It's like a bicycle in a backpack, super explorer boots, an excellent means of quick exercise, release, revitalization and sightseeing after slouching in the vehicle all day or after a gig. This past year I've bladed a lot of towns. As NYC becomes increasingly conservative I've come to hate this place aside from the skating. It's the best, scoring very high in all categories. For traffic-free skating check out Central Park on weekends and the path from 14th Street down along the Hudson River to Battery Park.
Most towns become surreal, are more interesting and have infinitely less traffic at night.
In hot cities it's the only sane time to go out. Skaters hang next to the Notre Dame and across the river from the Eifeel Tower in the daytime. This place rocks. City of bicycles. Cool grungy old town.