BBC 6 minute English-New transport on two wheels

Transcript of the podcast

Note: This is not a word for word transcript

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 for 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 a hoverboard

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 and private property

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

Neil: Goodbye