COVID on Wheels
California roller skaters, skateboarders and cyclists have all found ways to socially distance while creating communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
by Jacquelyn Moreno, Sean Reyes, and Matthew Ali
Cyclists, roller skaters and skateboarders have maintained a way to cope with the shelter in place order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom that advises those to remain inside and keep a six-feet distance from each other. These communities have made the effort to respect the space of others while staying physically active through outdoor activities.
According to the CDC, 40 percent of U.S. adults have experienced an increase in mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Included in these challenges, adults suffered from the lack of physical social interaction.
“When you break that social connection, illness often occurs,” said Eric Peper, a professor of health education at San Francisco State University. “Loneliness is a high predictor for illness. And now we live in a culture where that for a number of people, it's harder to go out and meet people. And you need the initiative to do it.”
The humanistic need for social interaction is inevitably met through virtual or in-person means, but these communities have utilized the flow of outdoor air to navigate solidarity through the pandemic.
Rolling through a pandemic: Bay Area roller skaters find a way to enjoy their passion while social distancing
Beginning and experienced roller skaters have rhythmically made their way to Golden Gate Park’s Skatin’ Circle on 6th and Fulton to share their passion for rolling skating during the COVID-19 pandemic. During shelter in place, not only have San Francisco residents picked up the momentum of rolling skating again but also Oakland and the greater Bay Area combined. The San Ramon skaters noticed that the hoops were dismantled at an East Oakland park and got the idea to use the smooth ground to make a skate rink as a way for their community to connect while roller skating. Both cities bring their own original culture and style but nonetheless has become a community based solidarity of friendship during these unprecedented times.
On March 16, six Bay Area counties were ordered to shelter in place due to the spread of the coronavirus. These counties consisted of San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa and Alameda. Although Sonoma, Solano and Napa did not issue these same orders, they would soon follow. The order was set until April 7 but the magnitude of the virus has turned into 1.62 million cases and 21,196 deaths in California. Safe Graph data was composed with the intent to track the daily changes in behavior due shelter in place. The shelter index shown in the graph provided is not based on the metric distance traveled. Since the virus can be transmitted within smaller indexes of traveling, the data focuses on time spent at and away from home. The Shelter in Place Index represents the change in percent of people staying home and spans -100% to 100% where 0 is the baseline.
Another Bike Club: How a Group of Bikers Found Community During COVID-19
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, socializing with others and being active has proven to be a challenge for many, but the Oakland based group Another Bike Club has created an outlet for people to come together and exercise outdoors during this time. The club hosts bike rides every first to third Wednesdays and last Saturdays of the month. Another Bike Club was founded by a group of people who were previously hosting parties and events under the name Another Party Fam before the pandemic. “Once coronavirus hit that stopped all and every party, so we kind of pivoted from throwing parties and events to throwing outdoor bike events,” said Francis Reyes, a founding member of the club. "This whole coronavirus kind of started re-biking and feeling like a kid again and it feels good to be out with like minded people."
The CDC conducted a survey of U.S. adults from June 24 to 30 reporting an increase in mental health issues related to morbidity, mortality and mitigation activities. The challenges these adults faced also consisted of physical distancing and stay at home orders subjecting them from contact with others in outdoor activities.
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Skaters grind through the pandemic: Los Angeles skateboarders come together to improve their craft in spite of COVID woes
Los Angeles skateboarders come together every Sunday to practice their sport, film clips and bond during the pandemic. “Sunday Service” is what the skateboarders call this weekly gathering in Koreatown’s Wilshire Park Place where local skaters have the chance to hone their craft, give advice to each other, exercise, and share experiences during a time where social interaction is mostly virtual. Between 100 and 150 skaters show up each week over the course of the day.