Story by
Ben Woods
Europe EditorBen is a technology journalist with a specialism in mobile devices and a geeky love of mobile spectrum issues. Ben used to be a professional Ben is a technology journalist with a specialism in mobile devices and a geeky love of mobile spectrum issues. Ben used to be a professional online poker player. You can contact him via Twitter or on Google+.
Gliding gracefully down the street without expending any energy on a ‘hoverboard’ might sound like the answer to urban commuter woes, but the Metropolitan Police in London has taken to Twitter to point out that your purchase is basically pointless.
According to current legislation, the fact that the hoverboards have an electric motor to drive the wheels makes them subject to the same regulations as other road-going vehicles.
Own one of these or thinking about getting one? They're illegal to ride in public! Info here: http://t.co/We85yLAzsU pic.twitter.com/vMm0hxNAjs
— MPS Specials (@MPSSpecials) October 11, 2015
Unfortunately, as the ‘self-balancing scooters’ are classed as a vehicle, it’s an offence under the Highways Act to ride them on the pavement too.
That means that about the only place you can use a hoverboard is on your own land, or inside your own house.
Getting lunch on a hoverboard @juanbuis pic.twitter.com/qB8uAOWYwk
— Owen Williams ⚡️ (@ow) October 8, 2015
Or, if you work in our Amsterdam office, you could use one to get lunch.
➤ MPS Specials [Twitter]