One Wheel Too Many
WHEN IS ONE WHEEL one wheel too many? Apparently it’s when you try to ride your Onewheel on our city’s multi-use paths.
What’s a Onewheel, you ask? According to Wikipedia, it’s a self-balancing electric skateboard with a single tire (seen above), used as a means of transportation and for competition. Riders place their feet on either side of the tire to face sideways, leaning forward to accelerate and leaning backward to slow down.
You’ve probably seen wheelers tooling around town, being effortlessly propelled by some unseen force cleverly tucked away on a simple board. It looks too small to actually house an engine capable of such locomotion, but while toting a full grown human, the Onewheel can reach speeds up to 25 miles per hour.
Tomorrow’s Transportation… Today
There’s certainly a futuristic element to this new mode of transportation. Some have suggested it’s reminiscent of the hoverboard seen in the film Back to the Future II. While a true hoverboard is yet to hit the market, the Onewheel is all too real, gaining more devotees every day.
Local rider Zack Youngs is the voice of this new wave, working with our local governing forces to create an exception to the rule of no motorized vehicles on our paths.
“I would like the ordinance to be amended to have more specific prerequisites that match changing times,” says Youngs. “Currently what makes the ordinance so restrictive is the verbiage ‘powered by other than muscular power,’ while still having a carveout for class 1 for E -Bikes.”
And this is where it gets complicated. Unlike bicycle, scooter, and skateboard wheels, which spin pell-mell on our crowded paths, the wheels of government spin slowly. With new technologies comes the need for new regulations, and that takes time. Youngs understands this, but it hasn’t stopped his relentless pursuit of change, as he’s been a regular attendee at every city advisory committee that might have a say in the matter. He says, with pun intended… the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
“I think when the paths were created, in the spirit of the law, it wasn’t to restrict devices such as Onewheels, but that of cars, motorcycles, and such.”
It sounds like a reasonable request. Compared to bikes, e and otherwise, the Onewheels seem pretty tame. How much harm can one guy on one wheel do?
Working With the City
City officials are sympathetic and are trying to work with Youngs and his informal Mqt Onewheel advocacy group. They don’t seem to have anything against Onewheels, but are in no hurry to add another class of wheeled vehicles to the current multi-use path milieu.
If you think you’ve seen Onewheelers on our paths, you’re right. Though it’s against the ordinance as it’s currently written, law enforcement has taken the position of letting the boards role on, as long as they’re not causing any problems.
Youngs estimates there are about 100 Onewheelers in town, so the paths being overrun with modern-day Marty McFlys is still off in the future. But with enthusiasts like Youngs and his contemporaries, that number is sure to grow. “The future of Onewheel seems to be on a growing trajectory as they become lighter, more efficient, safer, and as price points become more affordable.”
Not to mention… they’re pretty cool. They allow for the freedom of hands and arms, and with an inflatable tire, they’re able to traverse landscapes not suitable for other modes, like skateboards and rollerblades.
They’re still a little pricey, and though Youngs assured me he could have me up and riding on one with a brief lesson… they’re not for everybody. I’m not doubting Youngs’ confidence in my riding abilities, but, we’ll never know for sure. I’m not, repeat… not, getting on a Onewheel. I’ll leave this new micro-mobility to Gen Z or Gen X or whatever gen they are these days.
Youngs compares the issue to other changes in recreational applications, like the introduction of snowboards to ski hills. “We’ve seen growing pains like this before. Change can be scary.”
Change is also inevitable. The Onewheelers are just hoping it comes sooner rather than later, one wheel at a time.
Meetings of the Mindful
I was able to learn about the Onewheel movement during the City Manager’s most recent community office hours, presided over by Karen Kovacs. Kovacs holds these sessions on the second Wednesday of each month, from 10am to noon, in the Shiras Room, on the top level of the Peter White Public Library.
Though attendance fluctuates, Kovacs, as well as a sampling of department heads and city commissioners, are there for two hours, ready to listen to, and address, the concerns of residents.
Unlike city commission meetings, where those who wish to speak are given three minutes to state their case, with no response from commissioners, these open meetings are informal and allow for a thorough back and forth discussion.
No topic is off limits, and we often see visitors share their concerns, then stick around to hear what other residents are bringing to the table. As is usually the case, we end up learning more by listening than talking.
Kovacs and her colleagues are always well-informed and never hesitant to tell it like it is. So if you’re wondering why the snow didn’t get plowed to your standards, or your fees for whatever went up, you’ll get an answer. It’s not always what you want to hear, but at least you’ll know your concerns have been registered, and addressed with an honest response.
Again… the second Wednesday of the month, 10am at the Peter White Public Library. No donuts, but there is complimentary coffee. Maybe we’ll see you there.