JEDDAH — If one is at a shopping mall or taking a stroll down the Corniche, or even enjoying a cup of tea in a park, it is very likely that he will spot a couple of young teens gliding past you on their ‘hoverboards', also known as ‘Segways'. These two-wheeled self-balancing scooters have gained increasing popularity among Jeddah's youth over the past few months, as shopkeepers report an upsurge in enthusiasm among young customers coupled with its rocket sales. Hoverbaords are like battery-operated wheels, similar to skateboards, but its speed and direction is controlled by detecting movement of users and pressure applied on the feet by leaning forward or backward. The craze for these electric scooters sparked when international celebrities with the likes of Justin Beiber and Wiz Khalifa made public appearances with them and eventually its usage became a global phenomenon. Nine-year old Hamid, a Saudi student, said, "I purchased a hoverboard because all my friends have it and it is ‘cool' because we become the center of attraction when we ride on it in malls." Wasi Ahmad, a shopkeeper selling mobile phones and electric devices in downtown Balad, is thrilled with the number of hoverboards he has sold in the past four months. "I've made record sales of these gadgets because once a trend begins, everybody wants it. Most of my customers are in their teens and some are as young as six," he said. The price varies between SR750 and SR2,000, depending on the brand, model and features. Ahmad explained that latest model of hoverboards are equipped with LED lights and speakers that can be operated using Bluetooth technology. "Initially, it was only popular among boys, but as the trend started catching up, I'm seeing a lot of young girls also willing to skate on the self-balancing wheels," he said. However, amid its increasing popularity, there are safety concerns amongst parents because the two-wheeled scooter can have a speed of 16km/hour and has no safety handles to rely on. Following the death of a 6-year old UAE-based child after falling from the hoverboard in Abu Dhabhi last October, strict rules regarding its usage in public places have been put in place. In another unfortunate accident earlier this year, a Filipino lost his life as he crashed into a lamppost in Dubai while riding on the hoverboard. For safety reasons, they have been banned in malls across the UAE. Umm Hani, a mother of two living in Jeddah, feels hoverboards should only be driven under strict supervision of parents, especially in crowded public places. "When I see young ones whizzing on them at high speeds in crowded malls, I feel they should be more careful so as not to hurt bystanders or themselves," she said. The two-wheeled gadget also came under spotlight a few months back, when a man's video circumambulating the Holy Kaaba on a hoverboard went viral on social media and sparked debate if it was appropriate for him to do so.
