Heelys: You Have Your Say

Wow! Our recent Show Me story about museums banning Heelys® has certainly got you in a spin...

In our original story, Ruby from Brighton was very much pro-Heelys.

Here she is holding her pair. Click on the link to find out more!



© 24 Hour Museum / Jon Pratty

Now for those emails we've had in from Show Me surfers...thanks, guys!

Show Me reader, Kely is definitely in favour of Heelys but can see the museums' point. Do you agree with her argument?

"Hi my name is Kely and Im from rotherham I have got a pair of heelys and they should only be band from musams but no where else they are just a normal pair of shoes if the deisigns wanted them banned they would't have invented them"

This Show Me surfer agrees with Kely:

"I think that heelys should be banned from museums because you might hit something but i think heelys are great. But when you are doing heelys i think you should do it in shopping centres."

Here's another thoughtful comment:

"Heelys are great fun for children at the age of 5 till 12 years old.I have some my self,and i think children should not be alowed to wear them in meseums,as I am not alowed to myself!"

This Show Me surfer is very considerate to others:

"i think that heeleys are skates and it's not the museums that should have to change their displays but instead people should think about not just themselves . Everyone thinks of them selves too much and not about rules . You should put the cork on on your skates when you are in these places and be a responsible citizen not one who always wants their own way"

How about this strong opinion? But is it for or against?

"i think that heelys should be banned, anyways why dont thetake them off before they go into a building? anyway, they are silly! you could get hurt or even killed wearing them! they are silly things to wear, and how on earth do they get up the stairs to visit more places of the building. i persanaly think that they should put the more valubal things upstairs, where the silly people cant get them to damage them. if they cant move them upstairs, then ban them!"

Claire suggests a solution:

"i thinks heelys should be free to wear but at owners risk if any damage is done in meuseums people should pay for repairs."

This could work if someone broke something in a shop - but what would happen in a museum, if something rare and priceless was broken, which could never be replaced?

In January 2006, three priceless vases were smashed to pieces at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge when a visitor fell down a staircase. (He was wearing ordinary shoes but it's thought he tripped on his shoelace.)

Here's Ceramic Conservator Penny Bendall working on reassembling the vases - a very fiddly job.

© Fitzwilliam Museum

Why not pay a visit to your local museum or gallery and see for yourself why some have banned Heelys®.

Fun places like Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery may be Heelys-free but they still have lots to see and do!

© Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery

What do you think? Should museums and galleries ban Heelys?

Have your say. Get in touch with us at Show Me and sound off!





© 24 Hour Museum / Jon Pratty