Inline Skating

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

In-line Skating, Rollerblading, Inline Speed Skating

Category

Activities, Sporting Activities, Sports, Tourism, Recreation

Message / Function

For notice in general and to signify the activity of inline skating

	Source	Description
	Phạm Thanh Lộc	Side view of human figure inline speed skating
	Gan Khoon Lay	Side view of human figure inline speed skating and wearing helmet
	Avanti PUM	Side view of human figure inline skating
	U.S. National Park Service	Side view of human figure inline skating
	Sagamihara	Side view of human figure inline skating
	MUTCD	Side view of human figure inline skating
	Parks Canada	Side view of human figure inline skating
	Le Thoại	Side view of human figure inline skating, motion streaks behind
	Wien BfS	Side view of human figure inline skating
	ÖNORM A 3011	Side view of human figure inline skating and wearing protective gear
	bubaone	Side view of inline skates
	W-RSSK	Side view of inline skates
	MDCT	Side view of inline skates

Note: Some of the examples shown above were mirrored horizontally to contrast differences.

Discussion

The collection above suggests that something like a visual stereotype exists to signify the activity of inline skating: the side view of a human figure inline skating. Variations of renderings focus on a few details like posture of the skater, rendering of the inline skates, motion streaks, and protective gear like helmet, elbow pads, wrist guards, and knee pads. Besides these pictograms one also can find variants just based on displaying inline skates in side view.

We could not find any test data concerning graphic symbols for Inline Skating in our database, but there is some information concerning comprehensibility of one pictogram available: since all pictograms that failed comprehension testing in Canada have been retired from use there, the Parks Canada pictogram No 6-4-105: In-line Skating displayed above must have reached a comprehension rate of 60 % or higher, as this variant does not have the status Retired.

Furthermore we found data concerning the message No In-line Skating: Evaluating the Parks Canada’s National Park and National Historic Sites symbols, also prohibition symbols were examined using a Comprehension Test according to ISO 9186. For a variant based on pictogram No 6-4-105: In-line Skating, labeled Parks Canada in the table above, but in black on white inside a red circle and with a diagonal slash, 99 % of the responses were classified as acceptable, indicating excellent comprehensibility of the base symbol in Canada (Ipsos-Reid Corporation, 2003, page 23).

Recommendations

ÖNORM A 3011 Public Information Symbol No 153: Inline Skating

Regarding the circumstance that most side views of human figures inline skating are probably well comprehensible, one could recommend several renderings. Using a variant like ÖNORM A 3011 Public Information Symbol No 153 for Inline Skating might have an educational aspect, as almost the full protective gear with helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads is shown in this pictogram.

Tests of pictograms of referent Inline Skating or No In-line Skating

Ipsos-Reid Corporation (2003): Evaluation of Parks Canada’s National Park and National Historic Sites Symbols – Phase I.

Parks Canada (2007): Parks Canada Identity Program: Exterior Signage; Standards and Guidelines - Version 1. March 2007.