10 Ways to get to work- Powerizers
James Brown, transport manager at the University of Derby, says there’s more than one way of getting to work. He’s trying ten different modes of transport from Chester Green to the Kedleston Road campus.
However, James’s efforts aren’t be simply along the lines of ‘bus, bike and car’ - oh no… James is trying some more unusual methods of getting from A to B.
His list includes: cycling, walking, electric car, heelies (trainers with wheels), segway (a kind of electric scooter) and powerisers (stilts with springs)!
You can follow James’s progress each weekday on BBC Radio Derby - listen to Andy Whittaker’s Breakfast Show for regular updates (use the link on the right) and see more on BBC East Midlands Today each evening from 6.30 pm.
Day 4 - Powerizers
Journey Time – 50 minutes
Journey Cost – Powerizers cost around £200 for a pair! I’m not sure how long they last!
(Video from BBC East Midlands Today)
Watch: James Brown on powerizers >
Audio and Video links on this page require Realplayer
Woke up and eagerly checked outside, but was disappointed to find that last night’s rain had remained and it was damp underfoot (or under-stilt!). This would ensure some tense moments and treacherous patches on the journey, and to be honest, was my worst fear in relation to Powerizers. Having only previously walked a mile with two falls, the two-mile journey was proving a daunting prospect!
It’s always a challenge to get stood up on these! And today was no different! I managed it unassisted, so was quite pleased. I cautiously walked up the driveway, past the car (which was, yet again being left at home!).
I had enlisted the help of my friend to help catch me, if I was to fall.
We got across Alfreton Road, and the pavement was awful. Not only was it wet, but there were many extremely slippery silt deposits, and the same vehicles blocking the pavement as yesterday.
I had a real difficulty getting past one van, using it’s roof rack to steady my self with my hand! Onto Haslams Lane, and an articulated lorry had parked across more than half of the road, so I had cars following me, who were unable to get past, making me feel very self conscious and tense. Everybody I saw had a comment to make, one child calling them ’sick stilts’ (I think he referred to the horrible pink colour, but he could have meant the way the springs were bent)!
As I passed the Rugby club, I started to run a little, which felt good, the spring certainly helped, but this was a little tiring, so a rest was needed, nullifying any time saving! Up hill was quite hard work, but the springs did help if I pushed down as I put my feet down. A large part of the journey proved very difficult because of all the leaves (causing grip problems!) and my friend did save me from falling on a couple of occasions, as well as distracting an angry dog, that took a lot of interest in me! I took a little detour along Ferrers way and took a left after crossing the A38, which paid off, giving me a good, leaf free area to get some more running done! By this time I was very tired and really enjoying myself, and the ‘fun factor’ was enough to spur me on to finish the job, and arrive at work within 50 minutes!
I would say that Powerizers would be great, once you become well practiced in using them. However, as a way of getting to work, maybe they are only suitable on dry days.
Given a dry day I could have matched my walking time, and with more practice, I could learn to sprint and take nine-foot bounds and potentially start to save time over walking! In terms of fitness training, they are unparalleled, I arrived at work tired, but satisfied at the excellent work-out!
If you are the kind of person that likes to attract attention, then these are for you, as nobody can resist passing without making a comment, or a smile!
I particularly enjoyed myself, despite the fear factor, and would like to have another go in the dry!
April 9th, 2007 at 4:34 am
Good site!!!