6 Minute English – New transport on two wheels

Finn
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I’m Finn…

Neil
… and I’m Neil. Hello.

Finn
Today we’re talking about one of the latest forms of transport on two wheels.

Neil
Yes. We’re not talking about bicycles here.

Finn
No, we’re talking about a… self-balancing transport device. What a complicated name! Now a device is an object which has been created for a particular purpose. But yes, you need to balance on this device which means you need to stand on it and not fall over.

Neil
Well this device has other names as well. It’s called a rideable because you ride on it like you ride on a bicycle – or you can call it a self-balancing scooter – or others call it a hoverboard.

Finn
That’s perhaps because it looks like a skateboard perhaps… but it’s different, isn’t it?

Neil
Yes it is, it is a bit different. And we’ll be finding out more about hoverboards in a moment, but first it’s time for our quiz question. I’m going to make a statement and I want you to tell me, Finn, if it is true or false. OK?

Finn
OK.

Neil
Here in the UK, it’s illegal to ride a hoverboard on the pavement. Is that true or false, Finn? What do you think?

Finn
Well, I’ve actually seen someone riding a hoverboard on the pavement so I’ll say it’s false. I think it’s legal to ride one on the pavement.

Neil
OK, then. We’ll see if you’re right at the end of the programme.

Finn
OK. So, Neil have you ever tried riding on a hoverboard?

Neil
No, I haven’t, but I would like to give it a go. It looks like a skateboard, but it is different – it moves differently – and it goes in a different direction – it goes… sideways.

Finn
Yes. And, you know, the other big difference is that it is motorised. And when you change your balance the wheels turn. So when you lean forwards – you move forwards – and when you lean back you slow down and stop… and if you lean even further back, then you actually move backwards.

Neil
Yes. So it’s hard to keep your balance. Like a skateboard, you need to practise to get good at this.

Finn
And I’m no good at skateboards. And I think, you know, if you don’t practise you’ll fall off the hoverboard lots of times.

Neil
BBC reporter Emma Ailes has tried a hoverboard. Who else has tried one of these rideables? Listen to her report.

INSERT
Emma Ailes, BBC Reporter
So you may have seen in recent weeks celebrities like Justin Bieber and Lily Allen riding one of these. It’s a self-balancing transportation device or some people call them rideables. I’ve never had a go but I am going to integrate one into my life in the next couple of days and see how I get on.

Neil
And that was the BBC reporter Emma Ailes. She said that she’s going to integrate riding a hoverboard into her everyday life and so perhaps she’ll travel to the BBC on a hoverboard. Now to integrate means to combine things to make them more efficient.

Finn
Or maybe she’ll go shopping on a hoverboard. Now she talked about celebrities – famous people – who are using hoverboards.

Neil
Yeah. She mentioned two celebrities – singers Lily Allen – who’s British. And Justin Bieber – he’s from Canada. So people are using hoverboards all over the world.

Finn
Neil, you were telling me about a guy you saw last weekend.

Neil
Yes, I was at a shopping centre and there were all these kids – teenagers – watching this guy using a hoverboard.  Of course they all wanted to try it.  You could hear them shouting: “Can I have a go? Can I have a go? Can I have a go?” Now, to have a go means to try something.

Finn
Yes. Now what was our reporter’s experience of using a hoverboard? How did she get on? Did she learn how to use it? Did she enjoy using it?

INSERT
Emma Ailes
So overall this is really good fun and I definitely recommend giving it a go. But there are some downsides. It’s really heavy, it’s illegal to use it on the pavement and it’s quite embarrassing being stared at. So are two wheels better than two legs? For me, probably not.

Finn
So that was the BBC reporter Emma once again. And she tried to use the two wheels of the hoverboard to move around but she said she prefers moving with her two legs.

Neil
But she did say this about using a hoverboard – it’s good fun and she definitely recommends that people try it – they should give it a go!

Finn
But she said there are also some downsides – some bad things. First, it’s heavy.

Neil
Yes, it’s not very easy carrying a heavy hoverboard.

Finn
Also when she uses it everyone looks at her and they don’t stop looking – they stare at her and she says that’s embarrassing.

Neil
And there is one more downside about using a self-balancing scooter. And this is also the answer to our quiz question… I asked if it’s true or false that it’s illegal to ride a hoverboard on the pavement in the UK.

Finn
And I said that it’s false.

Neil
And you are… wrong. It’s illegal. There is a law here about that.

Finn
Yes, I realised I guessed the wrong answer when I heard that clip from Emma’s report there.

Neil
Yes. Their use is illegal under Section 72 of the Highway Act 1835 for use on the public pavements and roads in the UK.

Finn
Oh, very impressive, Neil. Now, you can use a hoverboard, I’ve heard, on private property if you have permission from the owner but NOT on public pavements and roads.

Neil
OK. Well, next time you see your friend Justin Bieber, Finn, tell him that.

Finn
I will. Now, that’s all for today. Please do join us again soon.

Neil
Please do. And let’s hear the words before we go.

Finn
OK. We heard:

device

balance

pavement

scooter

skateboard

celebrities

to get on

to have a go

illegal

private property

That is it now. And we’ll see you next time.

Neil
Goodbye!