Nyck Yashiro | Banner Joshua Gladney, sophomore exercise science major, takes his hoverboard for a ride and rolls around California Baptist University’s campus. A handful of CBU students have devoted time and money into investing in a hoverboard and learning how to ride the electrically motorized boards to get to their destinations quickly.
In an attempt to get to places around campus quicker, students will often choose to ride a bike or longboard instead of hastily speed-walking to their next location.
Recently, a handful of students are leaning away from the typical beach cruiser or skateboard and choosing to roll to class, food facilities or other places around campus on electrically motorized boards known as “hoverboards.”
“I thought it was something new and innovative and I felt that if I brought it on campus, it would make it easier to get from here to there,” said Derrick Celestine, sophomore civil engineering major.
This past holiday season, Celestine received his hoverboard as a gift and has frequently used it on and off campus. Although California Baptist University is a hoverboard-friendly campus, he quickly discovered that places like Wal-Mart, academic buildings and the mall were not, when he got kicked out for riding it inside of certain facilities and buildings.
A set of regulations have been enforced as of Jan. 1 for all electrically motorized board users. Under Assembly Bill No. 604, riders must be 16 years or older, wear a helmet and ride on roads with a speed limit of 35 mph or less.
The bill also has stated that it is illegal to operate a hoverboard while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Anyone who violates the new rules will pay a $250 fine.
With many brands and different colors to chose from, the hoverboard has rapidly become a strong and influential trend.
“I was on YouTube and saw videos of celebrities who had them and I thought, ‘Why
not get one?’” said Joshua Mabale, freshman pre-nursing major. “It does get you to places faster and you don’t have to walk, but you can’t go over bumps or curbs.”
The hoverboard is not always a luxury; weighing in at 25 pounds, it has proven to be an inconvenience to pick up and carry around when traveling.
At an average cost of $300, it may not be worth the price when falling, overheating and all of the care and time that must be spent charging the machine are factored in.
Josh Gladney, sophomore exercise science major, uses a hoverboard but realizes the impractical side and would suggest investing in a skateboard instead.
“I would honestly prefer a skateboard, because they are less maintenance and you don’t have to worry about charging them” Gladney said. “Like all material possessions, it will fade away. People always desire the next best thing on the market, and the hoverboard can’t stay on top forever.”
