it legal to go around town on skates, bicycles or scooters?

In principle, it is completely legal to ride on bicycle lanes with skates, bikes or scooters. In pedestrian areas, we must reduce our speed. On the road, it will only be legal to ride a bicycle, although the legislation is not entirely clear and each municipality applies different regulations.

What protections are necessary for skating or riding a bike or scooter?

As we always recommend, protections are essential whenever we ride skates, bikes or scooters. The helmet is undoubtedly the number one protection. In the case of skates, we can also use gloves, wrist and elbow pads as the risk of falling is higher. Although we understand that for quiet use as a means of transportation, it can be cumbersome to use knee and elbow pads.

Change the chip, ride skates, bicycles or scooters for your and everyone’s sake!!!!

NOTE: In this article we have discussed only inline skates and not 4-wheel or quad skates. Inline skates in principle are more suitable for moving around the city, although 4-wheeled skates can also be used. In this article we explain it in more depth.