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Ilford DJ Rude Kid: ‘Swegway’ laws are silly
A man rides an electric balance scooter in central London. Picture: Anthony Devlin/PA Archive/PA Images - Credit: PA ARCHIVE IMAGES
A top grime producer and DJ has hit back after police confirmed it was illegal to ride self-balancing scooters, or “hoverboards”, in public.
Rude Kid - Credit: Archant
The musician from Ilford, who goes by the pseudonym Rude Kid, called rules prohibiting the use of “swegways” in public “silly” after police sent out a tweet on Sunday with a web link to guidance from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
The tweet sparked debate online about the new craze, which gained much of its popularity after music artists such as Wiz Khalifa, Justin Bieber and Chris Brown were spotted on them on social media.
Rude Kid, 27, said: “It’s a big thing in my area, so many people are on them – they’re not hurting anyone – people are overreacting.
“What can the police really do? They won’t be able to enforce it – people will still be on their boards – I just think it’s a stupid rule. When things get popular, when things become cool, they just want to ban them.”
Music producer Rude Kid on a self-balancing scooter. Picture: Elliot John-Pierre - Credit: Archant
The CPS guidance states that the devices must be approved by the European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) or Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval (MSVA) to be licenced and registered for road use but the “swegways” did not meet their requirements.
It also says riding them on pavements is an offence under the Highway Act 1835 and can only be used on “private property and with the landowner’s permission”.
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“These laws were made more than 100 years ago – it doesn’t make sense to be applying it now,” said Rude Kid.
“I just think it’s exciting – the first time I went on it I thought it wasn’t for me, but now I see how addictive it is – it’s fun.”
The music producer, and former Beal High School pupil, says self-balancing boards are “the future”.
However, concerns were aired about the technology in August after a cameraman on a board was seen clattering into Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt earlier this year in a video clip that went viral.
Mark Kennedy, membership secretary of the Seven Kings and Newbury Park Residents Association (SKNPRA), echoed those concerns.
“I can understand where the police are coming from,” he said. “I can understand concerns about people bumping into others and losing control over them.
“If you lose control you can go into the road and get killed. It’s something that should be kept off the streets and I support the police in issuing guidance.”
