Your car has no lights, and the streets are slick with ice. It’s a long way home in this weather. But you’ve got a plan: you’re going to skate there.

Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Aro... Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Around

You slip on your skates and look out into the darkness from the warmth of the rink. The streetlights are far apart, and everything is cast in an ominous glow. As you look on, the streetlights go out one by one. The sky disappears behind thick clouds; it’s dusk all over again. You skate along the road until you come to a long stretch of sidewalk with no lights at all, and not a car in sight.

As soon as your wheels touch that bleak expanse of pavement, you are skating on ice. Not just any ice, but treacherous black ice that could send you skidding or even break your legs. You grit your teeth and push forward, snakelike. Just as suddenly as the ice appeared, it’s gone again when you reach the next streetlight.

So what are some of the tips of skating at night?

First, stay away from areas such as roads, sidewalks, and paths that aren’t well lit. Ideal skating trails are only lightly trafficked and have sufficient lighting for safe travel.

It is best to avoid outdoor rinks in the dark because they usually don’t get lit until much later. Streets and bike paths (where the surface is more variable) are also best avoided at night.

Second, make yourself visible. Wear highly reflective or bright-colored clothes and always wear a headlamp and/or flashing red lights (at least one on the front of your skates). Reflective vests that strap onto your legs work well for this purpose as they stay in place, are not too bulky, are inexpensive, and are readily available. Fluorescent colors work best for visibility. Make sure that your skates’ lights are working properly before you skate at night!

If you can afford it, I suggest buying some extra wheels with built-in headlights. They’re expensive if you buy them new but they’re common on second-hand sites like eBay. I also recommend buying a headlamp that is designed for skating.

Third, skate slowly with long strides. You may need to exercise more caution at night than during the day so feel free to take your time getting where you’re going. Since ice can be very hard to see at night, try not to use your toe stops.

If you have a choice between going on roads and sidewalks, take the sidewalks even if they’re not as scenic as the roads. This is because light from cars will help to illuminate the road’s surface better than it does for sidewalks.