The use of personal transportation devices, often called “hoverboards,” is on the rise among celebrities and students alike.
In 1989, Robert Zemeckis, filmmaker and screenwriter for Back to the Future II, imagined a world in 2015 where people would ride hoverboards on sidewalks.
His future is now a reality.
Known as hoverboards, hands-free segways or PhunkeeDucks around campus, the two-wheeled contraptions have been hard to miss zipping up and down the streets of Athens.
The vehicles, known in technical terms as “personal transportation devices," have been making waves on campuses across the U.S. including at OU.
Nate Doughty, a freshman studying journalism, said he rides his board to classes and dining halls, which often inspires comments and inquisitive looks from observers.
“I don’t actually know what to call it,” Doughty said of the device. “The box called it a ‘self-balancing two-wheeled scooter.’ ”
The "scooters," which tend to be sold by manufacturers under a several different names, are becoming a popular mode of transportation for college students.
Some of devices can go up to 12 mph, handle bumps and small debris without trouble and take about two to three hours to charge. Ricky Weber, a sophomore studying mechanical engineering, said his board can handle the toughest of OU’s terrains.
“It will go up and down Morton, Jeff and Mill Street Hill with little-to-no trouble,” Weber said. “It will also go from South Green to Stocker (Center) and back three times in one charge.”
Doughty said the devices can draw spectators in public spaces, which he said happens frequently.
“You get a lot of attention, and depending on the attention you want, that can be a good or a bad thing,” Doughty said. “It’s annoying at night to come home because everyone’s coming back from the parties, and they’re all like, ‘Woah, man let me try it,’ and I’m like, ‘No man, I’d rather not break it. I don’t want to be a jerk, but ... it’s my money. It’s my toy.' ”
Currently, the hands-free segway industry is dominated by PhunkeeDuck and IO HAWK, two brands that have managed to popularize their products through celebrity endorsements and late-show appearances.
However, Doughty said the two brands utilize the very same technology as the off-brand devices often used by students. The price difference between off-brand and designer models is significant, with designer models starting between $1,500 and $1,800, and generic re-creations running about $300.
A standard bike from local shop Athens Bicycle, on the other hand, has a base price of $380 and includes perks such as lifetime adjustments and custom sizing, which are few and far between in the hoverboard industry.
Despite the increasing popularity of the new technology, Athens Bicycle employee Daniel Brown sees no threat being posed to the cycling industry.
“It’s an interesting idea,” Brown said of the hoverboard concept. “But I don’t think that we should worry about them replacing bikes. In the end, you’re still the one powering the bike.”
Despite the potential for the devices to discourage walking and exercise, Doughty, who often alternates between his hands-free segway and a bicycle when traveling to and from class, sees no cause for alarm.
“This is the outlook I’ve given it: People probably said, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re going to get fat,’ when they invented cars because they would walk everywhere or they’d take a horse and buggy," Doughty said. "But this is just a new technology. It’s changed. It’s different.”
@lauren__fisher
