When Mr Kelvin Tay, 32, first purchased the electric unicycle in October 2014, he spent about a week and a half learning how to use the device. Now, his electric unicycle is his main form of transportation every day.
The operations manager, who lives in Punggol and works in Tampines, has since given up driving, and instead travels about 9km to work and another 9km back home daily on his electric unicycle. The longest estimated distance he has ever travelled using his unicycle was 30km.
“It’s light, convenient, and portable,” Mr Tay says. This seems to be the general consensus amongst other users of the oddly shaped machine.
Known as personal electric vehicles (PEV) or personal mobility devices, electric unicycles and their counterparts like the electric scooter and the hoverboard have recently become all the rage in Singapore.
Mr Thomas Hoon, 39, founder of e-commerce store The Wheelies, says customers are attracted to the portability and affordability of PEVs. Although his online store also sells electric scooters and hoverboards, he specialises in electric unicycles and swears by the product himself.
Depending on the model and battery life, electric unicycles typically cost about $400 to a little over $1000. Traveling by unicycle therefore costs only an estimated one cent per kilometer, making it a sound investment, says Mr Hoon.
Mr Clarence Chan, 31, an accountant, picked up wheeling one and a half years ago when he decided to switch his electronic scooter for something less bulky and more compact. He says that his unicycle, which he also uses for commuting to work, is more reliable than public transport or shuttle buses.
But more than just a means of transport, these versatile devices also provide a form of entertainment and leisure.
So far, performances on these electric unicycles have been seen at this year’s Chingay, the Singapore Night Festival, Pedestrian Night on Orchard Road, and other grassroots events.
The Wheelies also puts together weekend outings for the wheeling community to take part in. As the unicycles are capable of traveling on most terrains, outdoor wheeling activities at Pulau Ubin and The Green Corridor are made possible.
“I used to stay at home in front of the computer. But after I purchased this wheel, I’m actually meeting my friends and going out to places every weekend. It’s very much a social activity,” says Mr Hoon.
But some skeptics still worry about the safety and health risks that these PEVs might pose.
Ms Batrisyia Hassim, 27, a marketing executive, says: “I’ve seen people use these on pedestrian walkways and I think it’s irresponsible and inconsiderate. I have two young nephews, who are barely five years old. What if they accidentally get knocked down?”
Meanwhile, others like Ms Elizabeth Zhang, 21, are worried that people will become too reliant on these devices. “What’s wrong with walking and a bit of exercise?” says the art student.
But fans of the unicycle remain unfazed. The wheeling community is said to follow a set of rules and wheeling etiquettes to prevent accidents from happening, and newbies are given appropriate training and guidance before they can use the device.
Even some families have taken to teaching their children and elders how to ride the unicycles, with users ranging from 7 to 70 years old.
Says Mr Chan: “Not all kinds of activities can easily bring a family together like wheeling can.”
The operations manager, who lives in Punggol and works in Tampines, has since given up driving, and instead travels about 9km to work and another 9km back home daily on his electric unicycle. The longest estimated distance he has ever travelled using his unicycle was 30km.
“It’s light, convenient, and portable,” Mr Tay says. This seems to be the general consensus amongst other users of the oddly shaped machine.
Known as personal electric vehicles (PEV) or personal mobility devices, electric unicycles and their counterparts like the electric scooter and the hoverboard have recently become all the rage in Singapore.
Mr Thomas Hoon, 39, founder of e-commerce store The Wheelies, says customers are attracted to the portability and affordability of PEVs. Although his online store also sells electric scooters and hoverboards, he specialises in electric unicycles and swears by the product himself.
Depending on the model and battery life, electric unicycles typically cost about $400 to a little over $1000. Traveling by unicycle therefore costs only an estimated one cent per kilometer, making it a sound investment, says Mr Hoon.
Mr Clarence Chan, 31, an accountant, picked up wheeling one and a half years ago when he decided to switch his electronic scooter for something less bulky and more compact. He says that his unicycle, which he also uses for commuting to work, is more reliable than public transport or shuttle buses.
But more than just a means of transport, these versatile devices also provide a form of entertainment and leisure.
So far, performances on these electric unicycles have been seen at this year’s Chingay, the Singapore Night Festival, Pedestrian Night on Orchard Road, and other grassroots events.
The Wheelies also puts together weekend outings for the wheeling community to take part in. As the unicycles are capable of traveling on most terrains, outdoor wheeling activities at Pulau Ubin and The Green Corridor are made possible.
“I used to stay at home in front of the computer. But after I purchased this wheel, I’m actually meeting my friends and going out to places every weekend. It’s very much a social activity,” says Mr Hoon.
But some skeptics still worry about the safety and health risks that these PEVs might pose.
Ms Batrisyia Hassim, 27, a marketing executive, says: “I’ve seen people use these on pedestrian walkways and I think it’s irresponsible and inconsiderate. I have two young nephews, who are barely five years old. What if they accidentally get knocked down?”
Meanwhile, others like Ms Elizabeth Zhang, 21, are worried that people will become too reliant on these devices. “What’s wrong with walking and a bit of exercise?” says the art student.
But fans of the unicycle remain unfazed. The wheeling community is said to follow a set of rules and wheeling etiquettes to prevent accidents from happening, and newbies are given appropriate training and guidance before they can use the device.
Even some families have taken to teaching their children and elders how to ride the unicycles, with users ranging from 7 to 70 years old.
Says Mr Chan: “Not all kinds of activities can easily bring a family together like wheeling can.”
Article by Faith Khong
NTU Research paper
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