By Jaclyn Weiner

A new mode of transportation has been introduced to the Fordham Rose Hill campus: the smart balance board. It is a new trend that captured the attention of many Fordham students.

But Fordham is not the only place where this new toy has gained attention. Celebrities, such as Justin Bieber, Kendall Jenner, J.R. Smith and Wiz Khalifa have posted pictures and videos of themselves riding their own boards.
The Two Wheels Smart Self-Balancing Scooters Drifting Board Electric, or smart balance board for short, is a low-carbon, eco-friendly way to get around. The smart balance board looks like a Segway without handle bars. It is self-balancing and can go forward, backward, left and right. The board weighs around 22 pounds and has a top speed of about six miles per hour.

The price of a smart balance board can vary. They can cost anywhere between $300 and $1500, depending on where you purchase it.

If you are interested in purchasing a board for yourself, Ryan Rhoomes, FCRH ’16, has started a business called “theroverbros,” where you can purchase a smart balance board for $350.

“I started a business called “The Rover Bros,” because I got sick of the main companies selling the same product for over a thousand dollars,” said Rhoomes. “Anyone can buy them as long as you have $350, which is relatively cheap for these scooters. The scooters are all legit; I will never sell anyone a broken or cheap scooter.”

Rhoomes and his friends started using the smart balance boards this past summer while attending summer school. “Workouts were literally all day, and by the end of the day we were exhausted, so we figured this was the best way to get around for lazy people like ourselves,” said Rhoomes.

There have been varying reactions to the recent use of the boards on campus. “I thought that they were a bit surprising because I didn’t believe that they would be allowed on campus,” said one sophomore Fordham student. “I see a lot of athletes riding them around campus and I think that it is an element of the superiority complex.”

“At first, people would stare and become amazed, but now everyone is pretty used to it,” said Rhoomes, “some are actually annoyed with us and I honestly don’t know why because we don’t think we’re cool, we’re just lazy.”

There are many positive reviews online, regardless of the brand. “My kids enjoy this thing more than anyone,” said a reviewer who purchased a board from an online scooter store. “Other than the fear of falling, the thing is fun as heck.”
“Incredible toys,” commented an Amazon reviewer. “I bought a couple for the office and everyone loves them.”

The most common problem with the smart balance board that people have expressed online tends to be the safety of the product. Many advise that it is smart to use a spotter until you are completely comfortable riding it, because falls can be dangerous.