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  • 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 differentit moves differentlyand 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 forwardsyou 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.

  • Emma Ailes: 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 celebritiessingers Lily Allenwho'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 kidsteenagers

  • 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?

  • 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 itthey should give it a go!

  • Finn: But she said there are also some downsidessome 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!

Finn: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Finn.

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