The skateboard rider in question flies along on the Mount Vernon roads with no fear.
The Huntington Metro Station is sandwiched on all sides by busy roads but there’s a skateboard rider that uses the road too without paying much attention to the traffic, and this has caused a certain level of chatter from motorists in this area.
On social media, some have referred to the rider as a danger to drivers and the skateboard rider himself
“Thrill junkie,” one man called him on Nextdoor; this poster warned others on Richmond Highway right near the Huntington Road intersection. The rider speeds down steep hills in the travel lanes. “I’ve seen him cut off a car,” the man said.
Others chimed in saying it was the rider’s issue if he wanted to risk his life while others were concerned about drivers getting injured in an accident with the rider. Still others praised his skill cutting in and out of traffic.
One person was concerned about all the chatter this skateboard rider generated and felt the commenters were in the “big brother” category.
“Man, I'm glad I was allowed to be a kid outside before Nextdoor,” he said.
Riding a skateboard in the road amongst the Richmond Highway traffic is not exactly against the law though. “The rules for skateboard riding were mentioned on the Fairfax County website. Commonwealth of Virginia law allows the use of electric powered bicycles (e-bikes), skateboards, scooters, e-skateboards, hoverboards, e-scooters, electric personal assistive mobility devices [such as Segway’s and wheelchairs], and electric personal delivery devices, wherever regular bicycles are allowed,” and bikes are allowed on public roads. It may not be recommended along Richmond Highway, especially when there are bike trails nearby, but they are allowed. “Bicyclists and motorists basically have the same rights, responsibilities and duties, and the laws governing traffic regulation apply equally to both,” the county website read.
When the chatter started about the skateboarder, the weather hovered in the 40s or 50s and he wore a mask so it was interpreted by some as someone trying to hide his identity but it’s not clear if that’s what was happening.
One commuter, who did not want his name used, did try to reach out to the skateboarder. “What’s your name?” he asked out the car window. “I don’t have a name,” said the rider, “call me whatever you want,” he said.
Along Richmond Highway in the Mount Vernon area, there have been several fatal accidents involving pedestrians. Some of them involved bicyclists too. On Oct. 6, 2023, there was a hit and run fatality on Richmond Highway in the Woodlawn area which is just south of the Huntington Road-Richmond Highway intersection. In May 2023, there was another fatal accident on Richmond Highway involving a motorcycle.