Hoverboards are zig-zagging through Ernie Davis Dining Hall, weaving through pedestrians on the Quad and rolling up and down the hills in front of the Hall of Languages.

“It gets me from point A to B a lot faster than walking,” said Wayne Morgan, a senior sport management major. His hoverboard rolls at speeds up to 10 miles per hour, though he keeps it safe and stays slow and steady.

These skateboard-like modes of transportation most easily resemble a Segway without handlebars, and they’re quickly becoming commonplace around campus. Most operate using a rechargeable battery. Even though the weather is cooling down and hoverboards will likely be packed away until spring, they’re still projected to be a hot gift this holiday season.

Hoverboards were first introduced by Chic Robotics at China’s Canton Fair last year, which features 10 miles of warehouse space to promote new products.

“People tried it and literally ordered their whole inventory that day, which is really rare for a fair,” said Tony Le, Founder and CEO of Glitek, a company that specializes in hoverboards.

Since then, dozens of companies have jumped on the trend, including Le’s company Glitek. But every brand puts its own spin on the boards.

Unlike a skateboard or snowboard, it’s much easier to control speed on a hoverboard. When riders step onto a board, there’s no worry that it’ll slip out from under them. Its wheels adjust to help users balance and stand still until they’re ready to roll, Le said.

Once users feel confident, it’s easy to glide away, Le said.

Different brands roll at maximum speeds ranging from six to 12 miles per hour, and can travel for around 10 miles on a single charge. When it comes to hills, Glitek’s boards can handle inclines up to 30 degrees, Le said. Boards also differ on their processor speeds, and a faster processor means a smoother glide, Le said.

Companies load their boards with features like LED lights and bluetooth speakers. These components makes the difference between $200 boards available all over eBay and pricier boards like the $1800 IO Hawk.

While hoverboards may seem like transportation of the future, their riders are still subject to today’s rules of the road.

“They’re just like pedestrians in a way, but they actually fall into a category with bikes and roller skates,” said CJ McCurty, Syracuse University Department of Public Safety detective.

Hoverboarders who take to the streets should ride on the side of the road with traffic and leave at least one ear free of earbuds so they can hear cars and people around them, McCurty said.

DPS officers usually don’t patrol inside buildings, but students shouldn’t be gliding through the aisles of Bird Library or onto elevators in Lawrinson Hall.

So far, there have been no accidents involving hoverboards. But even though there’s a strong year-round biking population, hoverboards probably won’t be as common on campus once the snow starts falling, McCurty said.

Students who might want to acquire a board for once winter passes are in luck. Prospective buyers can head over to Destiny USA, where the Hero Board kiosk opened last week, to try and purchase a hoverboard.

“As it stands now, it’s going to be the hottest-selling item of the holiday season,” Le said. “If you go to any mall, you’ll probably find a kiosk selling one of these.”

Published on October 27, 2015 at 11:01 pm

Contact Kathryn: kjkrawcz@syr.edu | @kathrynkrawczyk