Multimodal Movement: E-Skateboards
Sep 30, 2024
Electric skateboards are gaining popularity in our state as a means to get around. They’re eco-friendly, saves the rider money, and fun to ride! E-skateboards are featured in this month’s Multimodal Movement segment on KITV.
E-Skateboarder and Hilo Resident David Carbon said: “I got into this right before the pandemic, and it really changed my life. I usually skate from Rainbow Falls all the way to Keaukaha and cruise around Bay Front. I would use it in place of my car because I could just get around faster, and it was cheaper for me to go do chores. I think e-skateboards have a lot of potential to help local residents save money.”
Jess Thompson of the Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, which promotes multimodal transportation, added: “Here on Hawaiʻi Island, Hele-On, which is the bus service, is currently free. Anybody can access the Hele-On Bus and take it from, for example, Hilo to Kona. But once you get there, we need that last mile … jump on the bus, get off the bus, and e-skateboard to where you need to go. The more people use multimodal public transportation, the more drivers are actually going to be aware of sharing the road.”
If you’d like to try e-skateboarding to get around, here are some helpful tips:
- Wear protective gear.
- Make sure your board is fully charged, wheels are properly tightened, and brakes are working.
- Stay alert of your surroundings — potholes, hazards on the road, other people.
These Multimodal Movement segments on KITV share information and highlight the benefits of riding the bus, biking, walking and rail, among other options. They also encourage folks to think about changing the way they travel. Viewers see how everyday multimodal transportation users go about their day without having to depend on driving a car, how making the choice is easy, and how it helps to reduce carbon emissions and traffic. The goal is to increase awareness of multimodal transportation choices and encourage residents to change their routines and mindset about getting around.
Another significant benefit of not owning a car is saving money on gas and maintenance. In Hawai‘i, personal vehicles cost an average of $16,200 per household per year, and the cost of vehicle ownership continues to increase. Factoring in all public costs (state and county expenditures, social and economic trade-offs, and real estate value of land set aside for roadways and parking), the total comes to an estimated $40,600 per household per year.
Watch the two Multimodal Movement spots featuring e-skateboards: Part 1 and Part 2. To view more Multimodal Movement videos, click here.