Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Skateboarding as Social and Environmental Praxis: Navigating a Sustainable Future

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Geographies of Global Issues: Change and Threat

Part of the book series: Geographies of Children and Young People ((GCYP,volume 8))

Abstract

Young people’s political agency manifests in ways that are different from adults and that agency is typified by different spatial, mobile, and place-based dynamics. Varied expressions of political agency among young people exist, among them those responding to pressing global challenges that implicate social justice, climate change, and urbanization. Transport is one of the sectors of social and spatial life both deeply affected by and strongly influencing these particular challenges. Among some young people, several responses exist in relation to the perennial questions about how to be mobile: walk, cycle, blade, skate, practice parkour, catch public transport, drive cars, or use combinations of these modes. For some, other supports such as wheelchairs are used. This paper focuses on one of these: skateboarding. The claim that is examined here is whether, how, to what extent, and with what effects skateboarding can be (and be seen to be) both social and environmental praxis. Consideration is given to how to comprehend skateboarding as a means to mitigate and adapt to climate change, to be mobile, to claim a place in public spaces, and to strike a balance between consuming and producing wisely. What might skateboarding as social and environmental praxis reveal about youthful politics, agency, political rights, and protection, and what new insights might emerge from these reflections?

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adelaide City Council. (2014). Council > Your Say > Adelaide City Skate Park > Relocation > FAQs. Retrieved 6 Oct 2014, from http://yoursay.adelaidecitycouncil.com/city-skatepark/faqs

  • Annear, S. (2013). The future of transportation could include a skateboard-meets-Segway hybrid vehicle, Boston Daily, December 6. Retrieved 6 Oct 2014, from http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2013/12/06/bsa-space-rights-of-way-mobility/

  • Autio, M., & Heinonen, V. (2004). To consume or not to consume? Young people’s environmentalism in the affluent Finnish society. Young, 12(2), 137–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, C. (2011). Petition to members of the Columbia City Council: Legalize skateboarding as an environmentally friendly, healthy mode of transportation in Columbia, MO. Retrieved 4 Oct2014, from http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/LegalizeSkateboardingCOMO/

  • Banister, D. (2011). Cities, mobility and climate change. Journal of Transport Geography, 19(6), 1538–1546. doi:10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2011.03.009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bartlett, S. (2008). Climate change and urban children: Impacts and implications for adaptation in low-and middle-income countries. Environment & Urbanization, 20(2), 501–519.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bedno, A. (no date). Skating with critical mass. Retrieved 17 Nov 2014, from http://chicagocriticalmass.org/skate

  • Boardworld Forum. (2013). Climate change in Australia. Forum Home > General > Boardworld Social > Thread. Retrieved 3 Oct 2014, from http://www.boardworld.com.au/forums/viewthread/630/P300

  • Boeve-de Pauw, J., Donche, V., & Van Petegem, P. (2011). Adolescents’ environmental worldview and personality: An explorative study. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 31(2), 109–117. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.05.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borden, I. (2001). Skateboarding, space and the city: Architecture and the body. Oxford: Berg Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Busse, M., & Menzel, S. (2014). The role of perceived socio-spatial distance in adolescents’ willingness to engage in pro-environmental behavior. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 40, 412–420. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2014.10.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castiglione, R. (2012). Dead space. (Masters of Architecture), University of Detroit Mercy, Mercy. Retrieved from http://archives.udmercy.edu:8080/handle/10429/614

  • Chiu, C. (2009). Contestation and conformity street and park skateboarding in New York City public space. Space and Culture, 12(1), 25–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daley, C., & Saar, E. (2014). Fatalities involving skateboards. Time period 1 July 2001 to 31 December 2011. National Coronial Information System. August. Report Reference DR14-08. Melbourne: NCIS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foley, M., Frew, M., & McGillivray, D. (2003). Rough comfort: Consuming adventure on the ‘edge’. In B. Humberstone, H. Brown, & K. Richards (Eds.), Whose journeys? The outdoors and adventure as social and cultural phenomena (pp. 149–160). Penrith: The Institute for Outdoor Learning.

    Google Scholar 

  • Furness, Z. (2007). Critical mass, urban space and vélomobility. Mobilities, 2(2), 299–319. doi:10.1080/17450100701381607.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gössling, S., & Cohen, S. (2014). Why sustainable transport policies will fail: EU climate policy in the light of transport taboos. Journal of Transport Geography, 39, 197–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Government of New South Wales. (2014). Healthy kids: Eat well, get active. Home > Kids & Teens > Kids Activities > Sport and Physical Activity Ideas. Skateboarding. Retrieved 4 Oct 2014, from http://www.healthykids.nsw.gov.au/kids-teens/kids-activities/kids-sport-and-physical-activity-ideas/kids-skateboarding.aspx

  • Gravity Skateboards. (2011). Environmental efforts. Retrieved 5 Oct 2014, from http://www.gravityboard.com/pages/environmental/environmental.html

  • Hopkins, D., & Stephenson, J. (2014). Generation Y mobilities through the lens of energy cultures: A preliminary exploration of mobility cultures. Journal of Transport Geography, 38, 88–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howell, O. (2008). Skatepark as neoliberal playground: Urban governance, recreation space, and the cultivation of personal responsibility. Space and Culture, 11(4), 475–496.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenson, A., Swords, J., & Jeffries, M. (2012). The accidental youth club: Skateboarding in Newcastle-Gateshead. Journal of Urban Design, 17(3), 371–388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lefebvre, H. (1991). The production of space (trans: Nicholson-Smith, D.). Oxford Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lefebvre, H. (1996) Writing on cities, edited and with an introduction by E. Kofman & E. Lebas, Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Low, N., Douglas, H., Kessler, N., Hurst, J. & Stratford, E., (2010). Fresh! A Map of a Dream of the Future. Exploring Island Life, Climate Change, Resilience. Hobart: School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, L. (2009). An ethnographic study of the skateboarding culture. The Sport Journal, 12(4).

    Google Scholar 

  • National Transport Commission. (2012). Australian road rules as approved by the Australian Transport Council. Canberra: National Transport Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Németh, J. (2006). Conflict, exclusion, relocation: Skateboarding and public space. Journal of Urban Design, 11(3), 297–318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ojala, M. (2011). Hope and climate change: The importance of hope for environmental engagement among young people. Environmental Education Research, 18(5), 625–642. doi:10.1080/13504622.2011.637157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Otto, S., & Kaiser, F. G. (2014). Ecological behavior across the lifespan: Why environmentalism increases as people grow older. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 40, 331–338. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2014.08.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Philo, C., & Smith, F. (2013). The child-body-politic: Afterword on ‘Children and Young People’s Politics in Everyday Life’. Space and Polity, 17(1), 137–144. doi:10.1080/13562576.2013.780718.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Priesnitz, W. (no date). Catching a green wave: Greening human-powered action sports. Retrieved 3 Oct 2014, from http://www.naturallifemagazine.com/0706/sports.htm

  • Rawlinson, C., & Guaralda, M. (2011). Play in the city: Parkour and architecture. Paper presented at the The First International Postgraduate Conference on Engineering, Designing and Developing the Built Environment for Sustainable Wellbeing, Brisbane.

    Google Scholar 

  • RNicky Mouse. (2012). Skateboarding dog. Retrieved 5 Oct 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8XAlSp838Y&index=2&list=PL7BCA2D3FB8F7D100

  • Sandercock, L. (1997). From main street to fortress: The future of malls as public spaces, or ‘shut up and shop’. Just Policy, 9, 27–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheffield, P. E., & Landrigan, P. J. (2011). Global climate change and children’s health: Threats and strategies for prevention. Environmental Health Perspectives, 119(3), 291–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skelton, T. (2013). Young people, children, politics and space: A decade of youthful political geography scholarship 2003–13. Space and Polity, 17(1), 123–136. doi:10.1080/13562576.2013.780717.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skirtboarders. (2009). Les Skirtboarders – Boston Dew Tour – Summer 2009 Retrieved 14 Oct 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qFuEijkSA4

  • Stratford, E. (2002). On the edge: A tale of skaters and urban governance. Social & Cultural Geography, 3(2), 193–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stratford, E. (2015a). ‘Dear Prime Minister’ … mapping island children’s political views on climate change. In M. Benwell & P. Hopkins (Eds.), Children, young people and critical geopolitics. Aldershot: Ashgate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stratford, E. (2015b). Geographies, mobilities, and rhythms over the life course: Adventures in the interval. Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stratford, E. (2016). Mobilizing a spatial politics of street skating: Thinking about the geographies of generosity. Annals of the Association of American Geographers. doi:10.1080/00045608.2015.1100062.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stratford, E., & Low, N. (2013). Young islanders, the meteorological imagination, and the art of geopolitical engagement. Children’s Geographies, 13(2), 164–180. doi:10.1080/14733285.2013.828454.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tanner, T. (2010). Shifting the narrative: Child-led responses to climate change and disasters in El Salvador and the Philippines. Children & Society, 24(4), 339–351. doi:10.1111/j.1099-0860.2010.00316.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tillett, T. (2011). Climate change and children’s health: Protecting and preparing our youngest. Environmental Health Perspectives, 119(3), 132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Treehugger (Ten Years of Looking Forward). (2004). Beck(y) used skateboard bags etc. Retrieved 6 October 2014, from http://www.treehugger.com/style/becky-used-skateboard-bags-etc.html

  • Treehugger (Ten Years of Looking Forward) (2011). Hardwood floors & basketball courts recycled into skateboards. Retrieved 7 Oct 2014, from http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/hardwood-floors-basketball-courts-recycled-into-skateboards.html

  • United Nations. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. (2014). Independent expert on human rights and the environment. John Knoxt. Retrieved 5 Oct 2014, from http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Environment/IEEnvironment/Pages/IEenvironmentIndex.aspx

  • Valentine, G. (1996). Children should be seen and not heard: The production and transgression of adults’ public space. Urban Geography, 17(3), 205–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Various authors. (2008). Skateboard-City Forum > Skateboarding > Skate Products > Shoes > Sweat shop free skate shoes? Retrieved 7 Oct 2014, from http://www.skateboard-city.com/messageboard/showthread.php?t=172569

  • Vivoni, F. (2009). Spots of spatial desire: Skateparks, skateplazas, and urban politics. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 33(2), 130–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vivoni, F. (2012). Waxing ledges: Built environments, alternative sustainability, and the Chicago skateboarding scene. Local Environment, 18(3), 340–353. doi:10.1080/13549839.2012.714761.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waters, T. (2012). 2011 Skateboarding fatalities. Retrieved 10 July 2014, from http://www.skatepark.org/park-development/2012/01/2011-skateboarding-fatalities/

  • Waters, T. (2013). Skateboarding fatality report for the USA, 2012. Skaters For Public Skateparks. Retrieved 2 Feb 2014, from http://www.skatepark.org/park-development/2013/03/2012-skateboarding-fatalities/

  • Waters, T. (2014). 2013 Skateboarding fatalities. Retrieved 10 July 2014, from http://www.skatepark.org/park-development/advocacy/2014/02/2013-skateboard-fatalities/

  • White, R. (2011a). Climate change, uncertain futures and the sociology of youth. Youth Studies Australia, 30(3), 13–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, R. (2011b). Transnational environmental crime: Towards an eco-global criminology. Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wixon, B. (2013). Think globally, skate locally: Skateboarders need to start thinking locally. Skaters for Public Skateparks. Retrieved 6 Oct 2014, from http://www.skatepark.org/park-development/management/2013/08/iasc-conference-2013/

  • Woodyer, T. (2012). Ludic geographies: Not merely child’s play. Geography Compass, 6(6), 313–326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Peter Underwood Centre for Educational Attainment, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 3, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia

    Elaine Stratford

Authors
  1. Elaine Stratford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elaine Stratford .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. InstituteofEnvironment,Health&Societies, Brunel University , Uxbridge, United Kingdom

    Nicola Ansell

  2. SchoolofGeography&SustainableCommunities, University of Wollongong SchoolofGeography&SustainableCommunities, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

    Natascha Klocker

  3. Department of Geography, National University of Singapore Department of Geography, Singapore, Singapore

    Tracey Skelton

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

About this entry

Cite this entry

Stratford, E. (2016). Skateboarding as Social and Environmental Praxis: Navigating a Sustainable Future. In: Ansell, N., Klocker, N., Skelton, T. (eds) Geographies of Global Issues: Change and Threat. Geographies of Children and Young People, vol 8. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4585-54-5_13

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation