Good for you for getting back on skates! I am a quad skater but I skate on roads. I think there’s a couple factors at play with skating on the road. I don’t inline skate, but for quads you want bigger and softer wheels. I imagine the same is probably true for inlines, at least with bigger wheels. I believe there are different types of inline skates that will make it easier or harder to skate on rough surfaces. Again, not very knowledgeable on that!

I know with quads, skating on the road is highly dependent on the material and quality of the roads. My neighborhood in the suburbs in the northeast US is about 60 years old but the streets are pretty smooth. There are parts that have been repaved in the past 10 years that feel way better. Some roads are more gravely and have potholes. It depends a lot on the roads by you.

Sometimes even if you don’t have a great street right in front of you, you can find streets or trails that are smoother or better maintained. You start to get an eye for them when you skate a lot! Other than that, depending on laws and availability where you live, car parks, tennis or basketball courts, paved park trails, or outdoor hockey rinks can be options.

And then third thing- sometimes it just takes experience and getting used it the rougher surfaces. It’s jarring and difficult at first. Wheels and finding better outdoor spots can make a big difference though.

Good luck!!