The strange rise of the 'hoverboard' and why you shouldn't ride them through traffic

"Hoverboarders" who use their two wheels on the road are being warned they are breaking the law.

That's because they do not meet the legal requirement to be safely used among other traffic.

And if you think that means it's fine to zoom down the pavement instead, then you'll be committing a 180-year-old offence set out in the Highway Act of 1835.

The rules are being pointed out by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Segway guidance from the Department for Transport says you need to be in your own backyard or on private land to legally use your board.

London's Met Police posted this warning on Twitter.

When did they get so popular?

Segways used to be seen as a bit of a joke but the "hoverboard" or "swegway" is now a pretty common sight in parks and around cities, with sales rocketing in the run-up to Christmas.

The smaller hands-free version evolved from the bulkier two-wheeled devices you sometimes see knocking over top sports stars (read on).

The first ones, made by Segway Inc, arrived back in 2001 but themselves were developed from "personal transporters" first tested before you were born.

The C5 became the laughing stock of the 1980s but it led to the "swegway" - offspring of the Segway

This fictional hoverboard, ridden by Marty McFly in 1985's Back to the Future, is perhaps the true source of our 2015 hovering obsession

Celebrities love hoverboards

Brooklyn Beckham is certainly on board with the 2015 version, which on average costs between £100 and £300.

He posted this clip of himself doing a "double spin" on Instagram and swiftly got more than 300,000 likes.

See Brooklyn's impressive board skills here.

Chris Brown loves cruising round hotel corridors on his.

Brown posted this video to his Instagram feed.

Justin Bieber likes to take his on planes.

He posted this clip earlier this year.

Meanwhile Wiz Khalifa segwayed onto stage at a gig in August.

And there are claims Harry Styles recently rode his two wheels while completely naked. We can't confirm, sadly.

It doesn't always go well when celebrities and Segways get together.

Katy Perry was captured failing to control hers at the Burning Man festival a few weeks ago.

Here she is gently falling off.

She posted: Obvious first time burner alert

Then Toddla T posted this confused sweg scenario.

@ToddlaT: Peak. Swegways just been made illegal.. my bad

Maybe they should have taken some lessons from this next lot.

This video, set to Justin Bieber's What Do You Mean, claims to be the "world's first premium conceptual mini-Segway dance YouTube video".

Watch the video directed and filmed by David Moore here.

Meanwhile, let's not forget that time Usain Bolt was knocked off his feet seconds after winning gold at the World Athletics Championships.

Um, that man is the fastest runner on earth and those are his legs you are PLOUGHING INTO

As usual, Bolt styled it out

Showing off on social media

On Instagram right now, there are nearly 100,000 posts tagged #hoverboard and close to 200,000 tagged #segway.

There are some pretty flash ways of using your board.

Like these speed freaks. Seems like Bieber is the hoverboarder's choice.

daichysalas posted: What do you mean?

Or you could flip things around and do a hand stand.

failcheervideos posted this video of some board-based gymnastics.

Or you could just keep relatively still and do a dance.

Tyana_networking posted: Having fun with my Bluetooth board...

Meanwhile in Russia...

They're big in Russia but we definitely don't think heels and hoverboards will pass any safety rules.

xboard posted this image of a segway user in terrifyingly high heels.

And in Prague, in the Czech Republic, they have already created designated no-Segway zones.

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