Upcycling: e-unicycle conquers Baldwin St

Dennis Pushenko rides his electric unicycle effortlessly up Baldwin St in this multiple exposure...
Dennis Pushenko rides his electric unicycle effortlessly up Baldwin St in this multiple exposure shot. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery
Baldwin St has proven no match for an electric unicycle after the completion of a successful ascent by a one-wheeled vehicle last Thursday afternoon.

Aurora Energy strategy and reliability performance manager Dennis Pushenko made the attempt, gliding up the slope with ease on his machine.

The unicycle is about the size of a small suitcase and the rider stands on platforms mounted on either side of the single wheel.

Mr Pushenko said he was tackling Baldwin St to prove what could be achieved with electric personal transportation.

"It’s the steepest street in the world... If this machine can make it up Baldwin St, it can take any other path."

He did not expect to see electric unicycles taking over the streets anytime soon because they were difficult to learn to ride, but they would be part of a larger trend towards electric transportation, he said.

"The evolution will be more towards... all types of personal transport from bikes and e-bikes [to] boards and one-wheels and unicycles."

Electric unicycles were relatively new technology and attracted plenty of attention around the streets of Dunedin, Mr Pushenko said.

An eight-hour charge gave his unicycle enough juice to travel about 100km around hilly Dunedin streets.

andrew.marshall@odt.co.nz

 

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